tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136688272024-03-19T04:48:20.067-04:00Recipes for a Postmodern PlanetRecipes for eating well, living out loud, & finding magic in the mundaneSarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.comBlogger388125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-71930075779879584482016-07-16T13:10:00.001-04:002016-07-16T13:10:42.127-04:00Quick Lit • July 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49oVHkgoDvY2SnFCjWPjhTnycnGMoKFx95Z6ApPvnlJhpCtnNifThZ1OONkZmgi8V69WV9vuARkSSwqkuUQ-EZ1haYVn6YK4PstGm-8o09D3ntOpJPCeQzYdByClNjYaMudkWTg/s1600/D360B308-6549-4402-B5B2-B9F6EF6EA780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49oVHkgoDvY2SnFCjWPjhTnycnGMoKFx95Z6ApPvnlJhpCtnNifThZ1OONkZmgi8V69WV9vuARkSSwqkuUQ-EZ1haYVn6YK4PstGm-8o09D3ntOpJPCeQzYdByClNjYaMudkWTg/s400/D360B308-6549-4402-B5B2-B9F6EF6EA780.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The last few books I have read are an interesting cross-section: a 900-page work of genius literary fiction, a breathtaking work of non-fiction, a primer on nutrition, and a disappointing Chick Lit novel that, with better editing, could have been so much more.</div>
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Such is life. </div>
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Fiction specifically targeted towards women causes me more consternation than it probably should. There was a time, in my early-twenties, I guess, when books like <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0141000198/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=recipesforapo-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0141000198&linkId=92273410ce444dcbd47ea7a0b42fb35b">Bridget Jones' Diary</a> cracked me up but didn't yet insult my intelligence. Now though, I get a little cranky by anything that comes off as either too breezy or too romance-y. What I can't quite put my finger on is whether my irritation stems from run-of-the-mill snobbishness, whether I have just outgrown that sort of novel, or whether those books are truly not any good and aren't worth my time.</div>
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It's a hard call. And my ego is at stake.</div>
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Today I am linking up with <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/quick-lit-july-2016/">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a> to share short reviews of the books I have read over the past four weeks. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCqnmZRwIidJXIIsxheHt6qdgbamvb2pFJr_1o3A-e3YakKdL47OYCQkiEJ3BpwpcX48NTq-zNtQ189kiOLPzQT7IfjhIWl56yLcw33iZv4oA1j8nX9YRu4o6vu1rm22VDIeyfA/s1600/breath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCqnmZRwIidJXIIsxheHt6qdgbamvb2pFJr_1o3A-e3YakKdL47OYCQkiEJ3BpwpcX48NTq-zNtQ189kiOLPzQT7IfjhIWl56yLcw33iZv4oA1j8nX9YRu4o6vu1rm22VDIeyfA/s320/breath.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/081298840X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=recipesforapo-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=081298840X&linkId=205e4c374c2ed5f0ae42e5dbe24e3396">When Breath Becomes Air</a> is a profound and deeply moving meditation on life and death, on becoming a doctor and simultaneously becoming a terminal patient, on what it means to have faith and hope and on what it means to say goodbye. The writing is at once mesmerizing and matter-of-fact, and though the book is short, it is still powerful and important.. Kalanithi succumbed to cancer before he finished writing his book, and his wife wrote the final chapter. Bring tissues.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I picked up <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061187895/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=recipesforapo-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0061187895&linkId=2e05e58cdd53b83d0f4cffc2c216debf">The Post-Birthday World</a> after hearing it described as a "beach read with substance" on the podcast <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/what-should-i-read-next/">What Should I Read Next</a>. The novel is structured around alternate futures for the main character, a la Sliding Doors, and is written in a style I can only describe as an attempt at edgy, feminist-tinged Chick Lit (descriptives that have very little business being used in the same sentence). An American of Russian descent living in London, Irina faces a pivotal decision to continue her safe, albeit slightly stodgy life with her long-time "safe" boyfriend, or to begin an ill-advised (but seemingly fascinating) affair with a famous snooker player and to leave behind her life to start anew. While I greatly appreciate the concept (and generally can't get enough of this sort of structure), the protagonist never quite appealed to me and the language was more than little discordant. The final chapter, however, is a thing of beauty and leaves the reader enough room to wonder which door had indeed been chosen. If you like Chick Lit, I recommend this, but with reservations (and only if you are not offended by crass language in regards to sex). If Chick Lit isn't your thing though, keep moving.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804172951/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=recipesforapo-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0804172951&linkId=6b2656740f2f4ac2fefc74271395b26c">City on Fire</a> is a work of ambitious literary fiction that is not to be entered into lightly. At 900-something pages, a small portion of which are in zine form and some of which are in magazine article form, and spanning a dizzying array of diverse characters, I felt frustrated at times by its grandness of scope, but was well-rewarded for following it to the end (as a matter of fact, when I finished the last line, I turned right back to page one and re-read the prologue). The novel is set in NYC and Long Island during the 1970s, and dips into the lives of a police detective, a fire worker, a group of anarchistic punks, a wealthy and powerful family, a couple of disaffected teens from the suburbs. Many themes are tackled, including race, homosexuality, drug abuse, loneliness, adultery - well, now that I think about it, this list could go on for days. Amazingly, it all works - all the characters, all the themes, and even all the pages. While it takes the first half of the book before the reader even has a full sense of what on earth is going on, the second half moves much faster, zeroing in on the action of one particular night during the New York City blackout of 1977. The writing is superb, the setting is rich and highly evocative, the ending is a thing of beauty, and the author's ability to deftly pull it all together is a masterclass in fiction writing.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcpUgL3MeurerBmnAftsNIlhwnijKo2puXPvZ0vLpP_M9O5-bUDMltEodvZVQIJTLaAaLs9AWh0RQFtBp40EjKynS5xD1fKnTaAJSoI7GqiZTHJ74mKFPiYH2bhlsSH4MPcox5g/s1600/beauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcpUgL3MeurerBmnAftsNIlhwnijKo2puXPvZ0vLpP_M9O5-bUDMltEodvZVQIJTLaAaLs9AWh0RQFtBp40EjKynS5xD1fKnTaAJSoI7GqiZTHJ74mKFPiYH2bhlsSH4MPcox5g/s320/beauty.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373892322/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=recipesforapo-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0373892322&linkId=432d1f5ce868086d411f61621a30c16a">The Beauty Detox Solution</a>, written by popular Certified Nutritionist <a href="http://kimberlysnyder.com/">Kimberly Snyder</a>, is an excellent primer on holistic nutrition that delves relatively deeply into the science without overwhelming or boring the reader. The heavy use of the word 'beauty' can be a little tiresome, but is easily forgiven since the target audience is one who might be interested in eating better purely to lose weight and improve their skin. The nutritional information is sound, and ample recipes are provided (though the recipes will only be useful if the reader loves avocados). It is an easy read, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about Ayurvedic and holistic, mostly-vegetarian nutrition. </span></span></div>
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<b><i>This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Postmodern Planet.</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQfXscWk_7riGA1m17A8MTG86wv-ar-hM7Q3sfICfLzWrv-OM2HWhf0gPQDyZzZUFcCutnbM9SCj9_nf-vM9EvWdwdZROKgN1yWRwhyH7ZhiZGVfZEuHIlteHVgS0OhEtTEZzLg/s1600/IMG_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQfXscWk_7riGA1m17A8MTG86wv-ar-hM7Q3sfICfLzWrv-OM2HWhf0gPQDyZzZUFcCutnbM9SCj9_nf-vM9EvWdwdZROKgN1yWRwhyH7ZhiZGVfZEuHIlteHVgS0OhEtTEZzLg/s400/IMG_0137.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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You guys, there are times when making the meal plan is the hardest thing I do all week. Our schedule, like most people, I'm sure, just isn't quite conducive to easy planning, and every time I think I have a rhythm in place that holds up relatively well to the whims of our weeks, something else comes up and throws me for a loop. <div>
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You would think I would learn to just roll with it. And I'm trying...</div>
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This week, we have a holiday, a house guest, a lot of work to squeeze into three days, and a quick weekend trip to the beach on the calendar, so rolling with it is really all I can do.</div>
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MONDAY: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2005/10/downward-spiral.html">Black Bean Chili</a></div>
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This recipe is a long-time family favorite, and it is always a lifesaver for us. I threw together a double batch of it yesterday, knowing we would need the leftovers for today (it reheats like a dream). Since we keep bell peppers and tomatoes in the freezer for emergencies, and we generally keep canned beans in the pantry, it is a rare day in which I cannot pull this off at the last minute. There weren't canned beans available this time, but I had a long, lazy day on Sunday in which to simmer a big pot of dried beans all afternoon, so as usual, it was the perfect solution in the scramble of <i>Oh crap, I wasn't planning on cooking, and we are out of everything, but I need something that will feed a larger-than-usual-crew for two days.</i> If you want to keep it super healthy, serve the recipe as-is. If you want a little more fat and decadence, serve it with some grated cheese and/or a dollop of sour cream, and scoop it up with tortilla chips instead of a spoon.</div>
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TUESDAY: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2006/10/truly-fine-cooking.html">Linguine with Caramelized Onions & Gremolata</a>, Salad, <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/08/athens-locally-grown.html">Bruschetta</a></div>
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This will be a busy day, and I won't get home until almost dinnertime, so an easy recipe is crucial. This pasta dish comes together fast, and serving it with a salad will assuage my guilt over the high proportion of grain to vegetable in the recipe.</div>
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WEDNESDAY: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2010/03/blueberry-pecan-whole-grain-pancakes.html">Blueberry-Pecan Whole Grain Pancakes</a>, <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2006/09/youve-come-long-way-baby.html">Creamy Dreamy Cheddar Grits</a></div>
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Only the kids and I will be home for dinner on Wednesday, and breakfast for dinner always seems fun to us. I think we might spend the afternoon at the pool, come home for pancakes and grits, and then watch a movie. Because why not?</div>
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THURSDAY: <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/slow-cooker-spinach-and-ricotta-lasagna-with-romaine-salad">Spinach Lasagna</a>, Garlic Toast</div>
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Don't scoff, but this lasagna recipe cooks in the crockpot. I know it seems sacrilegious, but it's easy, it will cook while the kids and I are at the pool, and it is absolutely delicious. The recipe calls for frozen spinach, but I like to use fresh, and I tend to double (and sometimes triple) the amount of spinach called for. </div>
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FRIDAY and SATURDAY: <i>The Kitchen is Closed</i></div>
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The kids and I are squeezing in a quick weekend trip down to Tybee Island with some friends. We might eat nothing but peanut butter sandwiches, or we might eat at restaurants for every single meal. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.</div>
Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-12028450862659126672016-07-01T08:00:00.000-04:002016-07-01T08:00:29.057-04:00Four Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Popping in with a few of the articles, podcasts, & recipes that have been on my mind lately.</i></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Sometimes I can lose sight of the forest for the trees. Lately, during my daily yoga practice, I have found myself focusing more on my challenge poses than on what my body truly needs that day. It is silly, really, to insist on frustrating myself daily with sticking a handstand when the handstand itself has so little to do with the genuine practice of yoga. As much as I love social media, and as much fun as I enjoy clicking 'like' on all the Instagram photos of beautiful girls doing complicated handstands on the beach, nailing that elusive handstand will mean little in the grand scheme of my yoga practice. I show up on my mat every day for a lot of reasons, none of which have anything to do with acrobatics. This thought really hit home this week when I was listening to this super-brief four-minute episode of the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/yogaland-podcast/id1105565152?mt=2">Yogaland podcast</a>, in which Andrea references a stunning quote from <span style="background-color: white; color: #3a3b3c; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa:</span></span> "Yoga is not a practice of self-improvement at all; it's a practice of self-acceptance." Ah. Yes. And <b>that</b> is precisely why I have not stuck the handstand yet. I have been holding on too tightly to the idea that a perfect and beautiful handstand will somehow mean I have reached The Next Level of Improvement, when most likely the lesson I first need to learn is that I am already enough even without the handstand.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="http://zenhabits.net/">Zen Habits blog</a> has long been a favorite of mine, and this week, when too many thoughts were crowding my head, and when I faced the disappointment of not receiving something I had been hoping for, I was reminded of one of his posts from a few years back titled '<a href="http://zenhabits.net/doing/">The Zen of Doing</a>.' It is short, and it is pure and absolute <i><b>genius</b></i>. Whether the word 'zen' makes your eyes roll into the back of your head, or whether you are a bonafide expert at mindfulness (in which case, please leave your contact information in the comments), the 30 seconds it takes to read that post can quite literally change everything about your mindset in a time of discontent.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Last week, I made <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2015/01/marinated-kale-and-whipped-ricotta-pizza/">this Marinated Kale & Whipped Ricotta Pizza</a>, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. It is the stuff dreams are made of: it is decadent, absolutely scrumptious (we fought over the last few pieces), and dead easy if you cheat and buy some pre-made pizza crusts at the supermarket. Whole-wheat crusts are the healthiest option, of course, and ideally you will find the ones that do not include high-fructose corn syrup, but I'm finding lately that true happiness lies in not getting hung up on the details too much. Regardless of whether you need to cheat or whether you like making your own crust, I recommend pre-baking the crust so that it gets a little crispy before you put the soggier ingredients on it. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Capsule wardrobes and uniform dressing have long been a little bit of an obsession of mine, and over the past few years, I have winnowed my wardrobe down to a tightly-curated, well-fitting, easily-cared-for, minimalist's dream. As a general rule, you'll find me in skinny jeans, sandals, and a black v-neck t-shirt in spring and fall. In the winter, I'll swap the sandals for motorcycle boots, and throw a cardigan over the v-neck (or swap out the shirt for a black pullover). For summer, I lean pretty heavily on flowy tank tops with the skinnies, or a black t-shirt dress if it's too hot for pants. I have one or two date night outfits, and a couple of dressier options that work just as well for church as they do for funerals or weddings. [Of course, a couple of sillier, more single-use frocks have also remained in the closet, like that hand-tooled red leather vintage trench coat that is way too cool to discard, and the <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2011/04/ode-to-dress.html">legendary Easter dress</a> that I've worn every year since the mid-1990s, but I don't begrudge those gorgeous items their real estate now that the rest of the closet has been beaten into submission]. It's easy to dress like this, it fits my needs and my style to a T, and <b>it makes getting ready virtually idiot-proof</b>. Nobody likes wasting 15 minutes deciding what to wear each day, and if you get bored easy, then you can always go crazy with scarves and other accessories, although frankly, I'm satisfied with a very, <i>very</i> small collection of jewelry. The hardest part of nailing the capsule wardrobe is in the beginning, when you might feel unsure of your style and your needs. If you are looking to simplify your life (which I swear starts with your closet), the free <a href="http://www.un-fancy.com/capsule-wardrobe-101/free-printable-wardrobe-planner/">Wardrobe Planner</a> over at <a href="http://www.un-fancy.com/">Unfancy</a> might be just what you need to get you moving in the right direction. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>I hope you have a lovely holiday weekend. We are planning to hit up all the local fireworks celebrations, and I'm going to squeeze in a Lady Date with my girlfriends as well, because THREE DAY WEEKEND FTW.</i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 18px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 18px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-63332335696438892842016-06-20T20:10:00.000-04:002016-06-20T20:10:01.194-04:00Meal Plan • 6/20/16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFVoJob8iEjH7Gv4vHmdT1PkMtIMy4eF2jOiboguxAF5fVDvxA4QXh9-V2NJuZ_Ur4zuMcB9nA1icpJlmd9qStmDEHUBsfvCmJsz7hDIwQMnX526OMhKrehk4kd8yzGNheH9IPg/s1600/IMG_0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFVoJob8iEjH7Gv4vHmdT1PkMtIMy4eF2jOiboguxAF5fVDvxA4QXh9-V2NJuZ_Ur4zuMcB9nA1icpJlmd9qStmDEHUBsfvCmJsz7hDIwQMnX526OMhKrehk4kd8yzGNheH9IPg/s400/IMG_0911.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This genius new page in my bullet journal is a total meal-planning game-changer. The idea (and I would be so pleased if it works out as planned) is that I will pull off the post-its each week and store them in my recipe binder. Over time I will build a collection of them, organized in the binder according to type (pasta, soups, Mexican, etc), and then when it comes time to plan each week's menu, I will be able to pull these post-its out of the binder and pop them into their respective day slots in this page in my bullet journal. <br />
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The truth is, of course, that I am constantly trying new recipes and discarding the ones that no longer serve us, so it is entirely possible that I will continually be creating new post-its, but I would like to think there will be at least some re-use involved.<br />
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Regardless, it looks cool. And I had a zen time making it.<br />
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This week has more new recipes than usual slotted. It is that time of year when I am far less overwhelmed than usual, and the time and space have opened in my mind to allow for tinkering and testing. The beautiful, long, languid days of summer are my forever favorites.<br />
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MONDAY: Penne Pasta with <a href="http://www.redshallotkitchen.com/2013/01/happy-new-year-2013.html">Artichoke Lemon Pesto</a>, <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/08/athens-locally-grown.html">Bruschetta</a><br />
The kids are in an all-day camp every day this week, so quick and easy recipes are on my mind. We are all a little bored with <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/08/basil-perfume.html">traditional pesto</a>, and this one looked unusual and interesting enough (yet still fast enough) to make the cut for day one. <br />
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TUESDAY: <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2015/01/marinated-kale-and-whipped-ricotta-pizza/">Marinated Kale & Whipped Ricotta Pizza</a>, Salad<br />
I swear, I've had this recipe pinned for eight million years. Not sure why it took me so long to throw it onto a menu. Very, very excited to try it. The flavor profile sounds scrumptious, and it should be easy enough if I use pre-made pizza crusts (pro tip: the ones at Trader Joe's are made without high-fructose corn syrup and keep in the freezer for such a time as this).<br />
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WEDNESDAY: Brown Rice, <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/63113/best-black-beans/">Black Beans</a>, & <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-pico-de-gallo-salsa-fresca-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-25757">Pico de Gallo</a><br />
This sounds so simple, and it is simple, but this dish is so comforting and flavorful and I would eat it every day if it came to that. I mean, it's just beans and rice, sure, but the pico elevates it to restaurant-quality, and if you batch-cook the beans on the weekend and freeze them until needed (or heck, use canned beans in a pinch), then the dish comes together in minutes. I know canned beans are not ideal - the sodium is too high, the flavor isn't quite as complex, the texture is less-than-perfect, and the cost is higher - but if the choice is between canned beans and picking up take-out, I think it's a no-brainer. Use the canned beans if that's what it takes. Sometimes 'good enough' is actually perfect. Also, if you have a bottle of <a href="http://www.colgin.com/">Liquid Smoke</a> around, I highly recommend throwing a dash or two of it in the beans while they heat up.<br />
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THURSDAY: <a href="http://www.foodiecrush.com/gnocchi-with-pomodoro-sauce/">Gnocchi with Pomodoro Sauce</a>, olive bread <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/08/athens-locally-grown.html">bruschetta</a><br />
Pre-packaged gnocchi is straight-up emergency food, and I have a sneaking suspicion that we will be in Emergency Mode by Thursday. I keep a pack of Trader Joe's shelf-stable gnocchi around for just this sort of occasion. The sauce looks like fun, and the added mozzarella will keep it decadent enough to please the children. I'm looking forward to this dinner.<br />
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FRIDAY: <a href="http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/corn-and-chipotle-soup-with-avocado-radish-salsa/">Corn & Chipotle Soup</a>, Salad, Baguette<br />
I like simple, fresh soups for summer, and this one sounds intriguing. Anytime I open up a can of chipotles in adobo sauce, I freeze the leftovers in ice cube trays to use in our <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2005/10/downward-spiral.html">black bean chili</a> or to throw into salsa. I am very interested in seeing how the addition of the chipotle flavor will affect a soup that seems as basic as this one, and plan to try it in some of my other favorite soups if it turns out as interesting as it sounds like it will. <br />
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SATURDAY: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/05/ive-said-it-before-and-ill-say-it-again.html">Frittata</a>, <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2014/07/honey-mustard-roasted-cabbage.html">Honey Mustard Roasted Cabbage</a><br />
Frittatas are one of my fall-backs for the end of the week. They are so versatile and will use up whatever leftover vegetables and cheeses (and even grains) that are still sitting around in the fridge, and they are always crowd-pleasers. The roasted cabbage is another new recipe that I've been meaning to get around to, but we love cabbage and are always up for a new spin with it.<br />
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<br />Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-75156463929438336842016-06-17T08:00:00.000-04:002016-06-17T08:00:02.689-04:00Five Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnP6V72s3UH_1glotCseRGiiatnQLsNqP0kJ0sIBH7o52oL0RQOp6pbrQtCvxPgfzWh9Gk0oH4QQaWFyQbHvbJRd3PYz1YsfEa-i4xqn9s6x9SeIONpE1es77vCNbyJfajO6vKg/s1600/IMG_0834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnP6V72s3UH_1glotCseRGiiatnQLsNqP0kJ0sIBH7o52oL0RQOp6pbrQtCvxPgfzWh9Gk0oH4QQaWFyQbHvbJRd3PYz1YsfEa-i4xqn9s6x9SeIONpE1es77vCNbyJfajO6vKg/s400/IMG_0834.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Popping in to share a few of the recipes, articles, and ideas that have been on my mind lately. <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">It took me years to get the hang of pan-frying tofu, and it is still kind of the bane of my existence. To get a crispy crust on more than one side, I inevitably flip every single stinking piece of it by hand, and while the end result is tasty and fabulous, I'm not certain that the searing pain in my fingertips is worth the hassle. Last week, I tried a <a href="https://food52.com/recipes/56204-baked-tofu-with-coconut-kale">Baked Tofu recipe from Food 52</a>, and it was outrageously easy and perfect. This week, I had great luck with the same marinade and baking method, and served the tofu in a <a href="http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/thai-curried-noodles-with-broccoli-and-tofu/">Thai Curried Noodle</a> dish. Next time, I plan to toss the marinated tofu in nutritional yeast and bake it for <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2007/11/grit.html">The Grit's Golden Bowl</a> recipe. New favorite cooking method, for sure.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Have you ever brushed your teeth with activated charcoal? Rubbing black stuff into your teeth doesn't sound like a good idea at all, I know, but I've been reading about it for a while now and when a sample of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UXW9ZHY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=recipesforapo-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00UXW9ZHY&linkId=48c81dff84a0bfc744a5fac687f8a2be">Smart Ash</a> (man, I dig that name) made its way into my hands, I couldn't wait to try it. The process takes a little getting used to, and it makes a colossal mess, but after using it for a week, I am super pleased with how much whiter my teeth have become. I only use it in the evenings, and continue to use the <a href="http://doterra.com/US/en/p/onguard-natural-whitening-toothpaste">Doterra On Guard</a> toothpaste in the morning, but I can see making the activated charcoal an occasional (weekly?) part of my personal care routine. Also, THE NAME. It cracks me up every time I see Smart Ash in print. It's like it was designed for me.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Last weekend, I took a workshop on the Art of Storytelling taught by a filmmaker from <a href="http://1504.co/">1504</a>, and one of the short documentaries we watched was <a href="https://vimeo.com/153552605">America's Boulevard</a> - a fascinating look at the process of creating and installing a massive mural in Chattanooga, TN in an ambitious attempt at urban renewal. The film itself is only about 20 minutes long, but it is riveting to watch a group of white Northerners swoop into a predominantly black neighborhood in the South and absolutely succeed at bringing the community together to support and help create what became one of the five largest murals in the country. We will be heading to Chattanooga for Labor Day weekend, and I plan to re-watch the documentary with the children before we go so that they have the sociological context before we seek out the mural in person.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">This Huffington Post article, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/manuel-villacorta/the-best-10-nutrition-tips-from-registered-dietitian-nutritionists_b_9393988.html">The Best 10 Nutrition Tips From Registered Dietician Nutritionists</a>, is one of the most sensible pieces of nutrition journalism I've seen in mainstream media in quite a while. My favorite tip? "One meal won't 'make' or 'break' your health." My personal nutritional philosophy is to eat super clean about 80% of the time. That way, if I go out occasionally and eat a loaded tofu dog with a greasy, DELICIOUS side of fries (ahem, like I did on Tuesday evening), then it's no big deal. And if I have a green smoothie for breakfast and a giant salad for lunch, but then I eat a plate of pasta for dinner? Again<i>, No Big Deal</i>. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I fell down the <a href="http://bulletjournal.com/">Bullet Journal</a> rabbit hole recently, and I am <b>so in love with the process</b>. Bullet journaling, if you are unfamiliar, is in essence a DIY day planner system. Mine is very simple for right now, and I am having a blast adapting it to my needs. If you are interested in getting started, but are completely intimidated by the absurd amount of websites devoted to it, I recommend starting with <a href="http://bohoberry.wpengine.com/bullet-journal/">this post by Boho Berry</a> (be sure to watch the short video by the creator of the Bullet Journal - it is embedded in the aforementioned post). Then, if you're still interested, just dive right down the rabbit hole. I have compiled some of my favorite Bullet Journal posts and pages in <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/sarahbeam/bullet-journal-rabbit-hole/">a special board over on Pinterest</a>. One caveat: if you like being told what to do, you might be happier with a pre-packaged planner (in which case, please let me steer you towards the <a href="http://bestself.co/">Best Self Journal</a>), but if you're the type who prefers to forge her own way in the world, and bristles when told how things are <u>supposed</u> to be done (<i>raises hand</i>), then bullet journaling just might change your life.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>I hope you have a great weekend. I am going to spend this evening practicing stand up paddle board yoga (bucket list item) at a local lake, and I am beside myself with anticipation. </i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 153px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 18px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; 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font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 153px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 18px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 153px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 18px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 153px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 18px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-9176447592292795482016-06-15T19:48:00.002-04:002016-06-15T19:48:23.148-04:00Quick Lit • June 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9K0el8HzNu3TjFVHkp16Yh_1vd4Vp3Li7eaYGY2alsug2QF0IVkl29qj6Q554ruA90wa1eS8fyVTQ88MudpbdwXOhyAI7ei8QuvjhLXKMHxvgKqValRpG9uF8z1ROPIuaBEKHew/s1600/IMG_0381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9K0el8HzNu3TjFVHkp16Yh_1vd4Vp3Li7eaYGY2alsug2QF0IVkl29qj6Q554ruA90wa1eS8fyVTQ88MudpbdwXOhyAI7ei8QuvjhLXKMHxvgKqValRpG9uF8z1ROPIuaBEKHew/s400/IMG_0381.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first half of the past four weeks were a virtual treasure trove of fun, easy reading, and fabulous literary lovin'. So much reading, so much blessed free time, so many great books. It was partly because of the ocean, of course. There was a glorious stretch of open, unscheduled time, the best backdrop ever, and a giant stack of books I couldn't wait to read.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But then...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Oy.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I started reading a 900-something page ten-ton block of very well-reviewed literary fiction (<b><i>not</i></b> the novel pictured above), and it all stalled out. Like, came to a screeching halt. In the past two weeks, I have read maybe 250 pages of it, and I swear, the character development isn't even fully fleshed out yet. I am loathe to abandon it, but I am hard-pressed to hunker down and finish it either. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The last few weeks have been busy and boisterous though, so it's possible that I just haven't given the book enough time and attention yet. In service to serious fiction, I have decided to give it one more weekend. If I'm not hooked deep by the end of the day on Saturday, I'm going to bail. Such a depressing thought...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today I am linking up with <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/quick-lit-june-2016/">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a> to share short, snippet-like reviews of the books I have read over the past four weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="freeTextreview1632470435" style="color: #181818;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1476789010/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=recipesforapo-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1476789010&linkId=cfefcc870993c073ee9d77687517a3ea">About Grace</a>, one of <i><b>the best books</b></i> I have read in the past twelve months, is an ethereal novel about fate, family, desertion, and redemption. Spanning nearly 30 years, Doerr manages to convey the passage of years effortlessly while still slowing down the story at times to meditate intensely on a particular setting. Winkler, the man at the center of the novel, has dreams that sometimes come true, and in one brief, desperate moment, he abandons his family so that his infant daughter will not die in the way he has dreamed will happen. The story (and the years) that follow are portrayed in a mesmerizing, dream-like manner, and there were sentences - whole paragraphs even - in which the language is so rich, I could have read them over and over again. Luminous, beautiful, amazing story.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">If you read the inside jacket of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011T6J7CU/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=recipesforapo-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B011T6J7CU&linkId=cc7fd862fd9051522b4b6e23b4d37e1a">I Let You Go</a>, you might expect an incredibly sad and depressing novel about the loss of a child, but there is so much more to this story than meets the eye. The book begins with a terrible hit-and-run accident in which a child is killed (I almost walked away based on that one fact - losing a child is a fear I have no interest in exploring) and then follows Jenna as she tries to start a new life on the coast in an attempt to escape her grief and her nightmares. The action is split between Jenna's faltering first steps on her own, and that of the detectives who spend a year trying to find the driver of the car. The setting is richly detailed and the characters are tightly drawn, but what really sets I Let You Go apart is the plot twist in the middle and the suspenseful aspects of the story. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the 1980s, three young girls spent their days playing in and around a ramshackle long-closed roadside hotel where something happened that ruined their friendship forever. In the present day, one of the girls, still living on the property, has killed her family and herself in a gruesome manner, and leaves a clue that hints at what happened long ago. The tale unfolds as it jumps around in time from the 1950s, when the hotel was in its heyday, to the 1980s and to 2013, and unapologetically tips its hat to Alfred Hitchcock. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804169977/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=recipesforapo-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0804169977&linkId=6fd5f9d407a0c09f63325750b24bba35">The Night Sister</a> made for a quick and enjoyable beach read, weaving together suspense, spookiness, and outlandish (but fun) ghost story elements.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1878424319/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=recipesforapo-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1878424319&linkId=8862144340bd5ea53abb39c8f21db129">The Four Agreements</a> is a life-changing spiritual self-growth book that offers a simple but powerful framework from which the reader can quite literally change their life for the better. The agreements themselves (be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, always do your best) are widely distributed, but are illuminated here in this slim volume in a way that cracks the code for those seeking freedom from the usual neuroses that we fixate upon. Caveat: the author claims to have been given this information in a dream, and some of the wording may strike the reader as too new age-y, but this is one of the few books I have returned to over and over and over and over again for years. At 138 small-sized pages, it can be skimmed and read in one sitting, but is better (in my humble opinion) savored slowly in order to properly chew on the amazing wealth of wisdom.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Postmodern Planet.</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 247px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1350px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 247px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1350px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-10759583754191274812016-06-13T20:25:00.001-04:002016-06-13T20:25:38.231-04:00Meal Plan • June 13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This weekend, as I was fed by some of the best chefs in the Southeast at the <a href="http://www.southerngrown.com/post-event">Southern Grown Festival</a> on Sea Island, I was already flummoxed by how to put together a meal plan for the coming week. I was eating so well, you see, and while I was inspired by these chefs, I was also intimidated to return to my own kitchen and come up with anything even remotely tasty after the foods I sampled.<br />
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And then, on the way to the Farewell Y'all Brunch on Sunday morning, we heard the news about Orlando, and the world shifted. We took a walk on the beach before brunch, and I thought about the then-20-something people who had lost their lives. While we ate, we found out the number was much, much higher, and things stopped making sense. There we were, at an exclusive beach club on a breathtakingly beautiful island, with outrageous amounts of incredible food being set before us, and at the same time, there were hundreds of families in a horrifying limbo only 200 miles south of us.<br />
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It was sobering.<br />
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Horrifying.<br />
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I hugged our friend a little tighter before we got in the car and headed back home. I told him I love him. Because I do. I love our friends from way down deep in my heart and I think it is important to say it out loud. The days are long, after all, but the years are short.<br />
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That seems to be my go-to response in these situations, but how scary is it that I have a go-to response at all? How do we even live in a world in which I have a go-to response to horrific events?<br />
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And yet, here we are. We got back home last night, and we reunited our little family, and we returned to our routines, and it seems absurd to even think about the fact that I need to come up with a meal plan, but the truth is that I do. No matter what goes on in the world, I will need to feed my family. We will need to sit at the table together and enjoy our dinner, even though (and maybe because) there are so many families tonight that will never have that chance again.<br />
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MONDAY: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2015/08/kale-white-bean-risotto.html">Kale & Cannellini Bean Risotto</a><br />
This recipe is a family favorite. The technique couldn't be simpler, and the final dish is comfort food at its best. I needed comfort food today.<br />
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TUESDAY: Cheese Plate<br />
I'm going out for dinner with a girlfriend, but the rest of my family is still going to need to eat. The husband took a class on cheese making over the weekend with the fine folks at <a href="https://sweetgrassdairy.com/">Sweet Grass Dairy</a>, and we brought home an absurd amount of amazing and potently stinky cheese. The kids cannot wait to dig into these treats.<br />
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WEDNESDAY:<a href="http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/thai-curried-noodles-with-broccoli-and-tofu/"> Thai Curry Noodles with Broccoli & Tofu</a><br />
This is a new recipe, and I am looking forward to trying it out, but I may bake the tofu before tossing it into the simmer pot.<br />
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THURSDAY: <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2013/03/05/roasted-buddha-bowl/">Roasted Buddha Bowl</a><br />
I love this dish. Rice, topped with caramelized, roasted vegetables and crispy roasted chickpeas, and drizzled with a tart, creamy vegan sauce. Also comfort food. I think I'm seeing a pattern here.<br />
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FRIDAY: <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/smoky-potato-cakes-kale-creamy-ricotta">Smoky Potato Cakes with Kale & Ricotta</a>, Salad<br />
I have only made this recipe once before, but it was impressive for such an easy, quick-to-put-together dish. Looking forward to trying it again.<br />
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SATURDAY: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2009/09/mozzarella-stuffed-arancini.html">Mozzarella-Stuffed Arancini</a>, <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2007/11/kitchen-calculations-what-nerd.html">Spicy Marinara</a><br />
This isn't the quickest recipe in my arsenal, but it is an absolute crowd-pleaser. The whole family gets excited about gooey mozzarella oozing out of a crispy breadcrumb covered ball of rice. Serving it atop spicy marinara elevates the experience to a whole other level. <br />
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SUNDAY: I dunno, man. It's Father's Day, which I suppose means I need to cook on my only day off. I will almost certainly keep it easy. Probably vegetable crudités with my homemade <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/01/snack-and-read-sundays.html">Blue Cheese Dip</a> - it's one of Preston's faves.<br />
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<i>Just a few of the articles, podcasts, and recipes that have been on my mind lately.</i></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.bohoberry.com/miracle-morning/">The Miracle Morning</a>: Boho Berry's blog post about the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0979019710/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=recipesforapo-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0979019710&linkId=aa47b92f2e62f2bd63c771027d8bdb9d">The Miracle Morning</a> gave me a lot to think about and reinforced for me the importance of starting the day right. The book is about the wonders of having a solid morning routine, and I couldn't agree more. My best days are the ones that start with a little quiet time, some inspirational reading, 15-30 minutes of exercise, and a bit of journaling, and I like to set my alarm an hour early in order to make those things happen. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of mornings, I made this <a href="http://www.twogreenpeas.com/2015/08/peanut-butter-overnight-oats/">Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats</a> recipe this week, and it was <i><b>just right</b></i> when I came back in the house starving after an early morning run. The protein and fiber satiated me, and the advance preparation couldn't have been easier. It literally takes less than 5 minutes to prep the recipe the night before, and then it's ready to go at breakfast time. Even better, it's already packed in a jar and can be grabbed from the refrigerator and taken to work with zero hassle. Total win.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.inc.com/quora/12-things-arianna-huffington-wants-you-to-do-before-bed.html">Twelve Things Ariana Huffington Wants You to Do Before Bed </a>: Clearly, routines have been on my mind lately. At night, I like to go to bed and read a book for 30 minutes or so before falling asleep. My brain appreciates the break from electronics, and I enjoy the ritual of spending some quiet time with some good, quality fiction in a low-light setting in the most comfortable bed in the world. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/riverheadbooks/ep-12-big-strong-magic">Brene Brown on Big Strong Magic</a>: I really, <i><b>really</b></i> enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert's <a href="http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/magic-lessons/">Magic Lessons podcast series on creativity</a> when it came out last summer (was it that long ago? now I'm not sure...), but this episode, featuring the amazing Brene Brown, was so powerful and mind-blowing that I have listened to it at least four times over the past six months. I copied quotes from it into my journal, and have spent countless hours mulling over the topics they discuss. <i>It is the stuff of pure genius.</i> The language is a little salty in parts, but it's worth putting on your big girl panties for. Good, good stuff. And if you haven't yet read Gilbert's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594634718/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=recipesforapo-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1594634718&linkId=743b0932f427c33cbae2ac9c8f20badc">Big Magic</a>, I highly recommend it.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Have you noticed the hilarious and pervasive mango theme going on at Trader Joe's this summer? Mango is the new pumpkin, you know. A lot of it is pretty excellent, some of it is so-so, and a few items are just weird, but I am totally, absolutely, completely head-over-heels in love with the <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article/3055">Mango Body Butter</a>. If you want some though (and you live in Athens), you better hurry, because I'm going to go by there again in the next few days and buy out their entire stock before it disappears for the season.</li>
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<i>I hope you have a great weekend. I'm headed down to the coast for the <a href="http://www.southerngrown.com/">Southern Grown Food & Music Festival at Sea Island</a>, and I'm so excited I almost can't stand it.</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 18px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 193px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 18px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-74609291312155120522016-06-06T20:58:00.000-04:002016-06-06T20:58:00.771-04:00Meal Plan • June 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9fUXy0_KKCu_YdLbQT6bEHMYRozXabd0-FPUbjL5p-ggR8cvlgGr5MhyphenhyphenXLvsTbRHDI-gfWtXZIklLRGvOa3tjBQwMkq5USkCjSCLqw8NC8Ef_9hPexGuvmZKCE3V6ZQfDeQPNg/s1600/IMG_0596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9fUXy0_KKCu_YdLbQT6bEHMYRozXabd0-FPUbjL5p-ggR8cvlgGr5MhyphenhyphenXLvsTbRHDI-gfWtXZIklLRGvOa3tjBQwMkq5USkCjSCLqw8NC8Ef_9hPexGuvmZKCE3V6ZQfDeQPNg/s320/IMG_0596.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I do not recall whether I have addressed it here or not, but one of the reasons I eat so clean for breakfast and lunch is so that I can be a little more decadent and easy-going with my dinners. The children are more than happy to join me in <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2012/09/green-for-life.html">green smoothies</a> for breakfast and <a href="http://www.thefullhelping.com/how-to-create-a-perfect-vegan-lunch-bowl/">Rainbow Bowls</a> for lunches, but even they would mutiny if I only served The Healthiest Foods Ever for every single meal. And the husband? Well, that would be no bueno.<br />
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He is very supportive of my nutritional proclivities, and for the most part he doesn't mind that half of the dinners I serve are vegan. But he also likes cheese. And eggs. <br />
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And if I'm being totally honest, I like them as well. I don't like them all the time - as a matter of fact, I feel sick if I eat too much cheese, and so I limit it to dinnertime. And even then, I still prefer to not have it at <b>every</b> dinner.<br />
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Thus, we have reached a relatively happy dinnertime balance. I manage to squeeze in around six servings of fruits and vegetables at breakfast and lunch so that I can loosen up a bit and have some pasta for dinner. Or cheese. Or something else that's a little less than ideal. And a few of our dinnertime meals remain vegan, and a few of them are utterly ridiculous (like tonight's pre-packaged gnocchi cooked in oil and topped with mozzarella and parmesan).<br />
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All of life is a balancing act, yes? It's about progress, not perfection. <br />
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<b>MONDAY</b>: <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/skillet_gnocchi_with_chard_white_beans.html">Skillet Gnocchi with Chard & White Beans</a><br />
This was an emergency dinner. My client errands ran late, and it was after the witching hour before we hit Trader Joe's to get the week's groceries on our way home. I wasn't sure what to make for dinner since we were running so far behind, so I grabbed a package of gnocchi and did a quick Google search when I got home. This recipe was quick and easy to pull together, and was not only relatively healthy, but also surprisingly delicious for something thrown together at the end of a long day. (Pro tip: I used the <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/images/fearless-flyer/uploads/article-1794/98088-organic-power-to-the-greens.png">Power of Greens mix from Trader Joe's</a>. Spinach would work just as well).<br />
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<b>TUESDAY</b>: <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/07/easy-chickpea-curry-with-coconut-rice/">Chickpea Curry</a> with Brown Rice Medley<br />
The whole family enjoys this recipe. It calls for coconut rice, which we found to be unnecessarily fatty, so we simply cook the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Brown-Rice-Medley/dp/B008I5FV2G">Trader Joe's Brown Rice Medley</a> in vegetable broth to serve with it. I have even cut half of the coconut milk in the curry itself - using vegetable broth for the other half of the liquid. These little tricks cut a lot of fat and calories, and using vegetable broth ensures that you don't lose out on any of the flavor.<br />
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<b>WEDNESDAY</b>: <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-crunchy-black-bean-tacos-cookbook-recipe-from-love-your-leftovers-202861">Crispy Black Bean Tacos</a><br />
This recipe isn't our healthiest dinner ever (see the cheese & the oil-cooking method), but it is one of our favorites. And it is SO EASY and SO FAST - ideal for a quick dinner after a long day of work, especially if you throw together the bean mixture the night before and leave it in the fridge so that you only have to pull it out and spoon it into the tortillas with a little cheese before tossing them onto the skillet. The beans and the corn tortillas are healthy enough, too, and a little cheese goes a long way here. Serve it with some guacamole for a dose of healthy fats.<br />
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<b>THURSDAY</b>: <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/56204-baked-tofu-with-coconut-kale">Baked Tofu with Coconut Kale and Brown Rice</a><br />
I can't wait to try this recipe. I found it linked on the blog of a nutritionist I like, and it sounds scrumptious. If you're a tofu newbie, this looks like a great one to try. Bonus: the preparation looks to be idiot-proof.<br />
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<b>FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY</b>: I'll be at the Sea Island <a href="http://www.southerngrown.com/home">Southern Grown Food & Music Festival</a> all weekend, so not only will I not be doing any cooking, I will be eating (a lot of) food prepared by some pretty phenomenal well-known chefs. And I'll be at the beach. <b><i>And <a href="http://www.jasonisbell.com/">Jason Isbell</a> is playing.</i></b> Pinch me. Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-10888053758324690462016-05-15T18:12:00.004-04:002016-05-15T18:12:40.324-04:00Quick Lit • May 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMZofU3JjrM7HI6WKfCKLsvZ6a5XAynCYhrZIrBdr9ApF8w1S5CpHEsiGGl56kgJ_e3IEoffqnJyKd-ZraolXbg11SZnXV3ugZDFHNqgOCCw1rk69T-Rr9KcWNbz9yoldLY14ew/s1600/AB672085-56BB-447F-B981-7AD8E95E843A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMZofU3JjrM7HI6WKfCKLsvZ6a5XAynCYhrZIrBdr9ApF8w1S5CpHEsiGGl56kgJ_e3IEoffqnJyKd-ZraolXbg11SZnXV3ugZDFHNqgOCCw1rk69T-Rr9KcWNbz9yoldLY14ew/s400/AB672085-56BB-447F-B981-7AD8E95E843A.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have lately fallen a little bit in love with zero-based scheduling (but not for the reasons you might expect). Much like zero-based budgeting, in which every dollar is accounted for and told how to behave, with zero-based scheduling, you take a look at your calendar and the list of tasks/appointments/etc and then you schedule the entire day down to the minute (okay, the hour).</div>
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It sounds constraining and painful, and I balked at first, but since I - like everyone else - constantly sing the tired refrain of there-aren't-enough-hours-in-the-day, obviously something needed to give and this seemed worth a shot.</div>
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Because if what you're doing isn't working, then maybe it's time to try something new, right?</div>
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So far, I have learned a few valuable things. (1) The train will get derailed and I absolutely will have to re-juggle the schedule as the day goes on. (2) Holding too tightly to the original schedule will result in nothing more than frustration and tears. (3) Using a pencil is advisable.</div>
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Interestingly though, what I am finding is that there <b><i>are</i></b> in fact more hours in the day, and I <i><b>do</b></i> have time for everything I want and need to do. Namely, I wanted more time for nonfiction reading (I do my fiction reading at night when my brain has no interest in being filled with more facts), so I scheduled 30 minutes at the beginning of the day to drink coffee and to read. </div>
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Eureka, right? More time to read. I am in love.</div>
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<i>Today, I am linking up with <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/quick-lit-may-2016/#">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a> to share short, snippet-like reviews of the books I have read over the past month.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9xJ5wn24xXcOUjVhILvXAxqrzTPHU2Fh6r8nYWZj2bPrBIUsBZXVe1K2Q3vu1dMWr6GdH6_sF5vDaQK2erfpAp35QLfR8UVu8gO0G2aWMvAkPh4vI4FEsXz8v16XVErn0AAZmQ/s1600/one+good+turn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9xJ5wn24xXcOUjVhILvXAxqrzTPHU2Fh6r8nYWZj2bPrBIUsBZXVe1K2Q3vu1dMWr6GdH6_sF5vDaQK2erfpAp35QLfR8UVu8gO0G2aWMvAkPh4vI4FEsXz8v16XVErn0AAZmQ/s320/one+good+turn.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316012823/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316012823&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=J3SN3BJADHKJOOLJ">One Good Turn</a>, the second in the Jackson Brodie series, takes the standard detective novel in a comically absurd direction, but oddly, it works. A bizarre and ridiculous series of events connects a disparate cast of characters in ways so laughably outlandish that the reader doesn't even have to suspend disbelief - the unbelievable coincidences are meant to be unbelievable, and they are, ultimately, the driving narrative force. It is a silly novel, but it is cleverly written, and I love the author (though this is one of her earlier - and definitely not one of her best - works).</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062419714/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062419714&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=WSOQEMDISRFLVPKM">Aim True</a> is a glorious celebration of authenticity, yoga, nourishing food, inspiration, and natural beauty. Kathryn Budig, a beloved yoga teacher who fills her classes with laughter and physical challenges, effortlessly distills onto the page everything she has stood for in the yoga community: body acceptance, pushing physical limits, and finding one's own inner strength. Filled with beautiful photos, recipes for both food and for beauty products, multiple yoga practices, and joyful writing, this book will be a mainstay of my yoga library for years to come.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As far as loveably dysfunctional families go, the members of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062414216/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062414216&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=S5UMKNDJIKVJSNG4">The Nest</a>'s Plumb family will go down as some of my all-time favorites. Four siblings have waited for years to inherit a family trust that was never meant to be more than a small gift, but has grown over the years into a Significant Amount. In the process of waiting for the youngest member to turn 40 (the date in which "the nest" will be disbursed), many of the Plumbs have leveraged the money ahead of time and find themselves in slightly desperate positions. There is the handsome Manhattan screw-up, the prim New England mom, the gay antique shop owner, and the once-promising novelist who hasn't published a book in 20 years, and the money that will either divide the family or give them each a chance to redeem themselves. Never heavy-handed, Sweeney manages to convey each of the characters' foibles in a way that keeps the tone light-hearted and more than a little hilarious. The novel rides the fine, beautiful line of beach read and literary fiction, and was riotously fun to read.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Postmodern Planet.</b></i></span></span></div>
Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-35821892674820711462016-05-08T20:45:00.000-04:002016-05-08T20:45:39.893-04:00Meal Plan • 5/8/16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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All weekend, I have stared suspiciously at next week's schedule, hoping for some insight on how to Make It Work. I gave the calendar the side-eye this morning (in fear), went over the details with the kids at lunch (in horror), and gave it a glance again a few minutes ago (this time, with dogged determination, because it doesn't matter how many activities we are juggling or how many work deadlines are looming, life is always a little bit off the rails and it's my job to make it work).<br />
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So that's what I plan to do: make it work. And as we all know, making it work means sucking it up and just<b><i> </i>doing the work</b>. And doing the work, as I think we all know, includes making a meal plan to avoid the <i>oh-crap-we're-starving-what-are-we-going-to-eat</i> scramble. Breakfasts will be green smoothies or whole-wheat toast topped with peanut butter, sliced apples, and cinnamon. Lunches will be Rainbow Bowls (I often post pictures of my weekly lunch bowls on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarahbeam/">my Instagram feed</a>) or leftovers from the previous night's dinner. Dinners will be idiot-proofed: healthy-enough, easy, and fast.</div>
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<b>MONDAY</b>: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2015/08/kale-white-bean-risotto.html">Kale & Cannellini Bean Risotto</a> & <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/08/eating-transparently.html">Spicy Corn on the Cob</a><br />
This risotto is a long-time family favorite, and it is a recipe I can throw together in my sleep. Bonus: it's a one-pot meal, and if I double it, the kids and I will have leftovers for lunch. <br />
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<b>TUESDAY</b>: <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/slow-cooker-spinach-and-ricotta-lasagna-with-romaine-salad">Slow-Cooker Spinach Lasagna</a><br />
This miracle meal is another family favorite, and since we have afternoon appointments that day, I can throw everything together in the crockpot after lunch so that we arrive home to a dinner that is hot and ready to be served. To make it more nutritious, I usually double or even triple the amount of spinach called for.<br />
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<b>WEDNESDAY</b>: <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-crunchy-black-bean-tacos-cookbook-recipe-from-love-your-leftovers-202861">Crispy Black Bean Tacos</a><br />
Another family favorite - I'm starting to see a pattern here. This one comes together in minutes so long as pre-cooked beans are available (canned beans are even easier - there's no need to be a purist here, especially in a pinch).<br />
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<b>THURSDAY</b>: <a href="http://www.theendlessmeal.com/coconut-curried-cauliflower-soup/">Coconut Curried Cauliflower Soup</a><br />
I'm excited to try this recipe for the first time. If it turns out to not be filling enough, we can always make popcorn for a snack before bedtime.<br />
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<b>FRIDAY</b>: <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/hungarian-noodles-and-cabbage-180592">Hungarian Noodles & Cabbage</a><br />
This is another new-to-us recipe. We have evening plans, and this looks like it will come together relatively quickly (I can finish up my work while it cooks) and we can scarf it down before heading out.<br />
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<b>SATURDAY</b>: <a href="http://placeofmytaste.com/pear-and-gorgonzola-flat-bread/">Pear & Gorgonzola Flatbread</a>, mixed green salad<br />
Another new recipe. Another evening when we need to eat and run. I will buy whole-wheat flatbread from Trader Joe's to up the nutrition factor.<br />
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<b>SUNDAY</b>: I dunno, man. Snacks? Restaurant? Starve to death? Doesn't matter. I don't cook on Sundays.</div>
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In other news, after years of using my smartphone as my planner/calendar/to-do list, I recently went back to using an actual-factual paper planner, and my productivity has shot through the roof. A client & friend turned me on to <a href="http://bestself.co/products/self-journal">Self Journal</a>, and I am really digging the focus on short-term goals. It's good stuff, friends, and it's free if you print the PDF yourself (I loved using the PDF for a short while, so I went ahead and bought a paper copy). The goal-setting instructions and guidance in the first few pages of the journal (which you can also access for free) are super inspiring and it gave me the kick-in-the-butt I needed to get over the mid-year slump.</div>
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<i><b>I would love to know if you still use a paper planner, or if you are thinking of returning to one.</b></i></div>
Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-1268690931722203982016-04-15T21:15:00.004-04:002016-04-16T09:50:14.618-04:00Quick Lit • April 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9dmF7sRcwZ_JoM28kA6qo_NS2U7tM-wxuAC2-N0lzAlynXsyU8w6P9ZsMQq6lRFK1ln8vnoc2LmCHs4tVwgfSgvXN2cirmdiWXGWXdbOJ0vzkMVjByR_toa-6Rsb1WVfLctwvw/s1600/08090D43-E1B8-42A4-ADEF-4A079D0172F2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9dmF7sRcwZ_JoM28kA6qo_NS2U7tM-wxuAC2-N0lzAlynXsyU8w6P9ZsMQq6lRFK1ln8vnoc2LmCHs4tVwgfSgvXN2cirmdiWXGWXdbOJ0vzkMVjByR_toa-6Rsb1WVfLctwvw/s320/08090D43-E1B8-42A4-ADEF-4A079D0172F2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The past four weeks have been the oddest, most bizarro reading weeks in recent memory. I read about 1500 pages, which isn't all that unusual, but what was unusual was that all those pages were contained in two novels. But two more wildly, madly different novels I don't think I could have chosen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One was published in the past year, and is shortlisted for a dizzying array of literary awards. The other was dystopian, slightly older, also won awards, but involved - oh, this is difficult and embarrassing to admit - vampires. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That's right. I said vampires.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, sort of vampires. More like bat-people, really, but who am I to parse words in this case? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today, I am linking up with <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/reading-lately/">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a> to share short, snippet-like reviews of the books I have read over the past month. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7otMZ8nR54J-ErrkTO3tddLaYLrbc-CMl6glKi_r_QpSyzF7Zr0TaECd3rl3Cgd0c1HfLOpPFQmcH-FryRhyphenhyphentkHaSDdzWKOe5N3lZ41aGOec4mBj_cPViIDO_iOXNiEYoEFAhKA/s1600/little+life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7otMZ8nR54J-ErrkTO3tddLaYLrbc-CMl6glKi_r_QpSyzF7Zr0TaECd3rl3Cgd0c1HfLOpPFQmcH-FryRhyphenhyphentkHaSDdzWKOe5N3lZ41aGOec4mBj_cPViIDO_iOXNiEYoEFAhKA/s320/little+life.jpg" width="210" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="readable reviewText" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804172706/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0804172706&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=DSYQQHPKMTWR2AMT">A Little Life</a> is a dark, disturbing, beautiful masterpiece of a novel, though it feels and acts less like a work of fiction and more like an emotional wrecking ball. The story follows four highly-intelligent, creative, and ultimately successful college friends from the time they meet in the dorm through the subsequent thirty-odd years of their lives in New York. Clocking in at 700-plus pages, the reader is absolutely enveloped in the character study of Jude, a psychologically damaged and deeply flawed lawyer, and these people who love him with an intensity and devotion that is both completely understandable and shockingly horrifying. My heart was ripped out of my body throughout the book and crushed between its pages, and I cried myself to sleep more than once in the reading. A Little Life is a book I will never, ever forget. {Trigger warnings - more than I can even list; sensitive types may want to give a wide berth to this book}.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cuEJjMf5LcjSpy0hlvXS1cZX2ydIa2zX863vw1cb-uikvZGLElEtV-_5oE8HgfdhabexaTyQ2R9qyI7QeWoK4VFMXW0IhGWdxfKT7Ss3btun5DsNq0Cefx4vzU58UvqWVoYmaw/s1600/the+passage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cuEJjMf5LcjSpy0hlvXS1cZX2ydIa2zX863vw1cb-uikvZGLElEtV-_5oE8HgfdhabexaTyQ2R9qyI7QeWoK4VFMXW0IhGWdxfKT7Ss3btun5DsNq0Cefx4vzU58UvqWVoYmaw/s320/the+passage.jpg" width="194" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345504976/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345504976&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=WFQLQH4OVWH24WS6">The Passage</a> is a dystopian novel of epic proportions, but somehow still defies being pigeon-holed into the typical commercial fiction categories. In a nutshell, the end of the world (or at least the North American continent) is set in motion by a scientific experiment designed to extend life. The testing is, as you would expect, taken over by the military and it - also as you would expect - goes absolutely and terribly wrong. The first 250 pages lead up to, and slightly past, the end of the world event itself, and the characters and story lines woven throughout those pages are rich and gripping. Then the book suddenly jumps ahead 92 years, and the action shifts to a new set of characters living in an isolated location amidst the aftermath of the virus. The middle portion of the book takes a little getting used to as the new setting, new characters, and the new world they are living in are introduced, but it wasn't long before I found myself swept away by the story of their survival and their search for answers. At 700-plus pages, the author takes the time and makes the effort to vividly bring the characters to life and to delve into subplots, and it is refreshing to see a story like this executed so well. But be warned, this is only the first book in a trilogy, and one must be willing to truly commit some time to see it to the end.</span></div>
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<b style="color: #181818; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Postmodern Planet. </span></i></b>Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-88953493098163691832016-03-14T20:57:00.001-04:002016-03-14T20:57:54.469-04:00Quick Lit • March 2016<div style="text-align: justify;">
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We have a long-standing family motto to never go anywhere without a book. It doesn't hold as much weight as it once did, now that we have phones with ample reading material available and with us at all times, but the children still pack books every time we leave the house, and I am returning to my roots on that front. I had about 30 free minutes recently between finishing up with a client and picking the kids up from their classes. It was a beautiful day, so I parked the car, rolled down the windows, slipped off my shoes and reached for the book I had just picked up at the library. It was glorious.</div>
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Since then, I have made a point to take my book even if the chance of reading seems remote, because one just never knows when a little window of free time might pop up like it did that one lovely day. This morning, I knew the chances of downtime were unlikely when I left the house, but I brought my book anyway, and it proved serendipitous. I arrived at a client's office for a meeting only to find he was running late, so I sauntered on in and made myself at home on his sofa with my book. I would have gone slightly insane at those ten wasted minutes but for the chance to tuck back into a compelling story.</div>
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More than just the stolen reading moments though, I treasure the conversations that are sparked by the presence of the books. Usually, it is just a bystander stopping to smile at the three of us with us books tucked under our arms as we walk into a waiting room, but sometimes a stranger will remark upon our choice of books, asking whether we have read anything else by the author perhaps, or regaling us with a story of why they enjoyed the same particular book.</div>
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I can talk about books all day long. With anyone.</div>
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Today, when my client walked into the office, I tucked a bookmark into A Little Life and set it aside on the conference room table. Another client popped his head into the room and pointed at my book. "What do you think so far?" he said, "The reviews have gone crazy for it, but a friend said it was very dark and it just made him uncomfortable." </div>
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I was simultaneously dumbfounded and thrilled. Here was a man I had worked with - at a distance, mind you - for a couple of years, and I had no idea he was a fellow book nerd. </div>
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This, <i><b>THIS</b></i>, is why we should never go anywhere without a book. Book nerds are the best, and they make me feel less alone in this bizarro world.</div>
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Today, I am linking up with <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/what-ive-been-reading-lately-the-new-and-the-notable-3/">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a> to share short, snippet-like reviews of the books I have read over the past month. </div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8UdnPJuZAzdSXJjrdqMzRVjHZSt2Bj2H37BpiW8CaLcAjrzYFM9DGNkWlgoivyvAiYeijcYXCFlfj4CPrZ34Z9DXp1KHdVxIVvQcrDUddAIl0cPqWVeyaYFnTsTPxfMLye6QrA/s320/among.jpg" width="211" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812995228/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0812995228&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=3JXPBTLNPSDGAT42">Among the Ten Thousand Things</a> is a startling novel about a family falling apart in the aftermath of an affair. Told from the points of view of both spouses would have been interesting enough, but what makes this debut novel such a standout is how the story unfolds in the eyes of the children. The misplaced anger of the teenager, along with the confusion and distress of the 11-year-old daughter, are painful and a little disturbing, but are presented with remarkable insight and clarity. The adults are a bit more one-dimensional, and I was never totally sure whether that was a purposeful move. The story briefly jumps ahead in time twice, offering a glimpse of how the affair ends up informing the children even as they grow into adulthood.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5iVkXl8dPD6x4j0We8ZFUzxjNLBLmHmZzkl2b8YgoM3XWEpybDuiNHVW5yuINfIFXpK9Q7ivxj1iv7P3Yq2vlUgJ-nwi5M2bNWx-eoRhASpNpxgnDzVCMBLqL7t9R-ogD0DpTA/s1600/alaska.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5iVkXl8dPD6x4j0We8ZFUzxjNLBLmHmZzkl2b8YgoM3XWEpybDuiNHVW5yuINfIFXpK9Q7ivxj1iv7P3Yq2vlUgJ-nwi5M2bNWx-eoRhASpNpxgnDzVCMBLqL7t9R-ogD0DpTA/s320/alaska.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">John Green is a master of YA fiction, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142402516/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0142402516&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=3PKMMDASH2PJS53L">Looking for Alaska</a> is a multiple award-winning standout in the category. The book's action centers around the relationships between Pudge, the narrator, his roommate, The Colonel, and their enigmatic, alluring friend Alaska. Tension builds early, as time is counted down towards an as yet undefined event, but which the reader knows will be A Big Deal. Boarding school students, clever pranks, interesting characters, teen angst, high drama, great wit, and a devastating defining moment all collaborate together to form one heck of a compelling story. However - and this is an important distinction, I think - this novel would fall a little flat for those readers who are not fans of the technicolor world of young adult fiction.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-Cnzswm8F3DERWyxPwCH2OwgNh7u4Ef61jzGMM1O-OBsYgqYmWWMZba-KXTqcmQr6Qdk_hsUDfDHDDgAWYeyQtXOkkB4iA2ahxx6uxvp6Tei4-mCZvNlgZ9NJE1t0L4ibrr_rQ/s1600/lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-Cnzswm8F3DERWyxPwCH2OwgNh7u4Ef61jzGMM1O-OBsYgqYmWWMZba-KXTqcmQr6Qdk_hsUDfDHDDgAWYeyQtXOkkB4iA2ahxx6uxvp6Tei4-mCZvNlgZ9NJE1t0L4ibrr_rQ/s320/lake.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451649320/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451649320&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=LI5YNE53KRA5YAWY">The Lake House</a> is an epic, sweeping mystery packed with interesting characters, complex plotting, and a magical, well-drawn setting. Kate Morton's books are known for their uber-suprising twists at the end, and this one is no exception. A complaint I hear often about her books is that everything gets tied up nice and neat at the end - too neat, in the view of some readers - and while I understand the vexation over this (I myself prefer a loose end or two to be left to my imagination at the end), I am willing to suspend disbelief when it comes to Morton. Her mysteries are so well-written, and so expertly developed, and, in the case of The Lake House, so thoughtful and suspenseful at the same time. The book begins slowly, almost ploddingly for the first 100 pages, as Morton develops the characters and the multiple plot lines, but it is well worth sticking with as the next 400-ish pages are pure joy to read.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: left;">The third book in The Series of Unfortunate Events, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061146331/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061146331&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=QRRA5DWK3UDLNKCR">The Wide Window</a> is a darkly entertaining, utterly hilarious, very intelligently written children's story. In this installment, the Baudelaire orphans are once again moved to another new home in which horrible things happen and the evil Count Olaf, as you already suspected, shows up to commit heinous deeds. The historical references in this one are particularly absurd and comical, as are the vocabulary and grammar lessons that are woven in at the just the right times. These books beg to be read-aloud, and even the 12-year-old in our house has insinuated himself into story time in order to enjoy them along with the eight-year-old. Indeed, my older child laughs the loudest of all. As I have said about the previous two books in the series, I do not think these books are for sensitive children, but my children find them enthralling.</span></span></span></div>
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Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-64253320106193674142016-02-21T17:07:00.000-05:002016-02-21T17:07:00.760-05:00Meal Plan • 2/21/16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCp2ehgtjWJtv7vqNoobIYYtjrH98utYh4A2juo_9Naslj6T3tLnJeA6YYHwiofNpFIKSGnNywYjhSFnajZmlniP3X21ZMVoDj9f8ZKwoyxgo1hwHCBhzimqWY_O9ukDhqIQUig/s1600/IMG_8779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCp2ehgtjWJtv7vqNoobIYYtjrH98utYh4A2juo_9Naslj6T3tLnJeA6YYHwiofNpFIKSGnNywYjhSFnajZmlniP3X21ZMVoDj9f8ZKwoyxgo1hwHCBhzimqWY_O9ukDhqIQUig/s400/IMG_8779.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<li><b><i>Monday</i></b>: <a href="http://cookieandkate.com/2015/sweet-corn-and-black-bean-tacos/">Corn & Black Bean Tacos</a></li>
<li><b><i>Tuesday</i></b>: <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/07/easy-chickpea-curry-with-coconut-rice/">Chickpea Curry</a> with Brown & Wild Rice</li>
<li><b><i>Wednesday</i></b>: take-out</li>
<li><i><b>Thursday</b></i>: <a href="http://yummyaddiction.com/baked-ziti-with-ricotta/">Baked Ziti with Ricotta</a>, <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/08/athens-locally-grown.html">Lemon-Basil Bruschetta</a></li>
<li><b><i>Friday</i></b>: leftovers</li>
<li><b><i>Saturday</i></b>: <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2015/09/baked-cheesy-apple-sandwiches.html">Baked Cheesy Apple Sandwiches</a>, Salad</li>
<li><b><i>Sunday</i></b>: Every Man for Himself</li>
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The past two weeks have been nothing short of madness around here, full of work deadlines and social events and back-to-back appointments, and a client crisis that completely took over my life for three days. I swear, there was a period of about a week and a half in which I only managed to cook dinner and get us all to the table together maybe twice. That was a little embarrassing to admit, but there you go. </div>
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Sometimes, life goes wacko, and you have to just throw your hands in the air and say, "Wheeeee," and ride it out. Homeschooling fell by the wayside. Laundry did not get done. Errands were forgotten. I haven't gone for a run in thirteen days. And I said, "I'm sorry," about 57 more times than usual.</div>
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Life just got very life-y, you know?</div>
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We are slowly, ever-so-carefully reeling things back in now, but if I were to be completely honest, I should maybe just admit that being thrown for a loop is not as unusual of an occurrence as I like to make it out to be. There are four humans living in this house, after all, and we are juggling three businesses and the education of the two youngest humans, and we all have hobbies that captivate us, and life is full and wonderful and interesting and our schedules are meant to be fluid and maybe I need to stop holding on so tightly to the idea that I might one day have it all together.</div>
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We are self-employed. We homeschool, for crying out loud. Our lives will never be predictable and simple and boring, and <b><i>that is exactly why we chose to do these things</i></b>.</div>
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For obvious reasons, there was no meal plan for the past two weeks. We ate out a few times, we brought home pizza, we made simple, easy, I-can-cook-this-with-my-eyes-closed meals on some of the evenings. The world did not come to an end and the kids did not starve, but it is just not optimal for us to fly by the seat of our pants when it comes to dinnertime. So it feels goooooood to make a meal plan for this coming week. </div>
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Still though, if I learned anything over the past couple crazy weeks, it is that having a handful of back-pocket recipes at the ready is crucial. Back-pocket meals for us are the ones that don't have too many moving parts (no one needs to manhandle more than two pans on the crazy days), that use ingredients we keep on hand almost all the time, that can be made easily by either of the adults, that are <i>healthy enough</i>, that can simmer unattended long enough for me to run into another room and practice yoga for 15 or so minutes, and that do not take much time overall. I am slowly adding these types of recipes to a special section of my recipe binder so we can flip there in an emergency without even breaking our stride (and let's be honest, just having a bad day can constitute an emergency).</div>
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Some of our current back-pocket favorites:</div>
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<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-crunchy-black-bean-tacos-cookbook-recipe-from-love-your-leftovers-202861">Crunchy Black Bean Tacos</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2015/04/one-pot-creamy-broccoli-pasta.html">One-pot Broccoli Fettuccine</a></div>
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<a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2015/08/kale-white-bean-risotto.html">Kale & Cannellini Bean Risotto</a></div>
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<a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2005/10/downward-spiral.html">Black Bean Chili</a></div>
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<a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2010/03/blueberry-pecan-whole-grain-pancakes.html">Blueberry-Pecan Pancakes</a> and <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2006/09/youve-come-long-way-baby.html">Creamy, Dreamy Cheddar Grits</a></div>
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Knowing these easy options are available in a pinch has completely changed the way I respond to Emergency Days. <i>And if I'm freaking out less, the whole household runs more smoothly.</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-X0Xe4AJmOYk%2FVsoy95FsCKI%2FAAAAAAAAB64%2Fqnvb1iwWZeU%2Fs400%2FIMG_8779.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-X0Xe4AJmOYk%2FVsoy95FsCKI%2FAAAAAAAAB64%2Fqnvb1iwWZeU%2Fs400%2FIMG_8779.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-73871070078400094912016-02-18T15:52:00.003-05:002016-02-18T15:52:29.384-05:00Quick Lit • February 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My</span> to-be-read list has exploded over the past couple months, which gives me a certain sense of security. There is, quite literally, nothing as satisfying to me as (1) knowing what I will read next, and (2) having my next vacation already planned. Well, those things and whether I have a nice selection of teas in the kitchen.</div>
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And having a stash of good quality chocolate (this is starting to make me sound much more high-maintenance than I like to think of myself).</div>
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The <a href="http://booksonthenightstand.com/">Books on the Nightstand</a> podcast, and Anne Bogle's new podcast <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/what-should-i-read-next-book/id1073499086?mt=2">What Should I Read Next?</a> have introduced me to a ton of new titles, and I recently relaxed some of my spending freezes to allow for more book purchases (life is short, and books are worth it). It was on one of the WSIRN podcasts that a guest mentioned the <a href="http://www.bookpassage.com/signed-first-edition-club-picks">Book Passage</a> book subscription club, and when I saw that two of my favorite books of last year were on it, plus another two of my favorites from 2014 were on the previous year's list, I began reading my way through the rest of their back catalog. The choices have so far been splendid.</div>
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Today, I am linking up with <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/quick-lit-february-2016/">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a> to share short, snippet-like reviews of the books I have read over the past month. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="freeTextreview1414159351" style="color: #181818;">Set in the 1930s, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802123708/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0802123708&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=ONOEWMA7IRYE5MAM">Euphoria</a> is a novel about the intersecting lives of three young anthropologists who have settled in among isolated, unstudied tribes in New Guinea. Inspired by events that took place during three months in the life of Margaret Mead, the action focuses on the work of the married couple Nell and Fen at the time they station themselves near Bankson, an anthropologist who has been alone for a few years and who has lost hope in his ability to make a mark in his field. The tale is told through the POV of two of the characters as events occur, but also through flashbacks from one and journal entries from another. This structure builds exquisite tension, and the book is a quick, beautiful read.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Unfortunate Events series is captivating and great fun as a family read-aloud. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061146315/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061146315&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=HRGDGFFZKNUKH2RU">The Reptile Room</a>, continuing the story of the three orphans and the terrible events that befall them at every turn, brings more death and suspense and absurdity and laughter, and is written just as cannily as the first one. My eight-year-old is madly in love with the characters and we had a fabulous time reading this installment. Bonus: the vocabulary and the witticisms provide much fodder for discussion.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A young adult novel that is set in Nazi Germany and is narrated by death himself may seem particularly dismal, but <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375842209/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0375842209&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=NK2A5NDCRUN47DUD">The Book Thief</a> manages to be both luminous and dark, both serious and light-hearted. At 552 pages, and taking place over about five years, the book traces the story of a young girl who is sent to live with a foster family in a poor neighborhood in a terrifying time in history. Forged relationships are a powerful force in the novel, as are stolen books, and the constant and overwhelming presence of a tyrannical government. The language is gorgeous, and there were sentences constructed so beautifully that I wanted to tuck them away in my memory forever. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAENlIjdx9jq33p8ebWznuSdQ4VLjl8WdGmf7cyhNh7-UQb3o06_deIEhult9ShA4jB_3s1rAxgWSofA8CahLYAmhNyU_GTpZMl7DB4wFObQ8mr7i2mimuFhG9Ygew5B_o77yMw/s1600/heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAENlIjdx9jq33p8ebWznuSdQ4VLjl8WdGmf7cyhNh7-UQb3o06_deIEhult9ShA4jB_3s1rAxgWSofA8CahLYAmhNyU_GTpZMl7DB4wFObQ8mr7i2mimuFhG9Ygew5B_o77yMw/s320/heart.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316386537/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316386537&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=D7UZZKRW47WB6GOQ">Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist</a> takes place during the 1999 WTO riots in Seattle. The novel alternately takes the point of view of the police chief, two radical protestors, a Sri Lankan minister of finance, a couple of over-eager cops, and a young man who finds himself more deeply embroiled in the conflict than he meant to be. The action occurs over the course of only one day, and the tension builds skillfully as the day goes on and as the the chapters skip around between the main characters. I keep hearing comparisons to The Flamethrowers, but Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing is what kept coming to my mind, as the reader helplessly watches the characters each make choices that bring them closer to what you can only imagine will be more explosive than they intend. Both the tension, the prose, and the character development are masterful, though I found the ending to be a little unfulfilling.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Postmodern Planet.</b></i></span></span></div>
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-eMYRAdPDxkw%2FVsYtd5UnrtI%2FAAAAAAAAB6U%2FG_uMe8iy_Zc%2Fs320%2Fheart.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 249px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2048px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-eMYRAdPDxkw%2FVsYtd5UnrtI%2FAAAAAAAAB6U%2FG_uMe8iy_Zc%2Fs320%2Fheart.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 249px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2048px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-eMYRAdPDxkw%2FVsYtd5UnrtI%2FAAAAAAAAB6U%2FG_uMe8iy_Zc%2Fs320%2Fheart.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 249px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2048px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-eMYRAdPDxkw%2FVsYtd5UnrtI%2FAAAAAAAAB6U%2FG_uMe8iy_Zc%2Fs320%2Fheart.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 249px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2048px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-eMYRAdPDxkw%2FVsYtd5UnrtI%2FAAAAAAAAB6U%2FG_uMe8iy_Zc%2Fs320%2Fheart.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 249px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2048px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-eMYRAdPDxkw%2FVsYtd5UnrtI%2FAAAAAAAAB6U%2FG_uMe8iy_Zc%2Fs320%2Fheart.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 249px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2048px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-73908940685888774842016-01-31T17:29:00.000-05:002016-01-31T17:29:18.665-05:00Meal Plan • January 31<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKhd0Ln3D6V9jNU1BsBE4tB8UiweWKJNd73zttgOCqjPTaAujGrzGAAuYoEtg-FJw9lAucRr_lfs2a_wwTWuQkB6xDKenU_hky6-ekH1vT0hdujF2APH7VKyknnrkCDG-ozxSJQ/s1600/IMG_8681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKhd0Ln3D6V9jNU1BsBE4tB8UiweWKJNd73zttgOCqjPTaAujGrzGAAuYoEtg-FJw9lAucRr_lfs2a_wwTWuQkB6xDKenU_hky6-ekH1vT0hdujF2APH7VKyknnrkCDG-ozxSJQ/s400/IMG_8681.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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• Monday: <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2011/01/31/15-minute-creamy-avocado-pasta/">Creamy Avocado Pasta</a><br />
• Tuesday: <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/new-year-noodle-soup-recipe.html">New Year's Noodle Soup</a>, crusty baguette<br />
• Wednesday: (leftover soup & bread)<br />
• Thursday: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2007/11/grit.html">Golden Bowl</a>, brown rice, steamed kale<br />
• Friday: Spaghetti with <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2007/11/kitchen-calculations-what-nerd.html">Fiery Marinara</a>, <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/08/athens-locally-grown.html">lemon-basil bruschetta</a><br />
• Saturday: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2015/08/kale-white-bean-risotto.html">Kale & Cannelini Bean Risotto</a><br />
• Sunday: (I don't cook on Sundays)<br />
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Oh, friends. I'm trying something WAY outside of my comfort zone, and I'm a little nervous even to speak of it. Some friends and I have signed up for <a href="http://wanderlust.com/108s/">Wanderlust 108</a>, and while that may not sound surprising (it <i><b>is</b></i> a yoga festival, after all)....<br />
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<b>THERE IS A 5K INVOLVED</b>.<br />
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That's right. A 5k. Like, as in running. With my own two feet. Crazy talk, I tell you. <br />
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Y'all, I can do yoga all day long (and I have before, many times), but running is a whole 'nother thing. It's just not in my wheelhouse at all.<br />
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I am determined though, and since the worst-case scenario is that I end up walking most of it, I think it's worth a try. I have downloaded the <a href="http://www.active.com/mobile/couch-to-5k-app">Couch to 5k app</a>, and I completed the first three days this week. It was not easy, and each minute of running left me panting and red-faced and feeling like an idiot (not an unusual feeling for me), but it's also a little bit awesome, and I have learned a few things so far.<br />
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<ol>
<li>My dog is way better at running than I am.</li>
<li>The right music is crucial (right now, it's <a href="http://www.active.com/mobile/couch-to-5k-app">Beck's Midnite Vultures</a>).</li>
<li>I am going to need a better pair of sneakers.</li>
<li>Doing a post-run-recovery yoga practice afterwards is the only thing keeping me alive (<a href="http://www.yogaglo.com/">yogaglo</a> has some that are perfect for this).</li>
<li>I am going to need more calories each day. More avocados, more nuts, more brown rice & whole wheat pasta...).</li>
</ol>
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This week's recipes were chosen for their ease (Monday's pasta is super easy and extraordinarily quick), for their nutritional punch (beans & spinach in Tuesday's soup, beans & kale in Saturday's super easy risotto), and for the extra-healthy complex carbohydrates (every day). Bonus: these are all family favorites as well.</div>
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Running may be absurdly difficult for me right now, but I'm stoked about having a new goal to work towards - <i>especially with friends</i> - and I feel fabulous. Also, the cardio has ramped up my metabolism again, so that extra handful of pounds I gained over Christmas and that decadent trip to Savannah this month have already fallen off (<i>yay</i>), and I am once again sleeping like the dead every night.</div>
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Onward, I say. One foot in front of the other...</div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-gf393LcvbOE%2FVq6Bpebh-KI%2FAAAAAAAAB4o%2FmB8FWRManVg%2Fs400%2FIMG_8681.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-gf393LcvbOE%2FVq6Bpebh-KI%2FAAAAAAAAB4o%2FmB8FWRManVg%2Fs400%2FIMG_8681.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-72987264866170878132016-01-17T11:33:00.001-05:002016-01-17T13:27:54.530-05:00Quick Lit • January 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdK2M7b8a9w1Eg8ITyYs7q908Pts1uf95XpQkT7d-CdWl_F477B4ZMDlBwEd6zzUUsY0K32wxPdOPjdK0cECGNTIoKCE3HQi-IsA1JHezvheJOiwPB2mKZ5ljhjW0V_E-SkRawJA/s1600/IMG_8479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdK2M7b8a9w1Eg8ITyYs7q908Pts1uf95XpQkT7d-CdWl_F477B4ZMDlBwEd6zzUUsY0K32wxPdOPjdK0cECGNTIoKCE3HQi-IsA1JHezvheJOiwPB2mKZ5ljhjW0V_E-SkRawJA/s400/IMG_8479.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The post-Christmas lull was a glorious and relaxing time to fit in some good reading this year, and I took full advantage of every single luscious minute of it. Included were a couple of books that knocked my socks off, a marginal book that made very little impression at all, the first in a very well-written detective series, more than one dystopian novel, and a children's book that I've been meaning to read for approximately a million years.<br />
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Today I am linking up with <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/quick-lit-january/">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a> to share short, snippet-like reviews of the books I devoured over the past four weeks. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifP8qeOx4gwNMBSu3PU88HnewI6G5HtubufzLiurQMlGK0lATDX6L4397CPig1XNrUb1Y4QLiLw8joUkg41cavJQ_-Two0edmNAVUCj1IVzAVbdqqLZ-7jOeujqYabfxuTLHscKg/s1600/endless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifP8qeOx4gwNMBSu3PU88HnewI6G5HtubufzLiurQMlGK0lATDX6L4397CPig1XNrUb1Y4QLiLw8joUkg41cavJQ_-Two0edmNAVUCj1IVzAVbdqqLZ-7jOeujqYabfxuTLHscKg/s320/endless.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1941040012/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1941040012&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=VNERCVQGNPVWEUAX">Our Endless Numbered Days</a> is an unusual and intriguing twist on the ubiquitous dystopian novel phenomenon. In this novel, the eight year old narrator is taken into the wilderness by her father and told the world has ended. For years, they live off the land, hunting and fishing, and living in a ramshackle off-grid cabin somewhere in the mountains. Her father is a disturbed man, and the tale takes some disturbing turns. Suspenseful and a little dark and twisty. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1kGZl0PkemAjfCWHSssMSEzTJv7QqohP0YzoFi4PoBbgtkBjE7Ze7fB9DaBNeN8GFlA880ByOZzKisrb3t5qFbxh8K3P4XUiKgYxZShAo5soR8_KQ4DL-4j3Is1vMj7nmqrjpg/s1600/bookseller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1kGZl0PkemAjfCWHSssMSEzTJv7QqohP0YzoFi4PoBbgtkBjE7Ze7fB9DaBNeN8GFlA880ByOZzKisrb3t5qFbxh8K3P4XUiKgYxZShAo5soR8_KQ4DL-4j3Is1vMj7nmqrjpg/s320/bookseller.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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I wanted to love <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062333003/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062333003&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=HHOCC6UPJDDIB7HJ">The Bookseller</a>, because stories that present alternate lives for the characters usually float my boat, but this one was trite and predictable. The protagonist, a single woman who owns a struggling bookshop with her best friend, begins to live a different life for herself in her dreams at night. In this other world, she is married, has children, and is not involved in the bookshop. The writing is just okay, and the ending - which I imagine is supposed to be the big twist - is unsurprising and ultimately disappointing. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WKyHYN6f2ocl7-b5iPCN_fIa1ZkJGff7vbgcowZJ8aZBSjLcw3wsLWr1KgSvls5xTbt2e_Z1e6zmxaS7BfhydTP6UkErdfo2ORzCYcw5IO8CzSMloHPqKO4gdFOvSeS0ysJ_4g/s1600/fates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WKyHYN6f2ocl7-b5iPCN_fIa1ZkJGff7vbgcowZJ8aZBSjLcw3wsLWr1KgSvls5xTbt2e_Z1e6zmxaS7BfhydTP6UkErdfo2ORzCYcw5IO8CzSMloHPqKO4gdFOvSeS0ysJ_4g/s320/fates.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594634475/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1594634475&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=7DXVUQCIQENMS3KN">Fates and Furies</a> is such a breathtaking work of fiction that I am having a difficult time finding the right words with which to do it justice. The writing is so stellar that each sentence begs to be savored, yet I devoured the 400-page novel in less than 24 hours. It is the story of a marriage, yes, but also a tale of what lies beneath the carefully-composed surfaces, and of all that we hide even from ourselves. There are twists, and the book is structured in a phenomenal mirror of the title itself. This is easily one of the best books of 2015. I will read it again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c01GD7HA63Dg0MeWBE1LpDByFnsDUe5V-j5vprHIJCs4P5KV7R_PQ9LSHYCe5EEZQ781f7IVfND_rjVtPXLZbmKq4YmhKsKlIrk-p7qWc0Rl7KuvQWvVHydosVNhrnycLT8TiQ/s1600/did.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c01GD7HA63Dg0MeWBE1LpDByFnsDUe5V-j5vprHIJCs4P5KV7R_PQ9LSHYCe5EEZQ781f7IVfND_rjVtPXLZbmKq4YmhKsKlIrk-p7qWc0Rl7KuvQWvVHydosVNhrnycLT8TiQ/s320/did.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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A haunting, unforgettable debut novel. In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1476798176/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1476798176&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=VJNKUWH5ZRHDVLPB">Did You Ever Have a Family</a>, the story begins as four people perish in a house fire. The point of view changes multiple times, as the aftermath is told by different people who were either peripherally or integrally part of the lives of those who died. The intertwining lives and the ties that bind a community are both lovely and bleak, and while you might expect the book to be filled with nothing but overwhelming grief and sadness, the story itself unfolds slowly, expertly, and with remarkable restraint. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjoOXquURqWh86Ec9uKo-S-9ex6RmXihK1L7doO1648PNICIcyvhne4Wn4Tx0XUa84154MmvGJ80nLcWKx5tN5T3u2jUWbRabcIOhWShIW9ZRFz76n-b0-q-ThLlBrfjTgWfVkg/s1600/case.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjoOXquURqWh86Ec9uKo-S-9ex6RmXihK1L7doO1648PNICIcyvhne4Wn4Tx0XUa84154MmvGJ80nLcWKx5tN5T3u2jUWbRabcIOhWShIW9ZRFz76n-b0-q-ThLlBrfjTgWfVkg/s320/case.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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Book One of Kate Atkinson's Brodie detective novels is decidedly different from her most recent and deservedly best-selling novels, less epic in scope and not quite as mind-blowing in structure, but no less delightful. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316010707/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316010707&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=IFLEZBLOEP6IIK42">Case Histories</a> is more literate than many in its genre, even though it sticks to the relatively formulaic flawed protagonist, and it effortlessly juggles a handful of story lines that neatly converge as the tale progresses (maybe too neatly, but I was enjoying the book too much to quibble with its neatness). Witty and fun. I will definitely seek out the next books in the series.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMtNIsOjlUWSKd7JLpkNe5At5SkCPffKuKzkr_82ROlOUKBDhNIzPUEE4I-omrXbG8f0pQiqdPmfQM71HV5XzP2aoFbhu0yzz6iDdZnL5c8DNgzWl1P7SN4Ab0V5EShfQU1W-aw/s1600/dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMtNIsOjlUWSKd7JLpkNe5At5SkCPffKuKzkr_82ROlOUKBDhNIzPUEE4I-omrXbG8f0pQiqdPmfQM71HV5XzP2aoFbhu0yzz6iDdZnL5c8DNgzWl1P7SN4Ab0V5EShfQU1W-aw/s320/dog.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307950476/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0307950476&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=H7SLQA5WRLOI6QJJ">The Dog Stars</a> (yet another post-apocalyptic novel) takes place nine years after a flu has killed off much of the country's population (possibly the world, but that is unknown). Hig, a former carpenter and hobby pilot, lives out West with one companion in an old small airport, and spends his time fishing, hunting, and flying his plane around the area on scouting missions. The narration is unusual and almost diary-like in that there are incomplete sentences, missing commas, and inconsistent verb tenses at times. This is clearly intentional, and the book is imminently readable, though the action is very slow at times (also intentional, it seems). The ending felt a little abrupt, but I enjoy end-of-the-world fiction and found the restrained style of this novel to be intriguing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAvX-63w38F0pw6ijJuU3YKGlZFIGuO_U9J6C49iBhlqHzLbaUdrK0Mm4KNk9vOs5PT_wS-xniSUNG_YwLd5nx5zg53Y_y9CkcW4VLh6jTFZnIJQu0xHv2is3NmIXH8WNc2iyPw/s1600/bad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAvX-63w38F0pw6ijJuU3YKGlZFIGuO_U9J6C49iBhlqHzLbaUdrK0Mm4KNk9vOs5PT_wS-xniSUNG_YwLd5nx5zg53Y_y9CkcW4VLh6jTFZnIJQu0xHv2is3NmIXH8WNc2iyPw/s320/bad.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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Gloomy, funny, and completely ridiculous, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SYB16Q/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004SYB16Q&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=YPDLC6LUJRX5JBJ6">The Bad Beginning</a> had both me and my eight-year-old enthralled from the start. Very fun read-aloud, but perhaps best for children who don't take things too seriously. This is a tale of absurdly terrible things that happen to three siblings whose parents die tragically on, like, page two, but it is narrated with lightheartedness and acerbic wit. Fabulous. Can't wait to read the next one to my daughter. <br />
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<b><i>This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Postmodern Planet. </i></b>Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-33269080885717968442016-01-03T18:34:00.001-05:002016-01-03T18:34:47.750-05:00Meal Plan • 1/4/16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtMdYaSv2p1M78Yx2FnYiml5Bfnia5Wa2ACiv1BIx2s4t0i2bEdZUfnNdwZHwBaWRtfLr8JK4-zpcoztOHIVoDcVJPUOgUHJTLXiOj1C9NipDnm3VFn6RV9vyMPIVb3tP2EwxXw/s1600/IMG_8520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtMdYaSv2p1M78Yx2FnYiml5Bfnia5Wa2ACiv1BIx2s4t0i2bEdZUfnNdwZHwBaWRtfLr8JK4-zpcoztOHIVoDcVJPUOgUHJTLXiOj1C9NipDnm3VFn6RV9vyMPIVb3tP2EwxXw/s400/IMG_8520.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><i>Monday</i>: <a href="http://www.butterwithasideofbread.com/2014/04/vegetarian-enchiladas-with-spinach.html">Black bean & spinach enchiladas</a></li>
<li><i>Tuesday</i>: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2009/01/red-lentil-dal.html">Red lentil dal</a>, brown rice, <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2012/01/spicy-cornbread.html">spicy cornbread</a></li>
<li><i>Wednesday</i>: leftovers</li>
<li><i>Thursday</i>: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2006/02/coping-mechanisms.html">Torta di pasta</a>, <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/08/athens-locally-grown.html">bruschetta</a></li>
<li><i>Friday</i>: take-out</li>
<li><i>Saturday</i>: <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/goodnessgreen-10932061/super-quick-healing-miso-noodle-soup-gluten-1997025867">Miso Noodle Soup</a></li>
<li><i>Sunday</i>: Every man for himself</li>
</ul>
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<br />
January is coming on like a freight train, friends, and I'm eking out the last couple minutes of relaxation before jumping in head first. We have had the loveliest of holiday seasons, restful and rejuvenative, and oddly productive as well, but the busy time starts in five...four...three...<br />
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Actually, I think I've gotten pretty good at juggling the January madness in recent years. A confluence of work deadlines happens for me at the end of this month, but rather than panicking this year, I happily agreed to a little five-day getaway that will fall right in the middle of the busy month, and I'm feeling pretty good about it all.<br />
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Don't get me wrong. By the 20th, I will be in the middle of a full-on panic, but I don't think that's a good enough reason to miss out on the fun.<br />
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For now though, I am stoked about putting the pedal to the medal next week and Getting Things Done. The meal plan and grocery list are ready to go, my brain is rested and excited about getting back to work, the lesson plans are ready for the kids to return to their own work, and I have even idiot-proofed my daily yoga practice by choosing to practice along with the daily featured online classes at <a href="https://www.yogaglo.com/">Yogaglo</a> at least until the payroll tax deadlines have been met.<br />
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Like I said, I'm feeling pretty good.Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-28460052385807364652015-12-28T16:24:00.001-05:002015-12-28T16:24:41.980-05:00Meal Plan • 12/28/15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqW7VW0XQ8zob0jIMIyI3AqE0r93EpodzeC0viumVnjuWc7kNVFbU0L-7OPSRrua_y47Gb_HUfvXplj9NMC5Q0es7ogxTX9YIR3uCVJCV0OP5JVtbUWpGwJvlgqvY54EjCSPm3Q/s1600/IMG_8482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqW7VW0XQ8zob0jIMIyI3AqE0r93EpodzeC0viumVnjuWc7kNVFbU0L-7OPSRrua_y47Gb_HUfvXplj9NMC5Q0es7ogxTX9YIR3uCVJCV0OP5JVtbUWpGwJvlgqvY54EjCSPm3Q/s400/IMG_8482.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><i>Monday</i>: <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-crunchy-black-bean-tacos-cookbook-recipe-from-love-your-leftovers-202861">Crunchy black bean tacos</a></li>
<li><i>Tuesday</i>: <a href="https://veggiechick.com/stir-fry-zen-bowl/">Stir fry zen crunch bowl</a></li>
<li><i>Wednesday</i>: <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/smoky-potato-cakes-kale-creamy-ricotta">Smoky potato cakes</a>, Salad</li>
<li><i>Thursday</i>: <a href="https://thepurplecarrot.com/vegan-recipes/chili-lime-noodles">Chili lime noodles</a></li>
<li><i>Friday</i>: <a href="http://www.theppk.com/2012/12/hoppin-john-bowl-with-red-hot-tahini/">Hoppin' John</a> (vegan), <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2012/01/spicy-cornbread.html">spicy cornbread</a></li>
<li><i>Saturday</i>: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2006/09/chickens-riding-shotgun.html">Italian egg sandwiches</a>, salad</li>
<li><i>Sunday</i>: Every man for himself</li>
</ul>
<div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The wheels came off over the past few weeks, as they do this time of year. With everything on our schedule during the month of December, even bothering with a meal plan seemed overly ambitious, and so on the few nights each week in which we found ourselves all at home for dinner, I went for the quick and easy. The kind of meals that can be made from pantry ingredients or that can be thrown together with whatever happens to be in the vegetable crisper. It was exhausting and not as nutritious as I might have liked, but the meal plan just wasn't the mountaintop I was willing to die on.</div>
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Now though, it is Magic Week, those lovely days between Christmas and New Year's when work is easy, obligations are few, and time seems to be irrelevant. Most of my clients are out of town or have gone quiet, I have suspended the kids' homeschool lessons for a few weeks, and my car is in the shop (again) so we are mostly tied down to the homestead for a little bit anyway.</div>
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Plus, I could use a little time to regroup. I'm not much for New Year's Resolutions, but I do like to take the time every four months or so to tweak and adjust our schedules and our commitments, and to do a little planning. New Year's is a natural time for this sort of reflection, but since I operate on more of a school-year kind of calendar (can't help it - I live in a college town) than a traditional calendar, I look at this particular time as a mid-year chance to pull in the reins and idle for a bit to evaluate what's working and what isn't.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the first things that jumped out at me that <b><u>is</u></b> working is the meal plan. January is the beginning of my busiest season of work of the year, and that means I need to idiot-proof as many things as possible in order to avoid meltdowns (because sometimes, the center does not hold). Re-instituting the plan now that Christmas is behind us was already on my radar, but it is nice to recognize the absolute importance of such a seemingly trivial activity in our lives.</div>
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Interestingly though, one of the things that <b><u>isn't</u></b> working is my list of reliable recipes. Many have become boring to me, and boredom in any aspect of my life generally spills over negatively into other aspects, so clearly it's time to restore a little adventurousness in the kitchen. Obviously, busy nights are not always terribly conducive to trying new recipes, but sometimes, changing my focus from numbers and reports to some time spent piddling in the kitchen with new flavors and techniques is just what I need to decompress from work. As well, exercising a little creativity helps to remove blocks when I am struggling with a troubling desk project.</div>
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<br /></div>
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With those things in mind, and with the free time stretching so luminously ahead of me this week, I happily spent the better part of the day yesterday seeking new recipes. Thus, five of the evenings this week have been filled with recipes I am excited to try, <i><b>and</b></i> it looks like we might actually be home together every night to enjoy some unhurried time at the table.</div>
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Magic Week is bliss. </div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-bnpIKE9D1M8%2FVoGbhm3y36I%2FAAAAAAAAB18%2FDZCZjakdw_k%2Fs400%2FIMG_8482.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-bnpIKE9D1M8%2FVoGbhm3y36I%2FAAAAAAAAB18%2FDZCZjakdw_k%2Fs400%2FIMG_8482.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-bnpIKE9D1M8%2FVoGbhm3y36I%2FAAAAAAAAB18%2FDZCZjakdw_k%2Fs400%2FIMG_8482.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-bnpIKE9D1M8%2FVoGbhm3y36I%2FAAAAAAAAB18%2FDZCZjakdw_k%2Fs400%2FIMG_8482.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 153px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-13092658231955711892015-12-15T19:38:00.003-05:002015-12-15T19:38:37.292-05:00Quick Lit • December 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAH0WJDaa-t24Fs6CgIEBSg4QA_vu4aaSCz90r_OADgiyMWy96sMzslpRSCPzmokyQ-UxP48dT1s8heY9oQk7joGX9HRRNUv1HteZA8LfHBlvEIbVhwINFFfp82l7ZNlj3DulDsg/s1600/IMG_8201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAH0WJDaa-t24Fs6CgIEBSg4QA_vu4aaSCz90r_OADgiyMWy96sMzslpRSCPzmokyQ-UxP48dT1s8heY9oQk7joGX9HRRNUv1HteZA8LfHBlvEIbVhwINFFfp82l7ZNlj3DulDsg/s400/IMG_8201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>(from Book Character Day at their homeschool academy)</i></div>
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This time of year, the evenings and weekends always seem so busy with holiday parties, the kids' performances, Christmas family gatherings, and (in my case) end-of-year accounting duties.<br />
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These activities, while (mostly) fun, seriously cut into my prime reading hours. <br />
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I was a little chagrined when I realized I only read three books in the past four weeks (a clear sign that my priorities are out of whack), but we are carefully setting aside some staycation time between Christmas and New Year's, and I am actively putting together a stack of books along with some good teas and snacks. <br />
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Today I am linking up with <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/what-ive-been-reading-lately-the-new-and-the-notable-2/">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a> to share short, snippet-like reviews of the books I have read over the past month.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0Ak8UGxmfQvS3XX6Vc6EFRXc-SnPGTR0mu8-sFVku0d2XN7rsMqb5TE4hBRCV8c7r0QU8yQJs-DbX9n5pBsaQDBCWKEpFHCqCuN9TwgH-762wpKBG7XIWsXCWaAJEkdwH2ywdg/s1600/big+magic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0Ak8UGxmfQvS3XX6Vc6EFRXc-SnPGTR0mu8-sFVku0d2XN7rsMqb5TE4hBRCV8c7r0QU8yQJs-DbX9n5pBsaQDBCWKEpFHCqCuN9TwgH-762wpKBG7XIWsXCWaAJEkdwH2ywdg/s320/big+magic.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594634718/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1594634718&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=WIIPYLYOJPUDQS5Y">Big Magic</a> is a joyous celebration of creative living. While it isn't exactly a roadmap for becoming creative, it is an informal invitation to jump headfirst into a life that is more open to artistic expression. Through delightful anecdotes and an irreverent view of <i>Important Art</i>, Gilbert essentially invokes the reader to just get to it. The book is entertaining and imminently readable, and ultimately inspiring. My favorite takeaways from the whole thing are the ideas that we should take our creativity less seriously, work more diligently, and simply follow our curiosity. Because it is presented in one-to-three page vignettes, I think Big Magic would make for delicious daily devotional reading. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR48bElImuJaYad-dEANPLVMogf39RKp2PKZldTK8I3ALf76WciVjb8oI-uAzoMQKkEEVu2S1S4PGYz5aO1cSUe6AIUkyOAfZp2H6K7R1NYjAYONEZCfqOLlIoz0-NN3IL5RFUxw/s1600/black+chalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR48bElImuJaYad-dEANPLVMogf39RKp2PKZldTK8I3ALf76WciVjb8oI-uAzoMQKkEEVu2S1S4PGYz5aO1cSUe6AIUkyOAfZp2H6K7R1NYjAYONEZCfqOLlIoz0-NN3IL5RFUxw/s320/black+chalk.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250075556/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1250075556&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=5LFWEHNIWDNLSO2A">Black Chalk</a> was very nearly un-put-down-able. The novel is described as a psychological thriller, but it isn't of the heart-racing variety one might expect by the use of the word 'thriller.' The author is a puzzle editor, and that shines through so well in both the expert pacing of the action and the slow and steady way in which secrets are revealed. It takes place on campus at Oxford, and the tightly-drawn characters are both highly intelligent and a little dark-humored (think <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400031702/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1400031702&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=D2ZIKJ4JFWS423LX">The Secret History</a>, but not in a derivative sense). Excellent debut novel. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZlnXJAXj0Me-eYjOjhemtTB1YMHx9qG4xUtHSQrqdKzeVeNCKPh_wdiytqMA0l8ZbFdfEL8nLHX1AUWgmmMqZfa2a9Dfhu6dcTqaLFLjvfFTtVou5N37GtwfM0B0YJVMi4YLvQ/s1600/peace+like+a+river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZlnXJAXj0Me-eYjOjhemtTB1YMHx9qG4xUtHSQrqdKzeVeNCKPh_wdiytqMA0l8ZbFdfEL8nLHX1AUWgmmMqZfa2a9Dfhu6dcTqaLFLjvfFTtVou5N37GtwfM0B0YJVMi4YLvQ/s320/peace+like+a+river.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
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What a luminous, phenomenal, rich work of narrative art. Rare is the contemporary novel that reads like an epic tale, but this one seems destined to become a beloved classic. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802139256/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0802139256&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=RB5XWBOY3PYR6BLK">Peace Like a River</a> is narrated by an eleven year old sickly child who travels with his highly-literate little sister and his God-fearing gloriously-drawn father to the Badlands of North Dakota in search of his fugitive teenaged brother. The story is laid out with such restraint that the reader scarcely notices the suspense and the slowly-building tension. It reads almost like a literary Western, though that description does it little justice, and ends with some of the best-crafted sentences I have had the pleasure of reading. <i>Highly recommend.</i><br />
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<b><i>This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Postmodern Planet.</i></b><br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-6x8hKpGY4Dw%2FVnCuzy1E2PI%2FAAAAAAAAB1Q%2FYoVwBqP8VmE%2Fs320%2Fpeace%252Blike%252Ba%252Briver.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 248px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1652px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-6x8hKpGY4Dw%2FVnCuzy1E2PI%2FAAAAAAAAB1Q%2FYoVwBqP8VmE%2Fs320%2Fpeace%252Blike%252Ba%252Briver.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 248px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1652px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-6x8hKpGY4Dw%2FVnCuzy1E2PI%2FAAAAAAAAB1Q%2FYoVwBqP8VmE%2Fs320%2Fpeace%252Blike%252Ba%252Briver.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 248px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1652px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-6x8hKpGY4Dw%2FVnCuzy1E2PI%2FAAAAAAAAB1Q%2FYoVwBqP8VmE%2Fs320%2Fpeace%252Blike%252Ba%252Briver.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 248px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1652px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-33891226624960708682015-11-30T19:40:00.000-05:002015-11-30T19:40:00.828-05:00Meal Plan • 11/30/15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVdRkkoZzz5JrSgJjpMds_HbW4V9ZsIK6e3TmG9EBvgmTYtFmYgJWinfcaKXtEbNXOggOKAopLlmlGCBdDg3HO4XPqQ5tfMO8E-lmGKPJfZiNu6-1Uij4HGPp__175FQFIuHCyA/s1600/IMG_8363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVdRkkoZzz5JrSgJjpMds_HbW4V9ZsIK6e3TmG9EBvgmTYtFmYgJWinfcaKXtEbNXOggOKAopLlmlGCBdDg3HO4XPqQ5tfMO8E-lmGKPJfZiNu6-1Uij4HGPp__175FQFIuHCyA/s320/IMG_8363.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Monday</i>: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2006/10/truly-fine-cooking.html">Linguine with hot pepper, caramelized onions & gremolata</a>, served with <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/08/athens-locally-grown.html">lemon-basil bruschetta</a></li>
<li><i>Tuesday</i>: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/05/ive-said-it-before-and-ill-say-it-again.html">The Any-Vegetable Frittata</a> (made with whatever veggies are in the crisper), roasted Brussels sprouts</li>
<li><i>Wednesday</i>: leftovers</li>
<li><i>Thursday</i>: <a href="https://especiallycreativebroad.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/creamy-blue-cheese-spaghettini-with-escarole-and-walnuts-whew/">Creamy spaghetti with blue cheese, spinach, & walnut</a>s (the linked recipe calls for escarole, but I prefer to substitute fresh spinach)</li>
<li><i>Friday</i>: The musician is cooking, but he cannot be pinned down to a specific recipe at this time</li>
<li><i>Saturday</i>: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/08/becoming-little-more-paranoid.html">Baked mac & cheese</a>, <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2008/01/off-wagon.html">Braised green cabbage</a></li>
<li><i>Sunday</i>: I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I don't cook on Sundays</li>
</ul>
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<div>
It happens every year after Thanksgiving. I lose all interest in cooking for a few days, and I am still so traumatized by the crowded grocery stores from the week before that I refuse to shop until the kitchen has been completely laid bare. </div>
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Thus, this week's menu is based entirely on (1) what gets me out of the kitchen in the least amount of time, and (2) what can be thrown together with what's already in the fridge & the pantry. Frittatas are great for using up things like the last bell pepper in the crisper drawer, the single potato that didn't get roasted last Thursday, the last 2 ounces of mozzarella, the single stalk of fresh chives, etc.</div>
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And then there is that lonely bag of fresh spinach still in the refrigerator from the night before Thanksgiving. That was the evening when I was too busy baking pie and chopping fruit for the next day's feast to make the pasta salad I had planned, and so I sent The Musician to pick up pizza instead. That spinach will be perfect for the creamy spaghetti with blue cheese recipe.</div>
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<b>Recipes that clean out the fridge are my faves.</b></div>
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The Musician will be staging as the guest chef on Fridays for the next few weeks while I teach a dinner hour yoga class, but he <strike>prefers the creative leeway to surprise us at the last minute</strike> doesn't plan that far ahead, so details are scarce for that night. </div>
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Is anyone else even bothering to cook this week? I'm not even all that hungry...</div>
Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-51144238581134914742015-11-24T19:49:00.000-05:002015-11-25T14:26:51.017-05:00Thanksgiving Menu Planning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqzMOKvIC25-kDfrGwe8yg02cE7aoA6fkkR4aMSUs1dBB3qWXBKB_NUAtGvSRAyyHwMBzcaOyFezCuHeMrNb88NZd7yxszqp1181u8XVlWmHwiaipKpRBrWkGM0Das1tsXsJ79A/s1600/pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqzMOKvIC25-kDfrGwe8yg02cE7aoA6fkkR4aMSUs1dBB3qWXBKB_NUAtGvSRAyyHwMBzcaOyFezCuHeMrNb88NZd7yxszqp1181u8XVlWmHwiaipKpRBrWkGM0Das1tsXsJ79A/s1600/pie.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Thanksgiving meal planning can be a bit of an ordeal, but our family has inexplicably turned it into a rather stress-free affair. Our family is LARGE, you see. Rather absurdly large, as a matter of fact (ahem, large in terms of numbers, that is, not weight). And Thanksgiving is quite literally the only thing we do en masse that is mostly without stress. We have learned some tricks.<br />
<br />
Some very valuable tricks.<br />
<br />
Grandma roasts a couple of dead animals, and Preston fries one. The bird does not at all interest myself nor my mother (at whose house we hold this affair), but the sides, well, that's where we excel.<br />
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When you have a family as large as ours, it is par for the course to have at least 50 guests (some years, it's more like 75 or so), and so a few of us go a little crazy with our contributions. Mom will make a restaurant-sized pot of rice, and will throw in more rolls than you can shake a stick at. Then, depending on the year, she'll also make a few spinach quiches (my favorite) and/or a big pan of macaroni and cheese. My sister will make the biggest broccoli casserole you've ever seen, a few pumpkin pies, and a plateful of peanut butter fudge that will virtually vaporize before the main course has been consumed.<br />
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Grandma, even though she will have already worked herself to the bones over a couple of turkeys, will also make the gravy, the sweet potato casserole, the green and the red jello casseroles, and, if I've been a good girl, The Carrot Cake to End All Carrot Cakes.<br />
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And someone will open a can of cranberry stuff and squirt it out onto a small plate, with the can indentations still proudly showing off. I have tried valiantly to break us of this habit. I have made a cranberry chutney, cranberry preserves, and even a cranberry conserve, but it doesn't matter what I do. Someone will still slide out a can-shaped mound of canned cranberry stuff. So I have given up. <br />
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Over the years, I have tried all sorts of recipes, including slaving away for literally half a day making my own cream of mushroom soup FROM SCRATCH, and then FRYING MY OWN ONIONS in order to make the BEST GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE EVER, but I have learned my lesson. No one liked that casserole any better than the one in which I used Campbell's and Durkee's, so, you know, screw it.<br />
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A few years ago, I made a <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/wild-rice-mushroom-pilaf-0">mushroom and wild rice pilaf</a> that I thought would be a flop (but which I was willing to make because I thought I would have leftovers to live on for the next week) and it was a hit. The pan was scraped clean. I made it again the next year, and I'll be making it again this year.<br />
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Last year, I <a href="http://lovegrowswild.com/2013/11/roasted-fall-vegetables/">roasted three or four giant sheet pans worth of vegetables</a>, and in another shocking turn of events, I watched my siblings snack on the brussels sprouts and turnips like candy. That one will make an encore appearance this year as well.<br />
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Oh, and then there's <a href="http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2012/11/fall-holiday-fruit-salad-organic-apple.html">my very favorite fall fruit salad</a>. I don't know if anyone besides my mother, my children, and I like it, but I cannot imagine a Thanksgiving without it now (and it is splendid for breakfast the next morning).<br />
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I will also be baking a new pie this year. As much of a success as the <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2007/12/warm-and-fuzzies.html">chocolate-espresso pecan pie</a> has been, David Leibovitz recently posted a recipe for a <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2015/11/bourbon-ginger-pecan-pie-recipe-thanksgiving/">bourbon-ginger pecan pie</a>, and that recipe was quickly moved to the top of my list for this year. It will be the only unproven recipe in my repertoire though, because frankly, the tried-and-true family favorites are the easiest to pull off.<br />
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So, here's to Thanksgiving, my friends, the only holiday in which we gather together to do nothing but share a meal, count our blessings, and revel in each other's company. We give thanks for the food before us, for the friends & family who are with us, and for the love between us.<br />
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<b><i>Our Thanksgiving Favorites</i></b>:<br />
<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/deep-fried-turkey-recipe.html">Preston's favorite fried turkey brine and technique</a> (I don't eat meat, and cannot vouch for this)<br />
<a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/wild-rice-mushroom-pilaf-0">Wild Rice and Mushroom Pilaf</a><br />
<a href="http://lovegrowswild.com/2013/11/roasted-fall-vegetables/">Simple Roasted Vegetable</a>s for the win<br />
<a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2007/12/warm-and-fuzzies.html">Chocolate-Espresso Pecan Pie</a><br />
<a href="http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2012/11/fall-holiday-fruit-salad-organic-apple.html">Autumn Fruit Salad</a> (I like to add in a few handfuls of pomegranate seeds)<br />
<a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2015/11/bourbon-ginger-pecan-pie-recipe-thanksgiving/">David Leibovitz' Bourbon and Ginger Pecan Pie</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-8V7UoV8isQM%2FVlT7KJigQnI%2FAAAAAAAABzw%2FoaSgFHCc5ss%2Fs1600%2Fpie.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-8V7UoV8isQM%2FVlT7KJigQnI%2FAAAAAAAABzw%2FoaSgFHCc5ss%2Fs1600%2Fpie.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-8V7UoV8isQM%2FVlT7KJigQnI%2FAAAAAAAABzw%2FoaSgFHCc5ss%2Fs1600%2Fpie.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-8V7UoV8isQM%2FVlT7KJigQnI%2FAAAAAAAABzw%2FoaSgFHCc5ss%2Fs1600%2Fpie.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-8V7UoV8isQM%2FVlT7KJigQnI%2FAAAAAAAABzw%2FoaSgFHCc5ss%2Fs1600%2Fpie.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-8V7UoV8isQM%2FVlT7KJigQnI%2FAAAAAAAABzw%2FoaSgFHCc5ss%2Fs1600%2Fpie.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-49624997863581492242015-11-23T20:50:00.000-05:002015-11-23T20:50:00.994-05:00Meal Plan • 11/23/15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEx_iU9Mv8TEUuktAHSqK0ZbOP_ktqr0LDFrMmqbPlqox0r8GJnb5RyGMvRaA0E5OgW61wUjGsI7Um0FpSBhDR2sNPN2whz7sxlNPaDn97koQJfIt0gnNywL_Te6iULyRR5FYnA/s1600/IMG_8344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEx_iU9Mv8TEUuktAHSqK0ZbOP_ktqr0LDFrMmqbPlqox0r8GJnb5RyGMvRaA0E5OgW61wUjGsI7Um0FpSBhDR2sNPN2whz7sxlNPaDn97koQJfIt0gnNywL_Te6iULyRR5FYnA/s320/IMG_8344.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><i>Monday</i>: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2011/12/black-bean-and-corn-chilaquiles.html">Black bean & corn chilaquiles with roasted tomato salsa</a></li>
<li><i>Tuesday</i>: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2007/11/grit.html">Golden bowl</a> with steamed kale (we like to layer it: brown & wild rice on the bottom, kale next, tofu cubes on top)</li>
<li><i>Wednesday</i>: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2006/05/power-of-color.html">Corn, spinach & bell pepper pasta salad</a></li>
<li><i>Thursday</i>: Thanksgiving (this is going to required a whole separate post - meet me back here tomorrow?)</li>
<li><i>Friday</i>: Thanksgiving leftovers + a giant green salad full of fresh vegetables</li>
<li><i>Saturday</i>: Make-your-own pizzas (see below)</li>
<li><i>Sunday</i>: Every man for himself</li>
</ul>
<div>
It can be so easy to forget to plan healthy meals for the week of Thanksgiving (or even to cook anything at all, frankly). All thought seems to go into Thursday's feast, but I try to take a bit of an opposite approach. I love Thanksgiving - it's one of my favorite holidays - but I always feel a little overstuffed afterwards and kind of can't wait to get back to my normal way of eating.</div>
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We have a ginormous feast at my mother's house, with millions and millions of side dishes and way too many desserts. Sometimes Grandma even makes my favorite carrot cake, and after that, I go right ahead and eat a few too many pieces of my sister's peanut butter fudge. Then I sit around until I feel a little less roly-poly, and that's when I belly back up to the counter for another plateful of vegetables that didn't find their way onto my plate the first go-round.</div>
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It's embarrassing. And I never learn.</div>
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What I <i>have</i> learned though, is that there is nothing I crave quite so much as fresh vegetables the next day. Crunchy, leafy, glorious raw veggies. Thus, the great big salad (you know, to go with whatever other leftovers I managed to steal home with). </div>
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By Saturday, I will be craving foods that have nothing to do with holidays, so I'll break out the bread machine to make some pizza dough, pull out some fresh mozzarella, defrost some marinara, and we will clean out the fridge to find toppings. </div>
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Tomorrow, I'll pop back in to share my favorite Thanksgiving recipes. I don't make turkey, of course, but I have a tried-and-true short list of side dishes and desserts that I can't wait to make again this year (along with a new recipe that has me all sorts of excited).</div>
Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-67407459030567371682015-11-16T20:09:00.000-05:002015-11-16T20:09:28.295-05:00Meal Plan • 11/16/15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<ul>
<li><i>Monday</i>: <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-crunchy-black-bean-tacos-cookbook-recipe-from-love-your-leftovers-202861">Crunchy black bean tacos</a></li>
<li><i>Tuesday</i>: Moroccan Chickpea Stew, served over brown rice (Whoa - I've been cooking this stew for years, and I've never posted the recipe online. Will rectify this oversight, stat.)</li>
<li><i>Wednesday</i>: leftovers</li>
<li><i>Thursday</i>: Take-out pizza from our fave local spot (no time to come home)</li>
<li><i>Friday</i>: <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2006/09/youve-come-long-way-baby.html">Creamy Dreamy Cheddar Grits</a>, <a href="http://postmodernfeeding.blogspot.com/2010/03/blueberry-pecan-whole-grain-pancakes.html">Blueberry-Pecan Pancakes</a> (upside down day)</li>
<li><i>Saturday</i>: it's somebody's birthday, and we're going out to eat</li>
<li><i>Sunday</i>: I. Don't. Cook. On. Sundays.</li>
</ul>
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I almost didn't come to share our menu this week. There is a ridiculous (and highly unusual) number of evenings in which we will not be eating at home, but since I figure that happens to quite literally ALL OF US, sharing our own goofy reality seemed valid.<br />
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Our family's crazy-busy Wednesdays are finally coming to a close (for the next couple of months, that is), so that one day a week will become a little more manageable, but the holiday season begins <i><b>now</b></i>, it seems, so there will be all sorts of other blips in the schedule for foreseeable future. The kids have their end-of-semester performance on Thursday evening which will preclude any time at home for dinner, and a certain someone in our household is beginning a new trip around the sun this weekend, so a dinner out seems in order for that evening as well. <br />
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These are good days, these full and funny, ever-so-slightly-too-busy days of ours.<br />
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And Thanksgiving is coming, so next week will be another time for funny little tweaks to the menu. I am already planning and re-planning the small list of side dishes and desserts that I and The Boy Wonder (who will be bringing his own specialty for the first time this year) will be contributing to our family's feast, and I'm looking forward to revisiting some old holiday favorites and discovering some new treats.<br />
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It is difficult right now to find gratitude when horrific acts of terrorism are happening around the globe, but I do not think any of us will survive the darkness without appreciating the little things, the small moments, the time spent together around the table with loved ones. So we will celebrate each other, and we will remain happy, and we will take a minute to be absolutely thankful for the people we cherish, because we never know what tomorrow may bring.<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-DuSVXoytfbs%2FVkp3jyQPWuI%2FAAAAAAAABzA%2FJM7mOqZ_t4Q%2Fs320%2FIMG_8309.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D13668827%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-DuSVXoytfbs%2FVkp3jyQPWuI%2FAAAAAAAABzA%2FJM7mOqZ_t4Q%2Fs320%2FIMG_8309.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=yAxjjx5j_pBs&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 193px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Sarah Beamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09046888690482366164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13668827.post-54722507482500771822015-11-15T17:55:00.001-05:002015-11-15T18:23:16.209-05:00Quick Lit • November 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wtJwnfaXmD0K5__tnWZg8UqnAkbn8BUInVilaNERVUIVZ_ZDolkp05Jkhez0nf8hVFrJenPb1KAmZ1T5ocCP1taGOaLpucpdSqdv_w4QUOm4gwe_2ljR8m9zOqvcwgymk-B6Dw/s1600/IMG_6557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wtJwnfaXmD0K5__tnWZg8UqnAkbn8BUInVilaNERVUIVZ_ZDolkp05Jkhez0nf8hVFrJenPb1KAmZ1T5ocCP1taGOaLpucpdSqdv_w4QUOm4gwe_2ljR8m9zOqvcwgymk-B6Dw/s320/IMG_6557.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">More than once recently, I have closed a just-finished book and signed dramatically, saying something along the lines of, "Best book ever," or "That was so incredible that I am afraid to begin anything new since it cannot possibly live up to this one," or "From now on, I will only read the best literature available because life is too short to read anything not on caliber with this author."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">It is a glorious problem to have, of course, and happens more often now because I collect book recommendations from people who know of what they speak, and I read reviews like my life depends on it. If it were not for the library and their willingness to truck in books from all over the state upon request, I would go broke.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">As it is, there are a few book subscription services that I have contemplated joining (namely <a href="http://www.bookpeople.com/bookpeople-trust-fall">Book People Trust Fall</a> and <a href="http://www.powells.com/indiespensable">Indiespensable</a> - mostly because those two send out such phenomenal books), but I am put off by both the cost and the clutter that would ensue. I just do not have much interest in collecting signed first editions with slipcases (as with Indiespensable) and typically pass on just-finished books to the very next person I see. Instead, I tend to visit the websites of each of those services and fill up my reading list with the newest titles in their subscriptions.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">I know they curate these subscription boxes to make money, so it seems a bit cannibalistic of me to then take the title and put it on hold at the library instead of supporting the independent bookstores from which I obtained the title, but I read at the rate of approximately 50-60 books per year, and money doesn't exactly grow on trees...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">Today I am linking up with <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/2015/11/7-recent-nonfiction-reads/">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a> to share short and casual snippet-like reviews of the books I have read over the past month.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelZFcxxV82DsjWYOXXpGYh_Prfosn6xVxLQBEY7UWL6UPw3P1LHgZBbdDpJ90p8jS0oIZUYx5fCg_Trb8grJHq1NheP9s0trl3ka2ui5FJkYaDzrIT73ci11EgonbOIxfi1cDaw/s1600/pretty+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelZFcxxV82DsjWYOXXpGYh_Prfosn6xVxLQBEY7UWL6UPw3P1LHgZBbdDpJ90p8jS0oIZUYx5fCg_Trb8grJHq1NheP9s0trl3ka2ui5FJkYaDzrIT73ci11EgonbOIxfi1cDaw/s320/pretty+girls.jpg" width="209" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062429051/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062429051&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=4FSXWQ666ESHEZYA">Pretty Girls</a> is straight-up psychological thriller stuff, the kind of book you might pick up at the airport and take to the beach, but I do not mean that in a derogatory way. Karin Slaughter is an absolute master in this genre, and her novels never disappoint. As always, the characters are flawed and well-drawn, and the setting itself seems part of the story. This one takes place in Athens, GA (where I live) and it is spectacularly eerie to see the streets, restaurants, and bars that are *my* stomping ground used as the sites for these (fictional) events. The plot is centered around the disappearance of a college student in 1991 (when I was a student at UGA), though it takes place 20 or so years later, and it has all the elements of a good suspenseful page-turner. As with many books of this type though, the highly sensitive reader might not be able to stomach the violence.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9bQU0kSj7DXqR98t51HK_kJ18pinJg07SAWYrpSciz9GrMOVMKdXxX6I4PphsEwzsRuoWjgL7FS3edhgIPuY4KXTzv0lAiQm0xKGGYjvDymtjwKEgTsrq9stWmovALwzTya4-w/s1600/13th+tale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9bQU0kSj7DXqR98t51HK_kJ18pinJg07SAWYrpSciz9GrMOVMKdXxX6I4PphsEwzsRuoWjgL7FS3edhgIPuY4KXTzv0lAiQm0xKGGYjvDymtjwKEgTsrq9stWmovALwzTya4-w/s320/13th+tale.jpg" width="205" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743298039/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0743298039&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=NCQYRCCZUZ36N4VV">The Thirteenth Tale</a> reads like a love letter to bookworms. The novel is, in fact, a story about a story, and though there is suspense, it is nearly secondary to the characters and to the setting. I lost myself in this glorious book, and walked around in a daze when it was over. To say more would be to spoil the depth and the magic.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdVZ6QLAiVtCbpOAum6iGrerxu7xmqIrbgl46vI9KGfOFuikfuf2r6GkiS9bjiEQ-d9YNHEm_BLCLrnyrssfrbcGYDzveq0XHWnWS249yRoz3qAFNGcjyPDN-Eb938nGgN4zybw/s1600/bel+canto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdVZ6QLAiVtCbpOAum6iGrerxu7xmqIrbgl46vI9KGfOFuikfuf2r6GkiS9bjiEQ-d9YNHEm_BLCLrnyrssfrbcGYDzveq0XHWnWS249yRoz3qAFNGcjyPDN-Eb938nGgN4zybw/s320/bel+canto.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">Ann Patchett is in top form with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061565318/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061565318&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=WZOZ7BAMB6FGBP6S">Bel Canto</a>, a novel in which a large party of diplomats, politicians, and corporate heads (and one world-renowned, beloved soprano) are taken hostage by a group of terrorists. The entire action of the book takes place within the walls of the compound (somewhere in South America), and though the story is told from many different points of view, never is the reader given a glimpse of what is going on in the outside world. The hostages and the terrorists are bound together by proximity and by their own humanity during the months-long standoff, and while the story appears light-hearted through much of the daily goings-on, there is a sense of urgency as the book comes to a close and the reader is tormented with the sense that each and every one of the characters cannot possibly ride off into the sunset.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062223062/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062223062&linkCode=as2&tag=recipesforapo-20&linkId=2YZHBDT3SOV4VHQN">The Art of Memoir</a> is a master class in both writing and reading the memoir genre. Karr has written three top-notch memoirs of her own, and heads an award-winning graduate seminar at Syracuse on, you guessed it, the art of writing memoir. The first part of the book was a little slow, but it didn't take long before it was so engrossing that it became hard to put down. The author takes apart and analyzes both well-known and obscure memoirs, and even spends a lot of pages (so many pages) writing about her own process of writing about herself. Were she anyone else, this might seem self-serving or cringe-inducing, but as she is a phenomenal writer in her own right, it made me want to go back and re-read her earlier books. At the end is a fairly exhaustive list of memoirs which has turned my library hold list into a behemoth. The book may sound a little dry, but if you have any interest in writing (whether memoir or not), the insights are invaluable. As well, reading this has changed the entire way I read and think about autobiographical works. Highly recommend for those who want to hone their own writing, who enjoy reading, and/or who would like to better examine their own life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><i>This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Postmodern Planet.</i></span></span><br />
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