CHOCOLATE & CROISSANTS

2023-03-05T16:22:00.008-08:00

2023 Reading Challenge

Ok is this a reading challenge or a place for me to keep track of the books I read. I would say it is somewhere for me to keep track of what I read.

50 States Reading Challenge I always fail miserably at this one, however it is fun to see what state books are set in.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California Romantic Comedy

Colorado

Connecticut:

Delaware

District of Columbia Becoming , Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland:

Massachusetts The Huntress K. Quinn The Woman in the Library

Michigan

Minnesota The Magnificent Life of Marjorie Post

Mississippi:

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey:

New Mexico

New York Verity

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania: House of Eve

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia:

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming American Wolf

JANUARY

1. American Wolf N. Blakeslee 4 croissants Wyoming

2. The Last Anniversary L. Moriarty AUstrailia 4 croissants

3. Atomic Habits J. Clear 4 croissants

4. Becoming M. Obama 4 croissants DC

5. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow G. Zevin California and Massachuttes 3 croissants

6. The City of Tears K. Moss Holland 4 croissants

FEBRUARY

7. Verity C. Hoover 2 croissants NY

8. Rules of Civility A. Towles 4 croissants

10.

11. T

12.

March

13. The Huntress K. Quinn Massachuttes, Austria, Siberia, Poland 4 stars.

14. The Wind Knows my Name 4 croissants I. Allende

15 The Lobotomist's Wife 4 croissants

16. Romantic Comedy 3 croissants C. Sittenfield NY

April

May

Code Name Saphire P Jenoff Belgium

The whalebone Theater England

House of Eve

20 The Bloated Belly

June

24 Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker 3.5 croissants J. Chiviarini Washington DC

25. The Year of Yes 2 croissants The Diamond Eye 4 croissants K. Quinn

26. The Soviet Sisters A. Scott 4 croissants

27. Wrong Place Wrong Time. 3.5 croissants G. McAllister England

26. Lady Tan's Circle of Friends 3.0 croissants L. See

July

28. The Woman in the Library 4 croissants S. Gentill Massachuttes

29. Dinners with Ruth. N. Totenberg 4 croissants Washington DC

30. The Magnificent Life of Marjorie Post Minnesota 4 croissants

27. The Spanish Daughter

28. Kitchens of the Great Midwest

29. ThBloomsbury Girls N. Jenner England 4 croissantse 30. Summer Place

31. A Perfect Union

September

the Last House on the Street. D. Chamberlain 3 croissants N. Carolina

Meant to Be Emily Griffin 2 croissants New Jersey

The Christie Affair N. De Gramont England 3 croissants

October

35. Bloomsbury Girls N. Jenner England 4 croissants.

36. A Hundred Suns K Tanabe Vietnam 4 croissants

37. Sparring Partners Grisham

38. Remarkably Bright Creatures 4 croissants

39. The Many Daughters of Afong May 3 croissants

42. Every Summer After C. Fortune 3 croissants

November

43. The London House K. Reay England 3 croissants

44. Counterfeit K. Chen 4 croissants

2022-01-07T20:25:00.020-08:00

2022 Reading Challenge

Last year was an unusual year in my reading. I logged 92 books. I would like to say that I will do that again, but it remains to be seen. There was a lot of downtime last year. So we shall see were my reading takes me this year. I always find it fun to track the books I read and where they are located. They are typically located in Europe as I adore the WW11 genre of historical fiction.

50 States Reading Challenge I always fail miserably at this one, however it is fun to see what state books are set in.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut:

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland:

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi:

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska The LIncoln HIghway

Nevada

New Hampshire Count the Ways

New Jersey: Meant to Be

New Mexico

New York The Missing Hours, Rules of Civility

North Carolina The Tobacco Wives, The Last House on the Street

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania:

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas The Diplomat's Daughter

Utah

Vermont

Virginia:

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

JANUARY

1. The Christmas Cookie Cookbook by cidermill press 3 croissants (checkout recipe for Biscotti di Mandorla

2. A Table for Friends S. McAlpine 3 croissants

3. The House of Gucci S. Forden Italy 4 croissants

4. The Missing Hours J. Dahl NY 3.5 croissants

5. The Lincoln Highway A. Towles 4 croissants

6. The Cellist D. Silva 4 croissants

FEBRUARY

7. Apples never Fall Moriarty 3 croissants

8. Rules of Civility A. Towles 4 croissants

9. The Last Letter from Your Lover Jo Jo Moyes 4 croissants

10. London E. Rutherford 4 croissants

11. The Diplomat's Daughter Tanabe 4 croissants Texas

12. A Vintage Affair I. Wolf 4 croissants England

March

13. The Kitchen Front J. Ryan England

14. The Magnolia Palace F. Davis NY

15 The Tobacco Wives N. Carolina

April

17 I must betray you Romania 4 croissants

Daisy Jones and the Six 1 croissant Taylor Reid

All the Stars in Heaven 4 croissants A. Trigiliani

May

19 The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

20 The Bloated Belly

June

21. West with Giraffes 4 croissants.

22 The Diamond Eye 4 croissants K. Quinn

23. City of Friends J. Trollope 4 croissants England

24. Violetta I. Allenda 4 croissants Chile

25. The Patron Saint of Second Chances C. Simon 3 croissants Italy

July

24. On a Night of a Thousand Stars Argentina

25. The Alice Network K. Quinn France 4 stars

26. The Good Left Undone A. Trigliani 4 stars

27. The Spanish Daughter

28. Kitchens of the Great Midwest

29. ThBloomsbury Girls N. Jenner England 4 croissantse 30. Summer Place

31. A Perfect Union

September

the Last House on the Street. D. Chamberlain 3 croissants N. Carolina

Meant to Be Emily Griffin 2 croissants New Jersey

The Christie Affair N. De Gramont England 3 croissants

October

35. Bloomsbury Girls N. Jenner England 4 croissants.

36. A Hundred Suns K Tanabe Vietnam 4 croissants

37. Sparring Partners Grisham

38. Remarkably Bright Creatures 4 croissants

39. The Many Daughters of Afong May 3 croissants

42. Every Summer After C. Fortune 3 croissants

November

43. The London House K. Reay England 3 croissants

44. Counterfeit K. Chen 4 croissants

45. The Women of Chateau Lafayette France S. Dray 4. croissants

December

46. Count the Ways J. Maynard 4 croissants New Hampshire

47. In the enemy's house H. Blum 4 croissants

48. Cloud Cukoo land A. Doerr 2.5 croissants

Christian Dior Designer of Dreams

2021-10-18T21:13:00.011-07:00

For anyone who likes fashion or is interested in Christian Dior, this latest release from Rizzoli has been published on the occasion of the retrospective of the exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum which is running through February 20, 2022, this new title chronicles the history of the House of Dior from 1947 to the current day with a special focus on the House's legacy in America.

The book tells both the story of Dior, along with iconic photographs from American photographers and designs by his successors. It is interesting to learn how Dior's personal life impacted his fashion sense. Launched in the fall of 1947 Dior-New York, made the line accessible to both specialty stores, and Dior-vetted department stores. In doing so, Dior introduced American women to the concept of polish and poise from head to toe, with Dior stockings in seasonal colours and shades matched to the collection, hats, lowcut pumps (apparently a revelation at the time) and gloves that would completement the silhouette of a coat or dress.

This is not to say that Dior was initially welcomed by everyone. In introducing his "New Look" to America, Dior was picketed by Chicago's "A Little Below the Knee Club" as Dior lowered the lengths of skirts. While the length of the skirt was lowered, Dior had his own way of emphasizing a women's figure, whether it be with a cinched belt or his signature bows.

The photography in the book is gorgeous, with a collection of both colored and black and white photos. Each featured fashion photographer has a brief write up about their photography.

For a man who looked to nature for inspiration and was very superstitious, no-one could have predicted, when he has his fortune read at 14 and was told "Women will be good to you and it is thanks to them that you will succeed" how true this would be.

The book is a beautiful tribute to a man who paid attention to every detail of women's fashion.

Thank you to Rizzoli Publishing for providing me with a copy of Christian Dior Designer of Dreams.

The Hands on French Cookbook and Giveaway

2021-09-21T20:19:00.005-07:00

Elisabeth De Chatillon is On Tour with The Hands on French Cookbook.

If you think French food is complicated, decadent and heavy it is time to think again!!!

If you think learning and exploring another language is difficult or boring, think again!!!

And should you think cooking French food and learning French at the same time is impossible, teacher and home cook elisabeth De Chatillon is here to prove you wrong. It may sound too good to be true, but The Hands on French Cookbooks is full of healthy, simple French recipes that you can make for family and friends while you learn not only the French language but also a little bit about French culture in a relaxed, fun and tasty way.

This book is the best of two worlds bringing France and it's food into your home.

To win your own copy of THE HANDS ON FRENCH COOKBOOK enter on the title or here

Author De Chatillon was born in France and has an MA in Education and Marketing, teaching both in the US and Europe. She is an accomplished home cook who enjoys sharing her love for French cooking by feeding her family and freinds simple, good food. Her book, THe HANDS ON FRENCH COOKBOOK was born from her combined love of teaching and cooking. When she is not in the kitchen cooking or working she is on her yoga mat, mediating , ocean swimming, traveling or spending time with her husband and cat Minou.

To see other blogs that are hosting the tour click here. If you want to purchase it go to Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

2021-05-02T09:53:00.003-07:00

I am not sure where I initially saw the title of this book. However, everything about the book drew me into it. I liked the title, cover and the the story.

Grace and her friend went to stay with Grace's mum's friend after her uncle threw her out of his home, refusing to give her a character letter so she may work in London. Both Grace and her friend Vivian arrived in London without job references and with war on the horizon. While both young woman hoped to work at Harrod's, Grace had limited employment opportunities. As such, she came to find herself at Grace found her employment opportunies her mum's friend secured a position for Grace in a bookstore, Primrose Hill.

Readers will love the characters in the book, Mr. Evans the stodgy owner of Primrose Hill who is both hesitant to have Grace in his shop and make any changes to his ancient bookstore.

Mrs. Stokes, Grace's mum's friend who is a rock for Grace and then comes to rely on Grace as the war progresses.

George, a young man with a love for reading who comes into the shop and shares his ideas for a bookshop with Grace.

Grace herself who discovers herself both between the shelves and pages at the bookstore and brings the community together.

This is a wonderful book.

The Wine Lover's Bucket List: 1000 Amazing Adventures in Pursuit of Wine by Simon Woolf

2021-04-11T20:34:00.003-07:00

When it comes to food and wine I am always up for an adventure. Adventure usually means travel, beautiful scenery and new experiences. I must confess I am not an oenophile. When on vacation in Europe I will enjoy a glass of wine with dinner; however while at home I do not traditionally have wine with dinner.

Strange as that may sound, I have visited the Bourgone and Australia's wine region. I enjoy cooking with wine and am fascinated how it is used in cooking. What I think makes Woolf's book enjoyable is the adventure's do not necessarily focus on consuming the wine. There is an adventure for everyone in the book. You could choose to visit Chateuaneuf-du Pape for the coloring of grapes festival a 3 day festival with knight tournaments, dancing and music or go to Baja Mexico and enjoy both wine and fine-dining restaurants, you could drive Germany's wine route or take a 2.5 hr hike to Friedenbrucke for amazing views.

Should you choose you could take a vacation based on wine. The book is brokend down by regions, North America, Canada, Mexico and South America, Western Europe, Italy, Central and Eastern Europe, Iberia, Russia, the Causcasus and the Middle East, Australia, Africa and Asia.

The books tells you about sommaliers who have wine tasting classes, small vinyards, vinyards offering accomodations, winemakers, boutique wineries, festivals and hip wine bars. How fun would it be to blend your own wine and create your own label or hike through Austria and discovery food and wine stands on a mile long walk through vinyards. This is truly a unique book for anyone that has some amazing ideas on how to enjoy both the culture of another country and a great glass of wine. Whether you are a wine connoisseur or occaisionally enjoy a glass of wine there is an adventure for everyone.

Thank you to Rizzoli Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book.

The Girl From Berlin Ronald Balson

2021-02-12T09:52:00.002-08:00

In general I liked the concept of the story-however there were aspects of the story were unrealistic and annoying.

Catherine an attorney and her husband Liam (private investigator) are asked to go to Italy to assist a friend's aunt in a battle to keep her Tuscany property from a corporation attmepting to seize it. I was surprised to find out the author is a trial attorney. Catherine goes to Italy in the capacity of an attorney. As an attorney myself this is so unrealistic-one needs to be licensed and admitted to the regulating agency, in addition to the fact that Italy does not have the same legal system as the US. It is doubtful any attorney would ever agree to such an arrangement, let alone be effective.

Liam the husband sounds like a tough guy who is not afraid to use his fists. I listened to the book and wanted to wince every time he spoke.

Under the tutor of her father Ada is a child prodigy on the violin. Between sexism and racism Ada comes to realize as an adult she will not be able to play with an orchestra. As faith would have it she is invited to play in Italy and escape with her mother from the hardships enforced in Berlin against Jews. The story switches between present day with Catherine and Liam attempting to assist Gaby with keeping her property and Ada and her career as a violinist.

It is a good story and I will likely read the author's other books as I enjoy this genre. As stated above I have issues with scenerios that are unrealistic

2021 Reading Challenge

2021-01-19T07:30:00.055-08:00

Back to Blogging and 2020 Reading Challenges

.

It is January and a new year. So hopefully, I will have more time to blog and reconnect with my blog friends.

2020 European Reading Challenge is being hosted by Rose City Reader. There are prizes to be one. This is an easy one as it seems most of my books are set in Europe.

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vatican City.

NOTE: Even after Brexit, the United Kingdom is still one country, in Europe, that includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. So one book from any one of these four counts as your one book for the United Kingdom. I'm not going to be a stickler about it because challenges should be about fun not about rules. However, when it comes to winning the Jet Setter prize, only one book from one of the UK countries will count.

LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION

FIVE STAR (DELUXE ENTOURAGE): Read at least five books by different European authors or books set in different European countries.
FOUR STAR (HONEYMOONER): Read four qualifying books.
THREE STAR (BUSINESS TRAVELER): Read three qualifying books.
TWO STAR (ADVENTURER): Read two qualifying books.
ONE STAR (PENSIONE WEEKENDER): Read just one qualifying book.

The Historians Sweden

The Girl from Berlin Germany

Dear Mrs Bird England

The German House Germany

The Midnight Library

The Last Garden in England

Our Darkest Night Italy

The Book of Names France

Dirt France

Splendid and the Vile England

Anxious People Sweden

Eternal Italy

The Paris Dressmaker France

The Elephant of Belfast Ireland

Based on True Story is hosting the Foodies Reading Challenge. This is an easy one for me.

Since we are starting another year let’s review the rules:

Every post must feature a book about food. Posts that don’t center a book will be removed.
Every entry is entered into a monthly drawing to win a gift card. Once you win a prize you are not eligible to win for 6 months.

50 States Reading Challenge I always fail miserably at this one, however it is fun to see what state books are set in.

Alabama Transcendent Kingdom

Alaska The Great Alone

Arizona

Arkansas

California Dear Edward/When the Stars go Dark

Colorado Hidden Valley Road

Connecticut:

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida That Summer

Georgia An American Marriage

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek K. Richardson

Louisiana The Book of Lost Friends, The Vanishing Half

Maine

Maryland: Sunflower Sisters, The Invisible Husband of Frick Island

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi: A Time for Mercy

Missouri

Montana The Paris Library

Nebraska The Children's Blizzard

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey: Florence Adler Swims Again

New Mexico

New York The Lions of Fifth Avenue

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania: Plain Truth, The Orphan Collector

Rhode Island

South Carolina The Invention of Wings

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas The Book of Friends, The Four Winds The Last Thing He Told Me

Utah

Vermont Rescue

Virginia: The Yellow Wife

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

JANUARY

1. A Time for Mercy Grisham 3.5 croissants

2. Billion Dollar Whale T. Hope 4 croissants Malyasia

3. Florence Adler Swims Again 4 croissants New Jersey

4. Plain Truth J. Picoult Pennsylvania 3 croissants

5. The Things we Cannot Say K Rimmer 4 croissants

6. The unexpected Mrs. Pollifax D. Gilman Albania 4 croissants

7. The Book of Lost Friends L. Wingate Louisiana/Texas 3 croissants

8. The Lions of Fifth Avenue F. Davis 4 croissants New York

FEBRUARY

9. The Girl from Berlin R. Balson Germany/Italy 3 croissants

10. Dear Mrs. Bird A.J. Pearce England 3.5 croissants

11. The Good Wife Samra Zafar Pakistan, Canada 3.5 croissants

12. Hidden Valley Road, Colorado 4 croissants

13. The Historians C. Eckback Sweden 3 croissants

MARCH

14. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane 4 croissants China

15. The Midnight Library 4 croissants England

16. Rescue Anita Shevre 3 croissants Vermont

17. The Order Daniel Silva 3.5 croissants Italy

18. Dear Edward A. Napolitano California 4 croissants

19. Jetsetters A Ward 4 croissants

20. The German House A.Hess 4 croissants Germany

21. The Great Alone K. Hannah Alaska

22. The Midnight Library 4 croissants England

23. The Yellow Wife 4 croissants Virginia S. Johnson

24. The Burgess Boys 4 croissants Maine

25. The Children's Blizzard M. Benjamin Nebraska

APRIL

26. Our Darkest Night Italy Robson 4 croissants

27. Anxious People F. Backman Sweden 2.5 croissants

28. The Book of Names 3 croissants France

29. The Splendid and the Vile 4 croissants England

30. The Four Winds K. Hannah Texas 4 croissants

31. Dirt B. Bulford France 4 croissants

32. Pachinko Japan/Korea 3.4 croissants

33. When the Stars go Dark California 3 P. McClain

34. When we were Young and Brave. H. Gaynor China 4 croissants

MAY

35. The Last Bookshop in London M Martin 4 croissants

36. The Children's Blizzard David Laskins 3 croissants

37. Eternal Lisa Scottoline Italy 4 croissants

38. The Paris Dressmaker K. Cambron Paris 3 croissants

39. The Elephant of Belfast Ireland S. Walsh 3.5 croissants

40. The Vanishing Half Louisiana B. Bennett 4 croissants

41. The Apothecary 3.5 London

42. Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty L. Weisberger 1 croissant

43. An American Marriage T Jones 3.5 croissants

44. That Summer J. Weiner 4 croissants

JUNE

45. Sunflower Sisters Martha Hall Kelly 4 croissants

46. The Yellow Envelope K. Dinan 3 croissants India

47. The Orphan Collector E.Wiseman 4 croissants Pennsylvania

48. The Library of Legends J, Chang 3 croissants China

49. The Orphan of Warsaw K. Rimmer 3 croissants Poland

50. The Woman with the Blue Star P. Jenoff 3 croissants Poland

51. The Guest List L. Foley 4 stars Ireland

JULY

52. Sisters of the Resistance C. Wells 4 stars France

53. Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook 3.5 stars Germany C. Rees

54. People we Meet on Vacation E. Henry Ohio 1 star

55. Jackie and Maria G. Paul 4 stars Greece

AUGUST

56. The Personal Librarian 4 stars

57. The Paris Library 3.5 Janet Charles Montana

58. The Rose Code 4 stars K. Quinn England

59. The Woman Who Smashed Codes 4 stars

60. The Architect's Apprentice E. Shafak Turkey 4 star

61. Band of Sisters 4 stars France L. Willig

62. The Forgotten Home Child G. Graham 4 stars Canada

63. The Grace Kelly Dress 3.5 B. Janowitz NY

64. The Invisable Husband of Frick Island 3.0 C. Oakley Maryland

65. The Code Breaker California W. Isaacson 4

66. The Girl From the Channel Islands 3.5

67. The Nature of Fragile Things 4.0 Meissner California

68. Transcendent Kingdom Alabama 3.0 Y, Gasaii

SEPTEMBER

69. The Secret Keeper of Jaipur India 4.0 A. Joshi

70. Kew Garden Girls England 4.0 P. Lovell

71. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek 4.0 K. Richardson

72. The Last Thing He Told Me 4.0 Texas L. D

73. While Paris Slept 4.0 R. Druart

OCTOBER

74. The Invention of Wings S. Monk 4.0 South Carolina

75. The Forest of Vanishing Stars K. Harmell 2.5 Poland

76. Band of Sisters L. Willig France 4.0

77. Last Summer at the Golden Hotel E. Friedland Vermont E. Friedland 3.5

78. All the Ways we Said Goodbye B Williams 3.5 France

79. Not a happy family. S. Lapena 4.0 New York

80. Malibu Rising T. Reid 3.0 California

81. The Debutantes 4.0 G. Blalock England

NOVEMBER

82. The Dressmaker of Khair Khana G. Lemmon 4 stars Aghanistan

83. The Girl from Channel Islands J. Lecoat 3.5 stars England

84. The Invisible Husband of Frick Island C. Oakley 3.5 Maryland

85. Good Company C. Sweeney California 3.5 croissants

86. Glitter on the Green J. Dunn South America 3.5 croissants

DECEMBER

87. The Therapist B.A. Paris London 3.5 croissants

88. The Women's March J. Chiaverini 3. croissants

89. Crying in H. Mart M Zanner 3 croissants

90. The exiles C. Kline Baker 4 croissants Austrailia

91. Three Sister's H. Morris 4 croissants Israel/Germany

92. The Brillant Life of Eudora Honeysett A Lyons 4 croissants Britain

93.

Milk Jar Cookies Book Review by Courtney Cowan

2020-10-10T21:03:00.005-07:00

Heading into autumn with crisp nights and shorter days always brings out a desire to bake more. Nothing is better than settling down with a cup of tea, a book and a cookie or a scone or a slice of pie or maybe a slice of cake...and a glass of milk.

Cowan has made a career out of cookies with her own brick and mortar store in LA from where you can order her cookies online. While I must confess I have not tried out any of the recipes. (Blame it on a recent accident that resulted in surgery-one handed baking can be quite challenging). I have tagged many of the recipes for when I am back amongst the able two handled world.

I like Cowan's approach to baking-What she likes about baking is how it has the ability to spread joy in three ways-and these days we can all use more joy in our lives. Baking brings joy to the baker while they are busy doing the delicious work, two-seeing, smelling and tasting the fruits of your labor and three sharing your baked goods with others. There is a fourth way, I get pure joy from reading her book the recipes. As I ponder over the ingredients and look at the photos I can almost smell the cookies baking in my oven.

There is a good variety of recipes from cookies to pies to bars along with cakes and muffins. One recipe I am going to try are the lemon ricotta pancakes and the pumpkin pie cookies. Each recipe has a code to scan so you can listen to music that is appropriate for that recipe. All the recipes seem easy to follow and should you need to make it gluten free the adjustment is there. The only negative I have is some of the recipes call for shortening or corn syrup-two ingredients that are banned from my shelves. In Cowan's defense she chooses shortening due to the fat content. That said I am sure I can easily substitute them out. Some of the recipes have suggestions on a variation-oatmeal raisin cookies can turn into a cranberry cookie at Christmas to make it more festive.

Many of the recipes call for fresh fruit-I like that concept as I always enjoy biting into a pie of fruit-and baked fruit tends to have a great burst of flavor. I think this is clever and not something I have seen in many baking books.

For those of you who want to see what you are baking each recipe is featured with it's own gorgeous photo taken by Ashley Maxwell that will have you wanting to bake each and every recipe.

Do I recommend this book-absolutely. There is a good selection of recipes that are easy to follow with lovely photos. Should I find myself in Los Angeles which I will pay a visit to her brick and mortar store to grab myself a bite.

Thank you to Rizzoli Books for giving me a copy of the book to review.

2020-01-12T20:03:00.009-08:00

Back to Blogging and 2020 Reading Challenges

Well, blogging in 2019 did not really happen for me. 2019 is not a year that will go down in my memory. With a death in the family, the loss of our pet and many many visits to the hospital. One can only hope that 2020 will be better. .

It is January and a new year. So hopefully, I will have more time to blog and reconnect with my blog friends.

2020 European Reading Challenge is being hosted by Rose City Reader. There are prizes to be one. This is an easy one as it seems most of my books are set in Europe.

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vatican City.

FIVE STAR (DELUXE ENTOURAGE): Read at least five books by different European authors or books set in different European countries.
FOUR STAR (HONEYMOONER): Read four qualifying books.
THREE STAR (BUSINESS TRAVELER): Read three qualifying books.
TWO STAR (ADVENTURER): Read two qualifying books.
ONE STAR (PENSIONE WEEKENDER): Read just one qualifying book.

1. The Ambassador's Daughter France

2. Windfallen, The Family Upstairs England
3. The Orphan's Song
4. CIlka's Story Austria

5. The Woman in Cabin Ten Norway

6. The Things We Cannot Say Poland K. Rimmer

Based on True Story is hosting the Foodies Reading Challenge. This is an easy one for me.

Since we are starting another year let’s review the rules:

Every post must feature a book about food. Posts that don’t center a book will be removed.
Every entry is entered into a monthly drawing to win a gift card. Once you win a prize you are not eligible to win for 6 months.

50 States Reading Challenge I always fail miserably at this one, however it is fun to see what state books are set in.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California The Stationery Shop

Colorado

Connecticut: Mrs. Everything

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida Camino Winds

Georgia The Guardian

Hawaii Honalulu

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky The Giver of Stars

Louisiana

Maine Evvie Drakes New Life, The Last House Guest

Maryland

Massachusetts The Stationery Shop

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada Pretty Things

New Hampshire The New Husband

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York City Of Girls

North Carolina Where the Crawdad's Sing

North Dakota

Ohio Hillilby Elegy J. Vance

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

January

1. City of Girls E. Gilbert 4 stars

2. The Ambassador's Daughter P. Jenoff 3.5 stars

3. Love and Ruin P. McClain 4 stars Cuba

4. Mrs. Everything J. Weiner 3.5 stars

5. The Guardian J. Grisham 4 stars

February

6. Kiss the Girls and Make them Cry M Higgins Clark 3 stars

7. Windfallen Jo Jo Moyes 4 stars

8. The Orphan's Song L. Kate 4 stars Italy

March
9. The Family Upstairs L. Jewell 4 stars
10. Cilka's Journey H. Morris 4 stars
11. The Tatootist of Auschwitz H. Morris 4 stars

April
12. From Scratch T. Locke
13. The German Heiress A. Scott 4 stars
14. The Marriage Plot Eugenides  Eugenides,

May 15.  Hillilby Elegy J. Vance 3.5
16. The Stationery Shop M. Kamali 4 stars Iran and California

June
17. Where the Crawdad's Sing D. Owens 4 stars

July
18. Maybe You should Talk to Someone L. Gottlieb California
19. The New Husband DJ Palmer 4 stars New Hampshire
20 Honolulu A Brennert Hawaii 4 stars

21 Big Summer J. Weiner

22. The Giver of Stars Jo Jo Moyes Kentucky

23. A Well Behaved Woman T. Fowler NY

The Beekeeper of Aleppo Syria

The Girl from Widow Hill M. Megan 4 croissants North Carolina

The Lies that Bind E Giffin New York

Pretty Things, Janelle Brown Nevada

September

28. The Henna Artist India

29. The Woman in Cabin 10 NOrway

30, Evvie Drakes New Life

31 The Winter Guest Poland P Jenoff

32. The Winemaker's Wife France K Harmel

October

33 The Last House Guest Maine

34. Sex and Vanity K Kwan

35. The Daughter's Tale A. Lucas Correa Germany

36. The Things we Cannot Say K. Rimmer

37. Camino Winds G. Grisham Florida

38. American Dirt Mexico

39. The Long Petal of the Sea I. Allende Chile

40. The Island of Sea Women L. Sea Korea

41. The Last House Guest. M. Miranda Maine

42. In 5 Years

A Night With Janis Joplin

2019-10-17T20:56:00.001-07:00

Sundays are the perfect day to enjoy a musical. This Sunday get ready to step back to the 60's as you sing and dance the day away while enjoying A Night With Janis Joplin. Mary Bridget Davies, will be starring as Janis Joplin this Sunday, October 2), 2019 at the Balboa Theater in San Diego for 2 shows, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Pull out your bell bottoms and get ready to be entertained.

Magical Places by Nikki Van De Car Book Review

2019-05-29T21:38:00.003-07:00

If you are anything like me you spend time, daydreaming of places you would love to visit, thinking of the perfect place to get lost in one's thoughts and feel completely at peace. There is no reason why these places appeal to us. They are just the perfect spot.

Author Nikki Van De Car, has compiled a book of Magical Places which takes the reader on an enchanted journey through mystical sites, haunted houses and fairytale forests. These are actual places found around the world, Each one with their own folklore. Some of the places may be found in a city while others are out in the countryside. Whether or not you see fairies or dragons is up to you. What I can assure you is if you use your imagination and open your eyes you will be surprised and enjoy what each of these places have to offer.

In this beautifully illustrated book, Van De Car, takes you on a journey around the world, to some of her favorite locations. Whether you choose to visit them perched in your favorite armchair or make the journey you are sure to be delighted. With her description and brief history of each place, you will be sure to learn something new and interesting.

I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to interviewMs. Van De Car.

How did you come up with the idea for the book?

Haha--I didn't! This was actually my editor Shannon Fabricant's idea! It's something that we both sort of chatted about, from time to time, curious about the places in the world where magic still exists, however buried, but I didn't think of it as a book until she brought it to me!

Where is your Magical Place? what about the place is Magical, How did it speak to you?

Oh my. Where to start. I certainly don't have just one, but the first that comes to mind is Waipi'o Valley on the Big Island of Hawai'i, where I live. This one didn't make it into the book, probably because it feels really personal, and hard to describe--but I'll try! The valley is six miles deep and one mile across, with a wide stretch of black sand beach meeting the rough ocean. The only way down into the valley is an extremely steep single-lane road--I believe the steepest road of its length in the US. When I've driven down, I was instructed to *unbuckle* my seatbelt so as to facilitate jumping out of the car on the way down the cliff if we should go over--and you can see the wreckage of fallen cars in the trees below. After that, I walked. The valley is inhabited by people who still live and farm in the old ways, completely off-grid, just as that valley lived for centuries. It was a seat of power for ancient Hawaiian kings, and stories are told about gods who came to visit and did their generally-unpleasant god things.

The history and magic--in this case, mana--there is palpable. I'm not religious, but when I carried my three-year-old daughter down that steep road and watched her splash in the water where the river meets the ocean, it felt, for me, like a baptism.

Have you been able to visit any of the Magical Places in the book? what did you enjoy about that place? Why did you choose the place?

My wonderful parents just took me on a trip to see some of these places! We went to France and saw le Mont Saint Michel, the City of Ys and the Catacombs, and we went to the south coast of Iceland.

France was interesting--Mont Saint Michel was stunning, and despite how it's essentially a really nice mall now, you could walk its steep paths and imagine yourself back in time. Douarnenez, however, where the City of Ys supposedly sank beneath the waves, requires a more powerful imagination than I possess--it's one of my favorite stories ever, which is why I wanted to go, but Douarnenez is a lovely, modern town, with no evidence that a princess of the old world fought and died to protect her way of life and that of her people. I suppose it's a testament to how badly she lost.

The Catacombs were something I was really looking forward to, in a creepy, "peering into the madness" sort of way. After all, the sign over the door says "You are entering the realm of the dead." It all felt very imaginary. But unlike Douarnenez, no imagination was required--and in fact, I had to keep from being overwhelmed. There are just so many bodies, on and on and on. The same number of people who died in the Holocaust are buried beneath the streets of Paris, and seeing their carefully arranged bones helped me to finally grasp exactly what six million people looks like. And so, by the end, it wasn't creepy--it was just achingly sad.

Iceland was different. There, it wasn't just that specific places were specifically beautiful or magical--although they were, incredibly so--but that the entire country and culture felt suffused in myth. It's a dramatic landscape, and their Viking history is equally dramatic, but it's a history that is so entangled with magic and story that it felt like every rock could house a family of elves, and every waterfall be home to some not-quite-benevolent spirit.

How did you do your research for the book?

When I could, I went in person, but I also read books, poked around online, searching as often as I could for specific places with specific stories attached. It was so much fun.

Which Magical Place would you like to visit the most? Why is that?

Don't make me choose! I would love to see Krampusnacht in Graz, to dive into the To Sua Trench (though let's face it, I probably won't because I"m scared of heights), to walk in Hang Son Doon, to swim in the Hinatuan--there are so many beautiful, impossible places! One day.

Do you have a magical potion for meditation?

I do, actually! This is from my next book, Wellness Witch, coming out next Fall (so a bit of a preview!)

Let it be known that this tincture likely won’t taste all that good—but fortunately, a little of it goes a long way. Mugwort is an herb with a long history; in Norse mythology, it is one of the nine herbs of power used by the god Odin. Yarrow enhances perception and psychic abilities, and was used thousands of years ago to stop bleeding on the battlefield. Anise will not only sweeten (slightly) the tincture, but will raise your vibrations, allowing your perceptions to soar. Mint invites clarity and positivity, to balance the power of the mugwort.

· 1 tablespoon dried anise or a quarter cup fresh

· 1 tablespoon dried mugwort or a quarter cup fresh

· 1 tablespoon dried yarrow or a quarter cup fresh

· 1 tablespoon dried mint or a quarter cup fresh

· Everclear or vodka

If using fresh herbs, collect them by the full moon, and make the tincture that same night. If using dry or a combination, mix the dried herbs together and sprinkle them over a bowl that contains lapis lazuli, opal and calcite. Charge them overnight on the night just before the full moon.

On the night of the full moon, working in the moonlight if possible, chop your fresh herbs finely, and then mix all herbs together in a mortar and pestle, bashing them around, breaking them down as much as possible. Place them in a jar with room at the top, and then cover them with the Everclear or vodka. Allow the tincture to rest for one month, in darkness during the day, and in moonlight when possible, shaking occasionally.

In the light of the next full moon, strain your tincture into a dark glass container, where it will keep for months or even years. You likely will not require more than a teaspoon at a time to enhance your spellwork or meditations.

A perfect night of relaxation would be to have my magic portion and read through the book. Thank you to Hachette Book Group for giving me the opportunity to review the book.

Enjoying Mango Sticky Rice in Phuket

2019-03-16T11:00:00.001-07:00

Having just returned from Thailand, my new favorite dessert is mango sticky rice. The first time I had it was probably at one of the night markets. The Renaissance Phuket was our final destination of the trip. By the time I was there mango was a daily staple. Luckily for me, mango was served each morning at the breakfast bar. One could easily sidle up to the fruit station and enjoy having fresh mango cut and served to you. Let me assure you, I was probably enjoying 3 mangoes a day. After enjoying my breakfast mangoes I would make my way down to the beach to enjoy a morning swim. This was the beach at the Renaissance Phuket.

Mango sticky rice is such an easy dessert to make. You could also have durian sticky rice should you want. It is really just a matter of making your sticky rice, slicing your mango, adding on some toasted mung bean or toasted sesame seeds and a little coconut cream. The amount of coconut cream is going to proportional to the number of servings you are making. I would suggest about 4 tbsp coconut cream for each serving. If you were using about 1/4 cup coconut cream then add about 1 tsp sugar. Do not use too much sugar as your dessert will be too sweet. The mango should already be sweet.

pond surrounding the breakfast restaurant

If you really want to be creative add butterfly pea to your rice. Butterfly pea is from the Clitoria ternate plant. It will turn your rice a beautiful shade of blue. If you look at the the first photo, you can see some blue rice in the picture.

Phuket Beach in front of the Renaissance Phuket

One evening the hotel hosted an east meets west dinner. One of their desserts was mango sticky rice. I told the chef I was going to take all the mango off from the sticky rice. Once he realized how much I loved mango sticky rice, he insisted on peeling some mangoes for me. Honestly if I could have brought home a crate of mangoes I would have done so.

This is my contribution to Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads.

Are We French Yet? by Keith Van Sickle Book Review and Giveaway

2019-01-27T20:39:00.003-08:00

Keith and Val are living my dream, splitting their lives between France and the US. After a job transfer to Switzerland, the couple decided to see if they could split their time between the two continents. Packing up their beloved dog, they rent a home in Provence where they have made friends, improved their French and embraced the culture.

The book is full of enjoyable antidotes regarding their adventures abroad. One knows the book is going to be full of the unexpected when it commences with Keith breaking his wrist the day before they set off to France and they go. This mishap has a happy ending as his French doctor invites him to a wine festival where they get to know a vintner. That is the way in Provence.

Throwing himself into French politics, you hear about one party that shows an ad with a couple coupling. You will need to read the book to learn the subtle message.

Even the French lessons have a story as Keith stumbles his way through the rules of French grammar and the little nuances. However, he is pleased with himself when he sees a fellow American giving him the eye, as he speaks in French.

The book is thoroughly charming and engaging. If Keith does not have you yearning for a summer in Provence, you will be wishing he and Val where your friends.

Lucky for you, you can enter here for a chance for your own copy.
Enjoy and good luck.

I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to France Book Tours for hosting this tour.

The Complete Milk Street TV Show CookBook Review

2019-01-11T21:42:00.001-08:00

I am probably the biggest library geek there is. I love the library and visit it at least once a week. I am fortunate in that we have four city libraries, one that I can walk to. This past summer I was the grand prize winner of the summer reading program. My prize was a gift card to the mall. Fast forward to December. that is a month I spend a fair amount of time at the mall and it was time to spend the gift card. I discovered Milk Street. I am sure I am probably the last person to have discovered Milk Street.

This was one of two cookbooks I bought for myself with my library gift card. I like the book a lot. At this stage one of my criteria for cookbooks is that the recipes must be different. I get frustrated with recipe books that seem to have the same recipes I can find somewhere else or recipes that I already know how to make.

The book has a great selection of recipes with a variety of flavors. One recipe I have repeated a few times is the roasted cauliflower with tahini. Never would I have thought about tossing my cauliflower in tahini. We have enjoyed the recipe so much that I am on to my third container of tahini in two weeks. My first container was so old that the tahini was solid. Another recipe I enjoyed were Turkish meatballs. They are just ground beef, however with the combination of spices it was a different way of enjoying ground beef.

Apparently, there is a TV show, however it is doubtful I will watch it, only because I would much rather read than watch television. If you are not ready to invest in the cookbook, there is a magazine which looks like it has has a great selection of recipes.

This is my contribution to Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads.

Back to Blogging and 2019 Reading Challenges

2019-01-06T20:10:00.001-08:00

Ok, I am not sure if this is an explanation for you or just a letter to myself. 2018 was my least productive year of blogging. If you were to ask me why the answer would be simple. WORK. I had a very stressful year at work. For me blogging was always supposed to be fun. I never wanted it to be a chore. The time just was not there.

It is January and a new year. So hopefully, I will have more time to blog and reconnect with my blog friends.

2019 European Reading Challenge is being hosted by Rose City Reader. There are prizes to be one. This is an easy one as it seems most of my books are set in Europe.

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vatican City.

FIVE STAR (DELUXE ENTOURAGE): Read at least five books by different European authors or books set in different European countries.
FOUR STAR (HONEYMOONER): Read four qualifying books.
THREE STAR (BUSINESS TRAVELER): Read three qualifying books.
TWO STAR (ADVENTURER): Read two qualifying books.
ONE STAR (PENSIONE WEEKENDER): Read just one qualifying book.

JET SETTER PRIZE

The participant who reads and reviews the greatest number of qualifying books (more than five) will get a $25 gift card to Powell's Books (can be used in store or on line). Participants living outside the US will get a $25-equivalent gift card to the Amazon store in your country, if possible. If you live in a country where neither Powell's nor Amazon will work, then sorry, you are out of luck.

Each book must be by a different author and set in a different country. This means that only one book from one of the four UK countries will count. Only books reviewed count towards the prize.

1. The Other Woman England
2. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
3. Seven Days of Us England
4. The Lake House K Morton england
5. We were the Lucky Ones Poland
6. Two Steps Forward England
7. Lilac Girls, Germany
8. My Grandmother said she was sorry

Based on True Story is hosting the Foodies Reading Challenge. This is an easy one for me.

1. Christmas Sweets Allison Leopold
2. Zahav Israeli Cooking
3. Bake Essential Techniques for Perfect Balking N. Malgieri

50 States Reading Challenge I always fail miserably at this one, however it is fun to see what state books are set in.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California Bad Blood

Colorado

Connecticut: The Last Mrs. Parrish

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri The Reckoning

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York You think it I'll Say it.

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania Sold on a Monday

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

January

1. The Other Woman Sandie Jones 3.5 croissants England

2. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine Gail Honeyman 4 croissants England

3. Christmas Sweets Allison Leopold 2 croissants
4. Seven Days of Us F. Hornack 4 croissants England
5. Zahav Israeli Cooking 2.5 croissants

February

6. The Lake House 4 croissants England
7. We Were the Lucky Ones G. Hunter Poland 4 croissants

March

8. Something in the Water C. Steadman Tahiti 4 croissants

April

9. Two Steps Forward England 3 croissants
10. Sold on a Monday K. McMorris Pennsylvania 4 croissants

May

11. The Last Mrs. Parrish L. Constantine Connecticut

June

12. The Reckoning J. Grisham 3.5 croissants Missouri
13. Lilac Girls Germany 4 croissants
14. You Think it I'll Say it C. Sittenfield NY 3 croissants

July

15. Save me the Plums R. Reichl 3 NY croissants
16. Nine Perfect Strangers L. Moriarty 4 croissants
17. My Grandmother said she was Sorry 3 croissants England
18. Convenience Store Woman 2 croissants Japan
19. What Alice Forgot L. Moriarity 3 stars

August
20. Inheritance D. Shapiro 4 stars Connectuict

September

21. Bad Blood J. Carreyrou California 4 stars
22. The Library Book S. Orlean California 4 stars
23. the Clockmaker's Daughter K. Morton 4 stars
24. Circling the Sun Kenya P. McClain
25. Lost Roses M. Kelly 3 croissants
26. The Lost Girls of Paris P. Jenoff 4 croissants
27. Small Great Things J. Picoult 4 croissants

December

28. bake Nick Malgieri
29. All the Flowers in Paris S. Jio 3.5 croissants
30. the Queen of the Big Time A. Trigiani 4 croissants
31. A Gentleman in Moscow 4 croissants

The Wonderful Winter of Oz at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium

2018-12-06T02:50:00.000-08:00

Christmas is almost here and it the perfect time to go see a holiday play.

Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP)
in association with Pasadena Civic Auditorium

presents
THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ

Book by Kris Lythgoe

Choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo (NappyTabs)
Music Direction and Arrangements by Michael Orland (American Idol)

Directed by Bonnie Lythgoe

This Holiday Season, fly over the rainbow with Lythgoe Family Panto's THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ! Join Mackenzie Ziegler ("Dancing with the Stars: Juniors", "DanceMoms") as Dorothy, Tony Award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur ("Celebrity Big Brother " Winner and Broadway's Hairspray) as Glinda, Kermit the Frog® as the Wizard of Oz, Jared Gertner (Broadway's The Book of Mormon) as The Scarecrow, Phil LaMarr ("Mad TV" and "Pulp Fiction") as The Tin Man, Juan Pablo Di Pace ("Dancing With The Stars" and "Fuller House") as The Cowardly Lion, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer (Nickelodeon's "The Fresh Beat Band", 'Cha Cha' on FOX's "Grease: Live!", National Tour of In the Heights) as The Wicked Witch of the West, Hailee Payne and Valerie Rockey (of "So You Think You Can Dance") and Rescue Dog Pickle C. Irwin as Toto.

An updated version of the beloved classic, in the style of a traditional British family Panto, THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ features family-friendly magic, with a comedic twist, dancing (with “So You Think You Can Dance” alumni), contemporary music and more. December 15 - 30 at Pasadena Civic Auditorium (300 East Green Street, Pasadena CA 91101). TIX: https://bit.ly/2yUBhpf

Tickets start at $40 and Family Four Packs for just $99 can be purchased at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, online at www.thepasadenacivic.com or by calling 800-982-2787. Golden Tickets, which allow the ticket holder (children ages 4 – 12 only) a special on-stage experience during the production, are available for an additional $75.00 each. Group discounts (for groups of 8 or more) are available by emailing groups@americanpanto.com. This will be the seventh holiday season of Lythgoe Family Panto in Pasadena, and the second at the Pasadena Civic.

Winter Wonderland: Audience members can enjoy this FREE pre-show celebration featuring crafts, games, Santa Claus (on select days), photo opportunities, and more! Starts one hour prior to curtain time.

Previously Lythgoe Family Panto established their reputation with productions including Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose starring Kellie Berglund, James Snyder and Gedde Watanabe, A Cinderella Christmas starring Lauren Taylor, Alex Newell and Morgan Fairchild, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell - A Pirates Christmas starring Sabrina Carpenter and John O’Hurley, Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight starring Olivia Holt and Lucy Lawless, Aladdin and His Winter Wish starring Ben Vereen, Jordan Fisher, and Ashley Argota – and A Snow White Christmas starring Ariana Grande and Neil Patrick Harris.

Lythgoe Family Panto produces fun, musical theatre the whole family can enjoy. Known for their creativity and involvement in television hits “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance,” the Lythgoes are dedicated to bringing affordable theatre to families across America. Based on the Grimm fairytales and others, each story has been modernized with topical scripts for parents and well known pop songs for kids. The Lythgoes pride themselves on creating a memorable experience a family can share together. In 2017 over 6000 title 1 students were introduced by the Lythgoe’s to live theatre, through the medium of Panto.

The Paris Secret by Karen Swan

2018-08-21T22:00:00.001-07:00

The book is based on an actual apartment in Paris that was closed and never opened again until the passage of 70 year. The apartment was closed after World War 11.

In The Paris Secret, Flora works for an auction house. Sent to the apartment to inventory it's contents, Flora discovers a collection of paintings. The story that Flora must write is their provenance. Who did the paintings belong to and why are in the apartment. As Flora attempts to discover the painting's provenance she become entangled in the family drama.

I love the premise for this book. It is quite interesting to think there is an apartment in Paris that was abandoned for 70 years. Who did the apartment belong to, what happened to the owners. How come the other owners in the apartment building did not realize no-one lived in this apartment. One must admit this is quite the interesting story.

As Flora researches the provenance of the paintings she discovers a horrible family secret, regarding the family's business dealings during the war.

While I enjoyed the story line, I did not love the book. Flora is supposed to be a high powered art dealer at an auction house, however she falls for the bad boy son of the family who owns the apartment. Save me, that story line is so old. Flora and Xavier do not exchange more than 10 words which are insults at best and yet find themselves in bed. I find this part of the story to be rather insipid.

Do I recommend reading this book? Yes, I think it has an interesting story line. I just wish authors did not feel the need to have their female characters falling weak at the knees when a male struts into their periphery vision.

Thank you to Harper Collins for providing me with a copy of the book.

The Paris Wedding Book Review

2018-07-30T20:14:00.001-07:00

The premise behind the book was intriguing, however for me I found the book to be very frustrating. On the cusp of her mother's death, Rachel receives an invitation to her former boyfriend's wedding in Paris. Still in love with many unanswered questions she debates whether or not to attend the wedding.

Given she had dedicated the last decade to caring for her mother, Rachel attends the wedding, dragging along her best friend. What should be a remarkable time, staying at a 5 star hotel in Paris turns out to be a tumultuous experience for Rachel. Upon seeing her former boyfriend she realizes she is still in love with him.

I found the book to be rather frustrating as on more than one occasion, her former love is on the threshold of a revelation to Rachel. Holding out for a confession of Matthew still being in love with her, Rachel does not partake in the many activities. Who goes to Paris and wants to catch up on their sleep when they are jet lagged? Where the storyline angered me is when the drunken boyfriend shows up in her hotel room in the middle of the night confessing his feelings and asking her to elope. After being stood up by him hours earlier and on the eve of his wedding dump the guy.

Parts of the storyline are believable and others are outright frustrating. For me, I prefer a stronger female character.

Thank you to William Morrow for a copy of the book.

Atelier des Lumières, Paris

2018-07-19T17:18:00.004-07:00

There is a new museum in Paris that is absolutely incredible. The museum has only be open a few short months. Known as the Atelier-Lumieres, the museum features art accompanied by music.

Currently the exhibit is focusing on the works of Gustav Klimt, as he was a major contributor to the Austrian art scene. Located in an old warehouse the art is projected onto the floors and walls. Depending on what painting is being portrayed, it slowly grows onto the surface, until the entire painting is illuminated.
What makes, the exhibit truly unique is the choreography to music. Given Klimt was Austrian, there was Austrian waltzes and marching music played in tune to the illuminations.

When I first arrived at the exhibit, I really did not know what to expect. I had purchased my tickets for the opening hour and initially was standing in an empty warehouse staring at blank walls. As the paintings began to come to life I was mesmerized. Next to me were two small girls who took each other's hands and began to waltz to the music. The exhibit was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

My suggestion would be to purchase your tickets in advance given the museum is still quite new. Plan on staying a minimum of an hour. I believe you can stay as along as you wish. Most of the time you will be walking around, or leaning against the pillars. There are very few seats in the auditorium.

The museum is located at 38 rue Saint Maur, Paris. Afterwards it is a short 15 minute walk to Pere Lachaise. I would highly recommend this museum, as it is unlike anything I have ever experienced.

This is my contribution to Paris in July hosted by Thyme for Tea.

Market Day in L'Isle sur la Sorgue

2018-07-13T21:14:00.002-07:00

Sunday is market day in L'Isle sur la Sorgue. If there ever was a town where I wish I had a container where I could ship my items home from this town would be on the list. Known for its antiques the market here is delightful. I have a true appreciation for a market that has a little of this and a little of that. Eclectic yet not junky. Just the right amount of antiques and interesting items, handcrafts, food of course, flowers and some artwork. This is the market. My advice to you is to get here early. I would recommend arriving at any market early. Parking will be much easier. We parked in a payed public lot about a 5 minute walk. The market is also less likely to be as crowded which gives you the opportunity to stroll about and then potentially return to your favourite vendors.

Here the market is located along the canal. The town is quite charming with it's canals and waterwheels. In addition to the market most of the stores are open which adds to the fun. Typically there are about 300 vendors at the market. During my visit to Provence I stayed in St. Remy de Provence. We were about 45 minutes away from L'Isle sur la Sorgue. Located to the south of Avignon, it is about 25 km. During the spring and summer there is a huge antiques fair. I easily could have spent hours wandering in and out of all the stores here. The antiques shops and galleries had some amazing pieces. Even if you do not buy a thing, you will have strolling.

At the market I purchased a few handpainted prints. These are one of my favourite souvenirs. They are a fond reminder of my visit. Funny thing is I have yet to hang them. There was also a large collection of market baskets, pottery and clothing being sold. I visited about 6 different markets when I was in Provence and noticed that while some of them had the same vendors the prices varied depending on what town they were in.

I also bought the best wine bottle toppers. Imagine a cork, however it goes on the outside of the bottle. Your open bottle of wine can lay sideways. They are perfect for laying your wine bottle in the fridge or in your picnic basket. The town also had a number of restaurants. Once you are done with the market you can sit down for lunch, or visit a boulangerie and grab some food.

If you are here in August you will want to come and see the floating market. While I did not get to experience it, it is my understanding the fishermen recreate the tradition of crossing the canal to sell their wares calling out to customers.

These photos are from the back of one of the stores. Which one I cannot remember. I adore how someone went through the effort of setting up the furniture in the river. On the day we were there there was a fair going on in the park on the other side of the river. For a brief movement close your eyes and imagine you are looking out onto the river with music coming across. It was just plain fun.

From all these photos you probably think we had a lovely summer day. Well we did until we got to the car park. As I went to pay, the rain started falling. No sooner did I get in the car and there was a torrential downpour. The shower only lasted about 6 minutes and we were spared from getting wet, but you would never have guessed it was coming.

This is my contribution to Paris in July hosted at Thyme for Tea.

Bonnieux France

2018-07-05T21:29:00.003-07:00

Things have been rather quiet on the blog as I have recently returned from France. On this latest trip I split my time between Paris and Provence. Belle Provence. I fell in love with the region. With its hilltop villages, les alpilles, gorges and valleys the area is truly beautiful. If I was asked to pick a favourite village I would be hard pressed. Each village had its own charm and quaintness.

One village I enjoyed was Bonneiux. We arrived there late Saturday afternoon so the town was rather sleepy. Which was perfect for wandering about by yourself. Fortunately we were there before the lavender bloomed when is when I would expect the tourists all arrived. We were able to take our time and stroll about.

The church's 12th century sprire rises above the town overlooking the lush valley. It is the perfect village to stroll about. Going up and down the stairs you really do not know what you are going to find. The day we were there, there was an art exhibit from some exchange students in the US. These are really my favourite sort of villages. Small and quaint, they let my imagination run wild. Who has lived in the home or walked these streets. What was life her like 20 years ago, 100 years ago?

This is my contribution to Paris in July hosted by Thyme for Tea.

Apt, France and their Saturday Market

2018-06-09T12:10:00.001-07:00

Chances are you have never heard of Apt, France located in Provence, unless you were visiting the area and determined to visit as many markets as possible. That is how I came to find myself inApt, one slightly drizzly Saturday morning. I knew the reputation of Provence for their markets (marché), and was determined to visit as many as possible. Apt and Arles were reputed to have two of the better and larger markets on a Saturday. We chose Apt, only because there were other villages in the Luberon we wanted to visit. It was the right decision.

Apt, itself is not really a pretty town. You will be underwhelmed as you drive in. The market was another story. Winding it's way through the old town it was vibrant, eclectic and everything I expected. I am not sure how much money I left behind in Apt. Let's just say I came home with a new bedspread, yes you did read that right, some baskets, dried mushrooms and tomatoes, along with a lovely photograph I need to have framed. Oh, did I mention some fun headbands and soap. this was all from our first market.

I have been buying baskets from the French markets for over 15 years. Long before there was a ban on plastic bags, I would show up at my local grocery store with my baskets. I use them for everything. A picnic in the park, one has gone to jail with me when I went to visit a client and forgot my briefcase behind (no file in a cake), to the grocery store. The market in Apt was incroyable.

I always enjoy markets that have a little of this and that. A little clothing, soaps, knick knacks, and food. Unfortunately we did not spend as much time here as I would have liked. We were a little late in arriving. We lost the power that morning at our apartment. It started drizzling and some of the vendors packed up a little early. Parking also took a bit. I do not mind driving standard, however the French park wherever they find a spot, which can be a bit challenging as you try to maneuver the rental car into the tight squeeze. Especially when one has to reverse in a stick.

The market was great fun and we quite enjoyed ourselves.

Did I mention the confit garlic that I became addicted too?

Gratitude Restaurant, Newport Beach, California

2018-05-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

It is funny sometimes how a restaurant can be right under your nose yet you never visit it. Why? Often you may just not really have a reason. Gratitude is just that restaurant. I cannot explain why we had never gone there. However, a few weeks ago we went for lunch and really enjoyed it.

Neither my husband nor I are vegetarian. Although I think that it would not be that difficult for me. For my husband not so much. I try to eat vegetarian at least once a week. Long term I am not sure if I could give up meat and fish all together.

As you probably guessed Gratitude is a vegetarian restaurant. From the two times I have eaten here I have really enjoyed their food. I find it to be full of flavour, filling and unique. Tonight I opted for the bolognese dish with blackened tempeh. The pasta was made out of quinoa. For a damp, rainy Friday night dinner it was perfect.

I have eaten at vegetarian restaurants before and Gratitude is by far my favourite one. The goal for me would be to learn how to blacken my tempeh like they do.

This is my contribution to Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads.

Burma Rivers of Flavor Book Review

2018-05-04T20:04:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a cookbook that I am sure will be different from others that are in your kitchen list me suggest Burma, Rivers of Flavor. About 18 months a go a Burmese restaurant opened up in town. I had never tried Burmese food before and was quite excited to go. We started off with a tea salad which was unlike anything I had ever tasted before.

What is Burmese food? Burma has been influenced by the countries surrounding it, Laos, Thailand and Bangladesh. Their curries are not as spicy as either Indian or Thai curries.

Soups, peanuts, rice and noodles, chicken, vegetables and shrimp all play a role in Burmese cooking. Ginger and crispy fried shallots also play a large role.

Lappet Thoke (Burmese tea salad) is Burma's national dish. What makes the salad a little tricky is you need to use fermented tea leaves. These leaves can be ordered from www.minthila.com They are hard to get outside Burma. To the tea leaves you add roasted peanuts and friends split roasted soybeans along with Napa cabbage and 2 tablespoons dried shrimp. If you can find the tea leaves the salad is probably one of my favourites.

As for the book, it has a varied selection of recipes from Burma that should satisfy you appetite no matter what you are in the mood for. It is definitely a book worth checking out.

This is my contribution to Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads.