Culinary Adventures with Camilla

  I was in the mood for a breezy read this weekend and found it in the form of  Under Almond Blossoms  by Anja Saskia Beyer*, translated by Annette Charpentier. And, yes, I did pick it for its cover. I'm easily swayed by a gorgeous cake. This novel was formulaic, but enjoyable nonetheless.  On the Page We meet Milla who is about to marry Paul. They live in Germany though Milla believes that her mom, Sarah, hails from Andalusia and that all of her family is long deceased. However, Milla receives a letter from a notary and goes to the office. She discovers that her maternal grandmother, Abbi, has just passed away a week ago, that her family is actually from Mallorca, and that she has just inherited her grandmother's souvenir shop on the island. "Aaron sounded amazed. ...'Your mother comes from Mallorca. Like your grandmother. Like your whole family going back to the fifteenth century. ...I assume you didn't know that you are of Mallorquín descent? ...And you don'...

  I know that there is a lot of chatter about whether it's inappropriate to wish people Happy Memorial Day. It's a solemn day, right? Yes, it is. Memorial Day is an American holiday - observed on the last Monday of May - that honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.  But, as I see a growing trend to have celebrations of life that are full of  color instead of funerals that are draped in black, I am opting to celebrate what those who have died for our country are preserving: our freedom. So, if you're in the camp where happiness on this day is not proper, please scroll on by. This Memorial Day, I am joining a group of online foodies for #MemorialDayBakes. The guidelines included having fun, challenging ourselves, and trying new techniques. Inspired by a recipe in  American Cake  by Anne Bryn, I thought I'd try my hand at a cake with 'boiled white icing.' I'd never heard of that. Turns out it also goes by 'Italian meringue'...

I'll admit it: I ordered this book based on the cover alone. The Puma Years: A Memoir by Laura Coleman.* Isn't it stunning? On the Page image from amazon.com This is a memoir, plain and simple. It's Laura Coleman's journey from a rudderless young woman to a driven, dedicated activist who works with rescued animals. What started as a volunteer stint in the Amazon blossomed into a full-blown love affair with the work of rehabilitating animals, especially a puma named Wayra. But there is also a parade of animal characters that include Faustino and Coco, howler monkeys; Panchia, a semi-wild peccary; Lorenzo, a blue and yellow macaw; Sama, a jaguar; and Matt Damon, a rescued rhea. This isn't a treatise or prescription about animal rescue. It's simply Coleman's experience. And it's beautifully executed. I think there are certain years in your life when adventures and time away from your usual life leave an indelible mark. The Amazon permeated her very being...

Today the Sunday Funday group is celebrating National Salsa Month. Thanks to Stacy of  Food Lust People Love , Sue of  Palatable Pastime , Rebekah of  Making Miracles , and Wendy of  A Day in the Life on the Farm  for coordinating this low-stress group. I love getting new recipes every week from this talented group of foodie bloggers! Today I am hosting and I've given the following prompt: "May is National Salsa Month. Let's salsa! Post your favorite homemade salsa recipe or something that you make with a premade salsa. Be creative!" Here's the #SundayFunday salsa bar... 7 Layer Dip by Amy's Cooking Adventures Celery Rhubarb Pico de Gallo by Cook with Renu Homemade Smooth Taco Sauce by Palatable Pastime Mile High Salsa Pie by Making Miracles Olive Oil-Poached Salmon Bellies with Cantaloupe-Preserved Lemon Salsa by Culinary Adventures with Camilla Pico de Gallo: Classic Fresh Tomato Salsa by Our Good Life Pico de Gallo / Fresh Mexican Salsa by S...

I must have read something or searched for something that put  Strange Weather in Tokyo: A Novel by Hiromi Kawakami*, translated by Allison Markin Powell,  in my suggestion list from Amazon. And since I'm always up for reading a book by a new-to-me author, I ordered it! Yes, I'm a sucker for books. I had no idea what to expect and read the book over the course of just two days. On the Page After reading - and thoroughly enjoying - this book, I am still unsure into which genre I would place it. It's a love story, certainly, but it's also a poignant tale about loneliness. I also don't really understand the title.  At the center of the story is Tsukiko, a woman in her late thirties, who works in an office and lives alone. One evening, she runs into a former teacher who she calls Sensei, "teacher." His age is never mentioned, but I pieced together that he's at least three decades older than she is. Through the course of the novel, their relationship grows...

   This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of author Peter Zheutlin and publisher Pegasus books. I received a complimentary copy for the purpose of review, through The Book Club Cookbook's Galley Match program,  but all opinions are honest and they are my own.  No additional compensation for this post was provided; this page may contain affiliate links. Late last year, I received an email from a contact in the book world, asking me to give an opinion on the cover art for her husband's upcoming historical fiction. There were two mock-ups and I only knew this about the book: "A reimagination of the author’s great grandaunt’s ‘round the world bicycle trip in 1894-5. She was a married Jewish mother of three small children who set out to settle a wager about whether a woman could accomplish such a feat, beginning penniless, and returning home having earned $5,000 en route."  She asked, "Which cover would you choose and why?" I offered that I would chose ...

   This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of author  Josephine Caminos Oría, publisher Scribe Publishing, and  Kobrand Wine and Spirits .  A c omplimentary book and wine were provided for this post  though no other compensation was received. This page may contain affiliate links. When my contact at the Book Club Cookbook emailed me about a possible match to celebrate the release of a memoir, I was excited to line up a group of bloggers for a virtual party. We received copies of Sobremesa: A Memoir of Food and Love in Thirteen Courses  by  Josephine Caminos Oría from Scribe Publishing; and we received Argentinian wines from  Kobrand Wine and Spirits.* It all fell into place quickly. I love when that happens. As the other bloggers' posts go live, I'll share them here...you won't want to miss out on their thoughts and recipes. A Vegetarian Argentinian Inspired Menu With Bodega NortonWines by Asian Test Kitchen Asado and Sobremesa: How...