Audiobooks are Great!

Today is the last day of the ESN scavenger hunters theme on books.  There is nothing more rewarding than reading a good book.  And although today we have kindles, nooks, ipads and other e-readers out there, for me there is nothing like the feel of a book with actual paper pages that you can turn, there's just something about the feel of a "real" book that is comforting.  But audiobooks have their place too.  Especially for a road trip.  I remember some years ago a few friends and myself took a road trip up to Grand Forks, North Dakota to visit some friends.  We decided a good audiobook would help pass the time so we decided to listen to "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris, and actually he read it himself.  It is so hilarious, especially since he is reading it himself.  Reading the book yourself pales in comparison to him reading it on audiotape.  I can't remember how many CD's are in it now, but it sure helped to pass the time laughing hysterically all the way north! But if comedy is not for you, you might enjoy a mystery thriller audiobook from Sirocco's Curios.

Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais

Great to listen to while making dinner, doing laundry, or just relaxing.   For other fine books from cooking to crafting and everything in between come visit all the booksellers at Ecrater Stores Network to see what book might grab your imagination.

A Gazillion Places and Ways to Dine

Dining is this weeks theme at ESN.  No matter how you look at dining, it comes down to eating doesn't it?  And people from all over the world have all kinds of names for eating.  There's breakfast or the morning meal.  There's lunch or brunch or the mid day meal or maybe just a few minutes for a quick "nosh".   Then there's dinner or supper, or the evening meal.  All of these dining experiences can happen in a simple way or a very elaborate way. I find myself too often eating at the kitchen sink looking out the window or eating in front of the TV.  Bad habits indeed!  That's why I love eating in restaurants, and we have so many here from very many countries, that you cannot possibly get bored eating at any of them! I also love a good picnic or barbeque.  But most of the time I am eating at home and I tote my lunch to work everyday, my job is such that I can't leave for lunch.  Le Petit Marché has a nice Dinners for 2 Book and CD if you're wanting to make a nice romantic dinner and stay in.  It's chock full of recipes from master chefs and includes a CD of  music that includes Bach, Vivaldi and others, performed by the San Francisco String Quartet.

Maybe you just want something simple for your bbq or picnic or maybe a party.  Here's a few bowls that could add some fun to your setting. Four Different Shaped Wooden Bowls.                               

Places of Worship

The theme for our scavenger hunt this week on ESN is "church or whatever we relate to".    There's tons of places of worship for all the different religions of the world where one can go and replenish their souls and get their spiritual fix.  Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and cathedrals.  There's even a Biker Church in Texas, that welcomes rough and ready bikers, as long as they have Jesus in their heart!  Many are not only houses of worship but also the religious community center where other activities take place for adults and children alike.  And yet again I have nothing in my store for this theme.  But I checked out Eccentric Thrifter and sure enough she's got some books in the spiritual realm.  I chose:  Where is God When It Hurts  because I liked the title.    Check it out and our other members stores as well.

How Does YOUR Garden Grow?

This is my last entry for the ESN How does your garden grow theme.  And how does your garden grow?  And are you a gardener?  And what kind?  As I said in my last entry, I'm a container gardener type as I have no property.   Do you have a plot, acreage, farm?  Do you have  green thumb?  Do you want to be an avid gardener and be the green thumb you always wanted to be?  Even if you are a world class gardener and even if you're not we can all use a little help now and again.  And I found a terrific book at Eccentric Thrifter that is chock full of illustrations and 1001 hints and tips!  Who knew gardening would need 1001 hints and tips?  It's a Reader's Digest book so you know it has to be good.  Eccentric Thrifter has a lot of gardening books, you should check them out.  You just might find that "gotta have it" book!   Happy Gardening everyone!

How and What Does Your Garden Grow?

I tried doing container gardening a few years ago since all I have is a balcony (I live on the 2nd floor). It was quite fun and I had tomatoes, 3 varieties of peppers, strawberries, and the herbs; rosemary, basil, mint and parsley.  And lots of flowers as usual. It was some work and working full time I didn't devote as much time, and although it thrived and I managed to keep those nasty huge green tomato worms at bay I decided last year I'd just do the herbs and flowers.  Now this year, I'm even a year lazier than last, so it will be just flowers.  I hung a few prettily painted and decorative birdfeeders and the finches and sparrows come and visit, but they toss the seeds all over the place. Dirty but delightful little critters! :)

So the ESN blog theme this week is "How does your Garden Grow".  But I have nothing in my store that has to do with gardening, but it got me to thinking, I bet the Boutenko family gardens.  And I have a book about their journey to eating raw foods: Raw Family - A True Story of Awakening.

The front of the book has photos of all kinds of veggies, fruits and even flowers, so all bases covered here!  You can find this book at Le Petit Marche 

 

Frog Legs

This week's blog theme at eCrater Stores Network  has to do with frogs.   I don't have anything in my store that has to do with frogs so I thought I'd share a recipe from the Rhone region (southeastern) of France for cooking frog legs, just in case you've never had them and want to give them a try. This recipe is from Cuisine-France.  It's an easy recipe and only takes 15 minutes prep time and 4 minutes to cook.

Ingredients

12 frog legs 2 eggs 1 lemon juice 2 parsley sprigs, chopped Dried bread crumbs Salt Pepper Oil

Frog Legs recipe serve 6
Step 1: Preheat oven at 375 F.
Step 2: Remove frog legs skin. Wash and drain.
Step 3: Add lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Step 4: Beat eggs in a bowl, add chopped parsley.
Step 5: Soak frog legs in the eggs.
Step 6: Crush bread into tiny crumbs.
Step 7: Roll frog legs into crumbs.
Step 8: Add oil in a pan. Fry frog legs in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes.
Wine suggestion: Riesling, Sancerre, dry white wine

Bon appetit!

If frog legs are not on your radar for trying I do have a lovely CD/CookBook from Sharon O'Connor called Dinners for Two.  It's full of yummy recipes that has nothing to do with frogs and has wonderful classical music to cook and eat by!  You can buy it at Le Petit Marche