Catching up with My World

 Only the news that's fit to print!  An update here for Sunday Salon, and the world at large.  Sunday Salon, hosted by Deb Nance over at Readerbuzz, is where we get a chance to link up and share what we've been up to, visit other blogs and maybe join in with their conversations.

In my world, it's often something in the garden that gets me excited.  This week was memorable!  Here are the turmeric plants blooming.  Prettier close up.

And, really it's not too unexpected, after all most plants probably bloom at one time or another.  The comfrey decided to join in.  I couldn't resist and picked the stalk for my flower arrangement.

Then, noticing berries on a Curry tree, decided to see if they were edible.  Glory to God, they are and have a nice herby, slightly citrusy taste. Which, I read are sometimes incorporated into curries. But that would be troublesome as they have an inedible seed.  Apparently not all varieties have a seed, but the ones I tasted all did.

We will get to the books, I promise! 

Do you remember that variegated Hawaiian banana I discussed last time? With variegated fruit?  Here's the new baby!  So there's more of those bananas to come.

The Books Read

Yes, we do have some books to mention.  Two from Jacqueline Winspear.  I do seem to go through favorite authors for a time.

An excellent stand-alone from the author of our much-loved Maisie Dobbs series.  Set in Post War England.  

Here Maisie Dobbs investigates the death of an Indian woman in 1933 London.  Another moving and nuanced novel by this author.

And another by Peter Lovesey!  I enjoy his quirky hero, Peter Diamond.  As the Publishers summarize: "When an autistic Japanese child is mysteriously abducted in London, ex-police detective Peter Diamond begins a desperate search that takes him from the sumo-wrestling world of Japan to New York's high finance district."  A very unusual plot, wandering, but absorbing.

Currently Reading:

By the author of The Henna Artist.  So far, enjoying the story quite a bit.  Goes from Bombay to Europe in 1937.

Then, just a bit for the Food and Wine Section

Ongoing fermentation of my Pineapple Wine.  Three gallons coming up, just a matter of waiting!  And waiting, racking and waiting for the finished product a couple years down the road, possibly.  When I have an excessive amount of fruit of some kind, I either give it away or make wine!

Food and the Cookbooks Referenced:

Skillet Spanakopita with Phyllo.  This was a terrifically good and novel use for the Phyllo languishing in my freezer.  It's so finicky to work with, but this just put crumpled pieces on top of the delicious filling.  Thanks to Christopher Kimball, author of Milk Street Shorts.  I will probably make again!

Then there was Southwestern Quinoa Salad from Gourmet Today, courtesy of Ruth Reichl.  A very scrumptious combination of ingredients.  However, disclaimer here:  If you had never prepared quinoa before, you might be put off by the lengthy and unnecessary directions for preparing that portion of the recipe.  I stupidly decided to follow them just to see if I had been omitting something vital to my health.  No, and I melted down the plastic portions of my sieve in the process. Live and learn.  I hope.

We should be lots better here, now that hurricane Lala has come and gone.  Sadly some folks are still without power.  So many trees down!  And Gardens messed up!

That's it for now folks!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and upcoming week.