Idiot Girls, Medical Ethics, and Death the Narrator

Reading: I really don't mean to save these up for super-long posts, but apparently I am reading faster than I am blogging.  My second book report of 2013 includes a funny easy read, and 2 excellent book club selections.  My Newbery winners have taken a backseat recently as I frantically read to complete this month's book club book by the time we discuss it tonight. 

My sister has for years told me about Laurie Notaro and how much she enjoys her funny books.  I put The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club on my list a while ago.  As often happens with my book list (as well as my to-do list, shopping list and other lists), things not on the list get completed because they push themselves to the top (from book club, from sitting on my shelf for too long, for needing to get returned to the person who loaned them before the person forgets she gave the book to me) and this one was not a priority.  As winter and gray skies dragged on through February, though, I needed a break from heavy and serious so I picked up Idiot Girls' at the library.  Completely enjoyable, laugh-out-loud reading that I didn't have to think a lot about.  I can see why Mellie loves these books.  Ms. Notaro is not afraid to tell you about her underwear and job failures or decisions that seemed like a good idea at the time.  No matter who you are, or how much of a Polly Prissypants you may be, you will recognize yourself or someone you know in at least one of these tales.  You, too, may be an Idiot Girl - too cool to be in the Smart group.

While on the cruise, I read State of Wonder by Ann Patchett.  This is one of my new favorite books and Ms. Patchett has now been placed firmly on my list of favorite authors.  Way back when I first started this blog (and was writing mainly for my mom), my book club read Bel Canto which I really liked.  You can read that somewhat cringe-inducing blog post here, if you must.  Then in 2011 I believe (not that long ago but apparently not last year when I kept track of every single book I read), my mom loaned me Run which was very different from Bel Canto but no less beautifully written or thought-provoking. 

State of Wonder is summarized on the Hennepin County library site as this: "A researcher at a pharmaceutical company, Marina Singh journeys into the heart of the Amazonian delta to check on a field team that has been silent for two years -- a dangerous assignment that forces Marina to confront the ghosts of her past."  In reality, this is a story of so much more.  Ann Patchett knows how to tell a story.  This one is part jungle-adventure, part medical-mystery (is that a genre?), with plenty of self-examination and interesting back-story of the main character.  And yet it is more than just a story.  Questions of medical ethics (How should new pharmaceuticals be tested and what do we do with the consequences of the tests? How far should we go to "assist" women with fertility challenges?  If we can develop medications which can eliminate deadly diseases in third world countries and impoverished areas, are we obligated to do so, even if there is no money to be made?) as well as questions about how much outsiders should intervene in the lives of "primitive" cultures in which they are living all demand to be asked, if not answered.  I loved The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver and some of the thoughts provoked by that novel came up in State of Wonder, too.  I missed the book club discussion of this book because I was in Miami getting ready to cruise to the Bahamas but heard that it was one of the best book club discussions ever.  And that is saying something for a book club that has been meeting since 1997.  If you have read this book, I would love to discuss it with you.

This morning I finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  It took quite a while to get it from the library and when I finally picked it up less than 2 weeks ago, the 550 pages seemed overwhelming.  Fortunately, it is a teen novel and a compelling read, so I was able to finish in time (it did mean abandoning some of my chores yesterday so I could get 70 pages read).  The narrator is Death himself and the action takes place in Nazi Germany during WWII.  Sounds kind of gloomy, doesn't it?  And yet it isn't all gloom and doom.  The story is of Liesl, a young girl who steals books (once at the graveyard where her brother is being buried, once from a Nazi book-burning, and then later from the mayor's house) and writes stories as she struggles to make sense of the world around her.  Stories sustain Liesl, her family, neighbors and the Jew hiding in her basement.  Scenes in which the city is bombed and in which Jews are marched through town on their way to Dachau were vividly told, bringing the historical setting to life, sometimes painfully.  The author has a beautiful, poetic writing style which evokes a wide range of emotions, and enforces one of the books messages - the power of words. 

Until we read again,
Hallie

Upside Down and Fried

Eating: One of predictions for 2013 involved trying a new recipe each month.  February flew by with a plan, but the new recipe did not happen.  In March, I made 2 new things and am just now telling you about them in April.  I am feeling a bit over-extended lately, a little turned upside-down and fried.  Just like my 2 recipes.

The plan for February was to try the Five-Ingredient Pineapple Upside-Down Cake recipe from my Weight Watchers Weekly dated January 27-February 2.  This is the little 12 page magazine-y thing they hand out when I weigh in and go to the meetings.  Then while waiting for the meeting to start, I page through and check out the tips, ideas and recipes.  I should tell you that the meeting I have been going to is at 5pm and the WW center is next door to Dominoes Pizza so I do spend a fair amount of the meeting thinking about food.  I actually think about food a lot of the day, whether or not I am going to Weight Watchers.  Here is the recipe and my photos of the process.  It was simple and tasty.  The recipe as written says serves 10 and is 4 PointsPlus per serving.  Because it is easier to cut into 8 than it is in 10, we made it 8 servings for 5 PointsPlus per serving.  You could make it 4 servings for 10 points each or eat it all and count 40 points.  Whatever you do is between you and your tracker. 

The recipe said to use a "round 9" flameproof aluminum pan" which I thought was too many adjectives to describe a pan.  And I didn't know if mine was flameproof so I used my oven-safe frying pan that happens to be about 9" across, round and flameproof.  It worked splendidly. E and I agreed this cake would be best served slightly warm. 

Five-Ingredient Pineapple Upside-Down Cake


the five ingredients

1/4 C. unsalted butter, divided
1/4 C. packed light brown sugar
3/4 lb. canned pineapple rings in juice, 1/4 C. juice reserved
1 large egg
1/4 lb. vanilla cake mix, about 1 scant cup (FYI, a cake mix is about a pound which means from one box, you can make this 4 times.  For a total of 160 points, which is more than I care to eat in a day.)

Preheat oven to 375. 


Melt 2 T. butter in round 9" flameproof aluminum pan (or similar) over medium-low heat (make sure to cover entire pan bottom); sprinkle sugar over top.  Carefully place pineapple rings in a single layer in bottom of pan (use 7 rings).  Increase heat to medium-high and cook until pineapple caramelizes (isn't that just a yummy word??), flipping once, about 2 minutes per side; remove pan from heat.


mmmmm... caramelizing

Melt remaining 2 T. butter on stovetop or in microwave.  In medium-size bowl (or whatever you melted the butter in), beat egg with the melted butter.  Add cake mix and reserved pineapple juice; combine well. 


pour the batter and then bake

Pour batter over pineapple; bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes.  Allow cake to cool for about 15-20 minutes; when still warm, loosen sides with a knife (f needed - my pan was non-stick so I didn't) and invert cake onto a serving plate.  Slice and serve. 


The finished cake - Delicious!

The second "recipe" we made in March was my first-ever attempt at fried rice.  One day we had Honey-Hoisin Pork Tenderloin and brown rice.  The next day, the leftovers were combined with a little soy sauce, some ginger, and a whole pile of veggies (we used pea pods, julienned carrots, and water chestnuts) but no eggs (someone doesn't like eggs and I can live without them in my fried rice also).  It was very good and quite filling.  I don't really have a recipe other than chop it all up and cook in the wok until it looks hot and done.  I had a picture of it to show you, but cannot locate the device with which I took the picture.  Dang. It looked really good.  When I find it, I will post.

Until we eat again,
Hallie

P.S., I am not doing the A-Z Challenge this year due to aforementioned feelings of over-extended, frazzled and fried.  I invite you to check out the challenge and browse a few of the blogs who are participating.