I've never thought of using my cumquat marmalade as a marinade but I did put a big blob of it in a made up meatball recipe last week and it was delicious. I didn't make any marmalade or chutney last year but I am getting low now so I think it will be a winter cook-up.
I have a small jar with your name on it. Hopefully it will keep until we meet up. Also, the marmalade chicken was discovered by a beloved aunt who was making marmalade one day while she was cooking a chicken for dinner. She accidentally used the wrong spoon to baste the chicken and realised it was delicious.
My reading life lately has had a more non-fictional focus (actually more random than focused), so I’m feeling that perhaps setting some reading goals might be helpful. I enjoy reading your synopses and recommendations, Marg. It’s also such a great idea to offer recommendations to those who solicit them—I may just take you up on it! Meanwhile, your kumquat (I’ve always seen it spelled that way) marmalade recipe and ideas for using it are so timely. A friend gave me several pounds of the fruit before we left on vacation. I froze them, with the idea of making jam or chutney when we returned! Thanks much!🤗
I've never made jam from frozen fruit, so do let me know how it goes. Cumquat is spelt with a C here in Australia (we use the British spelling) but I randomly spelt it with a K on the jam label. Not sure why I did that!
I also read a fair amount of non-fiction, but don't post about it much. Maybe I will do that in the future. I would love to recommend some books for you, but to be honest, I don't read across all genres, so my recommendations always reflect my tastes to a large extent. I love doing personal recommendations though. It's a lot of fun.
I’ll report back on the frozen cumquat (or kumquat!) jam once I make it.
I really would love some fiction recommendations, Marg. I’m in a bit of a dry spell and not too enamored of anything I’ve picked up lately. I do like a good mystery with excellent writing and characters with back stories that catch my attention—like Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series. I also like British classics by Jane Austen and Dickens. I enjoy more contemporary fiction based on history, often set in other countries and cultures, like Lisa See’s The Island of the Sea Women or novels set in a pivotal time and place in history, like Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See.
And then I’m always open for a great escapist yarn to transport me out of troubled present times and all the terrible news. Any ideas? (I feel like I should pay you a fee for such a service and you should put up a shingle: “The Book Doctor Is In!”)
Hello Ruth! I've had a lovely time thinking about what books you might like to read. I've just finished In Memoriam, which I think you would like, but it's rather a long book and quite sad, so perhaps not what you are looking for at this time.
I was wondering if you have ever read any Elly Griffiths books? The Ruth Galloway books are well written and are good mysteries, but not too gory as they involve old bones. (Ruth is an archaeologist and amateur sleuth). There are also lots of books in the series (she just wrote the last one apparently). I would read them in order because the main character has an interesting life which is further developed in each book.
If you are looking for something set in Scotland, I think you would enjoy Elemental, by Amanda Curtin. It tells the story of a herring girl who eventually migrates to Australia. I really enjoyed this book (it has lots of wonderful details) and think you would too. Another excellent book about migration is Small Island by Andrea Levy. I read it years ago and loved it.
If you are looking for something sweet, but enjoyable, I would recommend The Funny Thing About Norman Forman by Julietta Henderson.
I hope something here interests you! Warm wishes, Marg xx
Wow, Marg! I just started looking up these books and think they would ALL interest me—including In Memoriam, despite sounding like it would break my heart. You’ve clearly got a talent for this! I can see a very happy reading future for me working my way through some (or all) of these. I’m touched at the thought you put into this. Thanks a bundle! 🤗🙏🏻💕
I loved: Hello Beautiful, House on The Cerulean Sea, Murderbot Diaries series, The Sparrow, Horse, The Invention of Wings, Blindness, plus hundreds more!
Did not love: A Confederacy of Dunces, Things We Never Got Over, The Southern Book Clubs Guide to Slaying Vampires (though I love the title !), The Guncle, Finlay Donnovan is Killing It.
Hello my friend! I've enjoyed thinking about what you might like to read, so thanks for asking for my advice. I can see we have quite similar tastes, so although I appreciate that you don't just read science fiction, most of my recs are in this genre. I'm happy to find a kindred spirit! So many people shy away from reading SF because they think it's about aliens and technology, when it's really often about what it means to be human and other big important questions. I'm sure you already know this :)
The first book that came to mind for you was Station Eleven, which I'm sure you've probably read, but if you haven't, please do. It asks all kinds of questions about the importance of art and culture and is an excellent book. Thinking about that book made me wonder if you have read any of the SF classics, for example Fahrenheit 451? It would be timely to read this now, given that it's about book burning. I also wondered if you had ever read Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut? This book was banned in 1975 but is one of the best anti-war books of all time. I read this years ago when I was a rebellious teenager, but I think I might read it again.
Two contemporary books I would recommend are My Murder by Katie Williams, and In The Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan, which is about an AI police detective. The Hush by Sara Foster is also good.
I hope one of these books takes your fancy, so if you read and enjoy any of them, let me know. Actually, let me know either way as then I'll know if I'm on the right track.
Thank you! I have read Fahrenheit 451 and Slaughterhouse Five, but not the others. I will start with Station Eleven! Yes, I love good scifi and read almost all genres.
I've never thought of using my cumquat marmalade as a marinade but I did put a big blob of it in a made up meatball recipe last week and it was delicious. I didn't make any marmalade or chutney last year but I am getting low now so I think it will be a winter cook-up.
I have a small jar with your name on it. Hopefully it will keep until we meet up. Also, the marmalade chicken was discovered by a beloved aunt who was making marmalade one day while she was cooking a chicken for dinner. She accidentally used the wrong spoon to baste the chicken and realised it was delicious.
My reading life lately has had a more non-fictional focus (actually more random than focused), so I’m feeling that perhaps setting some reading goals might be helpful. I enjoy reading your synopses and recommendations, Marg. It’s also such a great idea to offer recommendations to those who solicit them—I may just take you up on it! Meanwhile, your kumquat (I’ve always seen it spelled that way) marmalade recipe and ideas for using it are so timely. A friend gave me several pounds of the fruit before we left on vacation. I froze them, with the idea of making jam or chutney when we returned! Thanks much!🤗
I've never made jam from frozen fruit, so do let me know how it goes. Cumquat is spelt with a C here in Australia (we use the British spelling) but I randomly spelt it with a K on the jam label. Not sure why I did that!
I also read a fair amount of non-fiction, but don't post about it much. Maybe I will do that in the future. I would love to recommend some books for you, but to be honest, I don't read across all genres, so my recommendations always reflect my tastes to a large extent. I love doing personal recommendations though. It's a lot of fun.
I’ll report back on the frozen cumquat (or kumquat!) jam once I make it.
I really would love some fiction recommendations, Marg. I’m in a bit of a dry spell and not too enamored of anything I’ve picked up lately. I do like a good mystery with excellent writing and characters with back stories that catch my attention—like Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series. I also like British classics by Jane Austen and Dickens. I enjoy more contemporary fiction based on history, often set in other countries and cultures, like Lisa See’s The Island of the Sea Women or novels set in a pivotal time and place in history, like Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See.
And then I’m always open for a great escapist yarn to transport me out of troubled present times and all the terrible news. Any ideas? (I feel like I should pay you a fee for such a service and you should put up a shingle: “The Book Doctor Is In!”)
Oooh I love a challenge. I'll have a think and get back to you.
Can’t wait, Marg!
Hello Ruth! I've had a lovely time thinking about what books you might like to read. I've just finished In Memoriam, which I think you would like, but it's rather a long book and quite sad, so perhaps not what you are looking for at this time.
I was wondering if you have ever read any Elly Griffiths books? The Ruth Galloway books are well written and are good mysteries, but not too gory as they involve old bones. (Ruth is an archaeologist and amateur sleuth). There are also lots of books in the series (she just wrote the last one apparently). I would read them in order because the main character has an interesting life which is further developed in each book.
If you are looking for something set in Scotland, I think you would enjoy Elemental, by Amanda Curtin. It tells the story of a herring girl who eventually migrates to Australia. I really enjoyed this book (it has lots of wonderful details) and think you would too. Another excellent book about migration is Small Island by Andrea Levy. I read it years ago and loved it.
If you are looking for something sweet, but enjoyable, I would recommend The Funny Thing About Norman Forman by Julietta Henderson.
I hope something here interests you! Warm wishes, Marg xx
Wow, Marg! I just started looking up these books and think they would ALL interest me—including In Memoriam, despite sounding like it would break my heart. You’ve clearly got a talent for this! I can see a very happy reading future for me working my way through some (or all) of these. I’m touched at the thought you put into this. Thanks a bundle! 🤗🙏🏻💕
Thanks for the rec! What should I read?
I loved: Hello Beautiful, House on The Cerulean Sea, Murderbot Diaries series, The Sparrow, Horse, The Invention of Wings, Blindness, plus hundreds more!
Did not love: A Confederacy of Dunces, Things We Never Got Over, The Southern Book Clubs Guide to Slaying Vampires (though I love the title !), The Guncle, Finlay Donnovan is Killing It.
That's interesting. I didn't enjoy The Guncle or Finlay Donovan either. I'll have a think and get back to you with some recs.
Hello my friend! I've enjoyed thinking about what you might like to read, so thanks for asking for my advice. I can see we have quite similar tastes, so although I appreciate that you don't just read science fiction, most of my recs are in this genre. I'm happy to find a kindred spirit! So many people shy away from reading SF because they think it's about aliens and technology, when it's really often about what it means to be human and other big important questions. I'm sure you already know this :)
The first book that came to mind for you was Station Eleven, which I'm sure you've probably read, but if you haven't, please do. It asks all kinds of questions about the importance of art and culture and is an excellent book. Thinking about that book made me wonder if you have read any of the SF classics, for example Fahrenheit 451? It would be timely to read this now, given that it's about book burning. I also wondered if you had ever read Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut? This book was banned in 1975 but is one of the best anti-war books of all time. I read this years ago when I was a rebellious teenager, but I think I might read it again.
Two contemporary books I would recommend are My Murder by Katie Williams, and In The Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan, which is about an AI police detective. The Hush by Sara Foster is also good.
I hope one of these books takes your fancy, so if you read and enjoy any of them, let me know. Actually, let me know either way as then I'll know if I'm on the right track.
Warm wishes, Marg xxx
Thank you! I have read Fahrenheit 451 and Slaughterhouse Five, but not the others. I will start with Station Eleven! Yes, I love good scifi and read almost all genres.
Look forward to hearing what you think!