Sunday, August 26, 2018

Summer Sunday Update: August 26, 2018


It's late summer in central New York... and that means a trip to the Great New York State Fair! Thursday was our day to check out exhibits, wander through the livestock barns, watch a horse show, and naturally, sample some fair food. The Fair seems to be better than ever this year and we didn't get to see it all, so another visit is definitely in order!

Current reading//


The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
I started listening to this last night. Glad I have the hardcover book from the library so I can keep reading this afternoon!


Finished last week//


So different from Pachinko (my review), and so good! I'll post a book brief soon.


Book club meeting//



On Friday we discussed Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann. Reaction was positive, but just lukewarm. Look for a book brief later this week.


Up next//


Our #PalliserParty continues! I'll be starting The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope, book 5 of 6, soon.


On the blog//

Book Brief: Tin Man by Sarah Winman
The Week's Read: Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee


In the kitchen//

Maple Mustard Cedar-Planked Salmon from The Hungry Bluebird ( a new-to-me website) offers a familiar flavor combination with a twist on the prep method. We use cedar planks pretty regularly, always soaked prior to grilling, but have never grilled the plank alone prior to adding the salmon. Maybe it was my imagination, but I think that made it even more flavorful! This particular maple mustard glaze was a winner, too.



Lunches were delicious last week thanks to this Lemony Orzo Veggie Salad with Chicken from MyFittnessPal. Use rotisserie chicken for a time-saving short cut. I also made a pan of these Oatmeal Blondies from Allrecipes during my sister-in-law's midweek visit. A small plate went home with her and I put the rest in the freezer... they're too tempting to have out in plain view.

The week ahead// 

Plans are still being finalized. So far there's an end-of-summer dinner party for friends, a haircut, and another trip to the fair. It's hard to believe Labor Day is next weekend!


How was your week? What are you reading today?

47 comments:

  1. Free Food for Millionaires is one I would read.

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    1. Harvee - It's a good one. I think my daughter is going to read it, too.

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  2. OMG, that orzo salad looks soooo good! The salmon, too! My husband doesn't eat fish and is allergic to shellfish, so I never get to eat stuff like that at home.

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    1. Angela - That salad was amazing! I love orzo, too, and don;t know why I don't use it more often.

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  3. I love orzo! That looks quite yummy!

    We've been enjoying our visit with our granddaughter this past week. We took her camping for three days and had a great time. After she heads home (Tuesday), we'll finish prepping for our long adventure in the RV. My main focus will be meal-planning (lot's of meals cooked and frozen ahead of time) and finalizing our route and reservations at campgrounds. I may or may not be around here very much over the next few months! We'll see how worn out I am at the end of each day. :)

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    1. Les - Can't believe how grownup your granddaughter is! So glad you're having such a good visit... I know your time with her is precious. We're also finalizing our travel plans. There is just so much we want to see and do - way too much for one trip. I'm already looking forward to your instagram updates. We're going to fly to Las Vegas and visit the Hoover Dam before the visitor's center closes for renovation. We'll miss you by a week or so at the Grand Canyon and plan to spend some time in Utah, too. Last stop will be Santa Fe for a visit with my BIL and SIL.

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    2. I know what you mean about too much to see and do for one trip. We'll be gone for two months and still won't have time to see everything on our list. Sorry we'll miss you by a week! Next time we'll have to plan to meet up somewhere, right? I know we'll be going back eventually. Or, we can meet up in the Grand Tetons, Banff/Jasper, Glacier N.P., etc. :)

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    3. Glacier NP is pretty high on my list :)

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  4. Your meals always look and sound amazing.

    I can't wait to read your thoughts about Free Food for Millionaires.

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    1. Kathy - I'll have a book brief next week, but go ahead and add it to your list in the meantime ;-)

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  5. I love fairs. The one we always went to was the Canfield Fair. It’s amazing how much fun it was to look at jars of pickles. Then we always got a foot long hot dog and a Neapolitan ice cream cone!

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    1. Patty - I know... kind of funny, isn't it! Fried pickles is my once a year fair treat.

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  6. You'll have to report on the fair food. I'm still reeling from the thought of donut sliders from last year! :)

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    1. Audrey - Seems like fair food gets more outrageous every year! I ended up with a loaded baked potato for lunch... pretty boring, but so good!

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  7. Yum! The salmon and the veggie salad look so good!

    I love fairs...but haven't gone in ages. Thanks for the reminder. We have a District Fair in October.

    Enjoy your week, and thanks for visiting my blog.

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    1. Laurel-Rain Snow - There were quite a few years when we never got to the fair... especially when the kids were in high school and had all kinds of sports practices and games. Now it seems like an old-fashioned pleasure :)

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  8. It's been so many years since I've been to our state fair but those are always fun aren't they? Thanks for sharing the recipes. Lots of yummy stuff!

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    1. Iliana - Fairs are such fun! I love the exhibits and animals, but am not a big fan of the rides any more ;-)

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  9. State Fair....brings back memories. I lived in Connecticut and our fair was in Danbury. It was such fun and looking back I cannot imagine how I ate 'Cotton Candy' sugar spin..but I did! You cooking tips look wonderful and I'll try the chicken salad today! I'll investigate you books this afternoon. I need a change from, yes...the classics!
    Labor Day: we don't have that in The Netherlands....but I always repeat the saying: "No white after Labor Day" when I see somebody sitll trying to wear white summer clothes after that weekend. Fashion- No-No! (ha)

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    1. Nancy - Don't think we ever got to the CT fair when we lived there... though I still enjoy a pinch or two of cotton candy! That old "no white after Labor Day" still goes through my mind, too. Now that we head south for the winter, it doesn't really apply ;-)

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    2. Lemony orzo veggie chicken salad is a ‘keeper’ in my house !

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    3. It's so good!! I might make it again next week.

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  10. That salmon looks yummy. I have The Great Believers but not sure whether that one is for me -- right now anyways.

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    1. Diane - I've only read a couple of chapters, but really like it so far.

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  11. Lukewarm? That doesn't make my cut these days. Thank you for sharing the group's thoughts.

    Enjoy this time at the end of summer. I bet it is delightful where you live.

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    1. Deb - No, I'm not in a hurry to read books with lukewarm recommendations these days either. This was interesting and I learned something, but can't muster much enthusiasm.

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  12. The salmon looks amazing and reminds me a little of a mustard & brown sugar glazed salmon I used to make.

    I hope you love The Great Believers as much as I did. I think it will be a top 10 book for me this year. Enjoy the week!

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    1. Susie - I'm only on the third chapter of The Great Believers, but really like it so far!

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  13. I have never been to our State Fair. I'm told the parking is horrible so I have avoided it. Also it's a three hour drive to get there. The fair food is really tempting though. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Kathy - The parking lot was one of the major improvements at the fair this year.. all paved lots now and so much more organized. We're less than an hour away, so that makes a big difference, too.

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  14. Vicki - The NY State Fair is huge! We're lucky it's relatively close to us... people around here go several times each year. We're happy if we make it once!

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  15. The trip to the fair would be amazing, very large I am sure. A whole variety of books here that you have on the go. Enjoy.

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    1. Thanks, Kathryn. We do enjoy our annual fair outing!

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  16. I love black-eyed susans. I miss going to the fair. See what I read this month at Girl Who Reads

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    1. Donna H - Late summer means the fair and black-eyed Susan to me!

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  17. I love Black Eyed Susans! They are my favorite!! The fair sounds like a great time. :)

    And that salmon sounds delicious!

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    1. Erin - I love them, too! It's always treat to spend a day at the fair.

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  18. How fun to go to the State Fair! I don't think I've ever been to one but it sounds fun. Sorry to hear Flower Moon was only lukewarm. It's been on my maybe list for awhile so I'll be looking for your brief on it. That chicken orzo veggie salad looks really good! I love orzo and am always looking for something pretty quick. Hope you're having a lovely week!

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    1. Katherine - I love orzo, too, but rarely cook with it. This recipe is a keeper. Hope you're having a great week, too!

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  19. I want to come to your house for supper every night!

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  20. JoAnn, the fair sounds fun and that salmon looks amazing!! Last week, I enjoyed a visit to see my mum and other family, who live on the South Coast. While I was there I got completely immersed in Anne Boleyn, A King's Obsession by Alison Weir.

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    1. Jessica - So glad you enjoyed the time with your family. Alison Weir is so talented... look forward to hearing more about the Anne Boleyn book.

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  21. I'll wait to hear if you think the David Grann book was a good read. I've gotten from the library a number of times but then ran out of time before starting it. Too many piles of books.

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    1. Susan - The review should be ready soon...I'm too glued to the news this week;-)

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