Reading List during August

I'm a sucker for anything historical in the genre and historical/mystery is one of my favorites because I feel the time period immediately sets an amazing tone.  This is one of the best books I've read this year. It's set during 1896 in New York through the eyes of a young reporter who helps solve the gruesome murders of cross-dressing boy prostitutes in the Big Apple. The team starts using then-novel detection techniques like finger-printing and psychological profiling all while going up against the corrupt NY Police Department who condescends their methods. Think CSI, only without the trippy house music and newfangled equipment. I can't stress how well the author goes into gory details not only about the cases but also about New York and it's denizens as well. 

My only comment is that since the author is actually a historian, he does tend to come off as textbook-ish sometimes when he describes certain events or places in New York which might put off a few people. But since I'm a history nerd, it's something I actually prefer. I've heard raving reviews about the second book and how apparently it is much better so I'm definitely excited to get my hands on it. 

Don't be fooled by the little man. He is not a happy camper, but then again you would be too if you had an IQ of 350, mastered inter-dimensional space travel, the existence of alien life and you are still left with wondering when puberty will hit while suffering the humiliation of going to grade school with a lunch box. This is clever and witty writing and I'm not just talking about the choice swear words and insults that come at you in rapid succession -- but I think the best part of it all is that as you approach the end of the book you are rewarded with a touching and heart-warming side that makes even grown men give out a little soft-hearted "aww".

Traveling With My Favorite Thing

Understand, I’ll slip quietly
Away from the noisy crowd
When I see the pale
Stars rising, blooming over the oaks.
I’ll pursue solitary pathways
Through the pale twilit meadows,
With only this one dream:

You come too.

From “First Poems,” Rainer Maria Rilke

Lately, Sunday afternoons at my house have stopped becoming lazy, quiet affairs. Once three o’clock hits, we start rustling up recipes that we’ve been scouring the internet for the whole week before and we start to get our Nigella on. Personally, I blame all the cooking shows and competitions on TV lately for my lofty culinary goals. I’m left believing that I too can temper and reduce white chocolate and that white truffle risotto is really only a matter of stirring well (and crafty TV editing).

This also leaves the family with a great way to be productive and bond on a Sunday afternoon instead of just lumping around our laptops not talking to each other. This Sunday was a complete success thanks to this amazing recipe: Ed’s Mother’s Meatloaf courtesy of my Domestic Goddess. The perfect Sunday dinner dish, partly because it’s just that darn good and partly because the leftovers make amazing cold meatloaf sandwiches to greet the new week with. And since I am a such a history nerd I have to add that this recipe has a great vintage. It’s traced back to the turn of the century when food was fuel and cooking was all about honest, real good food so the dish is really quite filling –not something I’d eat on a daily basis but who can resist comfort food on a Sunday night?

Also, really. It’s egg, wrapped in meat, wrapped in BACON. How is THAT for comfort food?

You're a heart attack, just the kind I like

Ingredients

A packet of minced meat

4 onions

An egg

100g of breadcrumbs

1 tsp worcester sauce.

3 hard-boiled eggs

A packet of streaky bacon.

Duck fat/butter and a little oil

Optional

Salt and pepper to taste

I put some two teaspoons of pickled relish for some tang

All you need to do is..

1.Chop the 4 onions finely and cook them in a frying pan with some butter and a little oil until they are a light golden brown. Add a pinch of salt to the onions while cooking so that it absorbs up all the water and doesn’t turn the onions crispy.

2. Mix the minced meat, egg, onions, breadcrumbs and worchester sauce in a bowl until combined.

2. Split the mixture in half, and create the bottom of the loaf by flattening half of the mixture onto a baking tray into a loaf-like shape, making slight wells for the eggs.

3. Arrange the eggs on top of the meat loaf.

4. Shape the rest of the meat around the eggs to finish the loaf-like shape.

5. Wrap the bacon around the meatloaf, being sure to tuck it underneath and covering as much of the loaf as possible.

6. Bake in a hot oven (180-ish) for about 1hour

7. Serve and enjoy!