Spelling Gremlins and Cauliflower Soup

So far the spelling gremlins--who are very sneaky--have been winning the battle. But by bringing the not so secret weapon--the formidable spell checker--up to the front lines, I may beat those pesky gremlins back more often than not. Cross my fingers.

I shan't list my most embarrassing errors. In case no one noticed...LOL.

Now for the Cauliflower Soup:

This is so good even my husband who hates cauliflower liked it   It is also easy. I made only half the recipe which made enough for four generous sized servings.

I found the recipe on foodnetwork.com

The full recipe:  1 head cauliflower; 2 TBS extra-virgin olive oil; 1 small onion chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 quart low-sodium chicken stock--I had left-over vegetable stock and substituted it for the chicken stock; 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (I used the kind in the container although I doubt that is what they used).  Salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Clean up the cauliflower by removing the leaves and the core. Coarsely chop. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and add the onion and garlic. Cook until softened but not browned--about 5 minutes. Add the cauliflower and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer, cover the pan and cook until the cauliflower is very soft and falling apart--about 15 minutes.

Remove from heat. Puree with a hand held immersion blender or let it cool a bit and puree in small batches in a blender. Return the entire batch to the pot. Stir in the Parmesan and season to taste with salt and black pepper.

They recommend a garnish of Parmesan crisps (which they give the recipe for) and chives.

The soup is silky and lush. I topped it with several pieces of roasted cauliflower with fresh sage and rosemary (another food network recipe).

A good soup and a  good book can't be beat.

Susan 

Books and Books

I've been doing a lot of reading lately. Just finished THE PROPOSAL by Mary Balogh. In my stack of recent reads, I'd put it near the top even though I thought the plot a bit weak and the outcome too predictable. You knew they were so crazy about each other from the beginning no external conflict would keep them apart. The hero and heroine are both past thirty and the heroine has been a celibate widow for years.

The main problem I had with this book was with the prologue which I question whether Ms. Balogh wrote it was so awful. By the time I finished it, I almost didn't go on. But I did. And by the end of the first page of Chapter one, I found the promise of the story and the characters enticing.

Has anyone ever found a prologue necessary? I usually skip over it and then read it after I finish the book. I cannot think of one time I thought they added anything to the story.

Good reading to you,

Susan

Spring in June

Spring like weather in June. In North Carolina. What a great surprise.

And another huge surprise. Avalon Books, my publisher, has been sold to Amazon Publishing. A very exciting time for all Avalon authors as our books will soon be available for the Kindle and perhaps for other e-readers.

Who knew our sweet contemporary and historical romances, westerns and mysteries would have a second chance at life?

About other matters: My Basils are doing great. A fantastic use is to tear up a couple of leaves, or however many depending on the size of the salad, and toss them in. The Sage has gone crazy. A little goes a long way. But I found a fantatic recipe on-line that makes a marinade of Sage and lemon and olive oil for Salmon. Best Salmon I've ever tasted-except for the fresh Salmon served on a cruise ship in Alaska

Blessings to all.

From my weedy garden to yours

Susan

A Day at the Beach

It's the first week of May and it's 90 degrees. The air-conditioner is going.

Stay cool.

Susan

Cover for December Book

Pretty Cute Huh? As sweet as he looks, this dog takes up with the enemy--a right man who shows up at the wrong time.

If you like reading sweet romace, where falling is love is out of the question but happens anyway, ask for BED AND BREAKFAST BLUES at your library or buy a copy from Avalon Books or one of the on-line book sellers.

Happy Holidays

Susan Ralph

My December Book

I got a look at my cover for Bed and Breakfast Blues which will be out in December. It isn't what I pictured in my mind, but the covers never are. I have no credentials for cover art so I trust the judgment of those who do. I'll try to post the cover here in the next couple of days.

And maybe I'll post the recipe for salmon burgers that are incredibly declicious. I made them tonight, and I have to say they are "the bomb"-if that expression is still in use. Most of the time I am way behind the times on my expressions, but in this case I think "the bomb" fits. One of the ingredients is chipotle chile canned in adobo sauce which gives them a nice zing.

Another thing I've made recently is sliced fresh tomatos with slices of mozzrella, fresh basil, olive oil and salt. It always looked too simple to be delicious. But I found some good tomatoes and made it. It got raves from my husband and that is a real coup. Most of the time things don't get a much higher rating that its okay.

It's almost time for his birthday and I'll be baking a chocolate cake using brown sugar. I'm torn between frosting it with a cooked brown sugar frosting or the chocolate genache they used in the recipe.

Fall here is beautiful. Still not the flash of color on the trees one sees at higher latitudes but the weather is delightful. I hope if I can talk my hub into another beach trip before cold weather sets in?

From my ocean dreams to yours,

Susan

Time, where does it go?

Here we are in October and I am way behind on everything.

Time is not my friend. I do not manage it well. It always escapes me.

I gave my speech. It went well. I spent a lot of time writing and practicing it. All in all, the result was worth the effort. And to my great surprise, I wasn't nervous.

And then I've been traveling. Something I love to do. My darling hub and I went to upstate NY to visit a daughter. We had lunch at the Culinary Institute of America to celebrate her birthday. A real treat. The service was impeccable, much of the food was great, some super great, but not all of it rated an "A" in my opinion. However, being able to watch the work going on in the kitchens was fun and  the buildings and grounds are a treat.

We then went to West Point and had an hour long tour. Spectatcular views of the Hudson River, a lot of history, but the place felt claustrphobic to me. It would take a special type person to endure the limitations and the rigors of a military academy.

On this trip, we stayed with another daughter and her family in VA, coming and going. On the return trip, we had blue crabs and steamed jumbo shrimp at a great seafood shack not far from their house.

Since the weather has cooled off, my hub and I have been spending some time at the beach. The latest trip was last Friday and Saturday...two perfect beach days.

I'm reading another disappointing book. The beginning chapters were terrific and then blah. But, I'll finish it even though it hasn't gotten better. The reviews I've read say the end is great.

The thing is, between reading the new books in my "to read" stack, I have been buying more of Georgette Heyer's books to add to my collection. Reading them is such a treat. They are long books and not once have I ever been bored with the story or said blah. Her plots have logic, her pacing is right, and her characters are distinguishable and enchanting.

Now it's back to my own writing. At least I hope that's what I'll be concentrating on for the next couple of weeks.

From my incomplete book to yours.

Susan Ralph