It has been a book day, in addition to cooking soup and casserole. I received 2 books today. One is the first of 6 we are reading for book club. The second is a cookbook that I bought used from Chapters.
I am excited about book club. It is a big group, but not everyone can make it each month. They are a fantastic group of ladies. And not all moms either. All very sporty and active, and some quite artistic. It is a solid mix of people from all over the place who live such colourful lives ranging from marketing to teaching to film and television producing.
I joined the book club last spring. They don't read a book each month. They alternate with Socials. I love this casual mentality and also the philosophy of, 'the more, the merrier', which is a saying and a way of life I frequently guide EvieG with. When I asked to participate, I was met with a humourous and sarcastic response of, "Well, I am not sure if we are accepting new members", followed by a big laugh and a big welcome.
We are starting the year with a fiction novel titled, Run. And it is by an author named Ann Patchett. In short this book takes place on "a winter evening in Boston and the temperature has drastically dropped as a blizzard approaches the city. On this fateful night, Bernard Doyle plans to meet his two adopted sons, Tip the older, and more serious and Teddy, the affectionate dreamer, at a Harvard auditorium to hear a speech given by Jesse Jackson. Doyle, an Irish Catholic and former Boston mayor, has done his best to keep his two sons interested in politics, from the day he and his now deceased wife became their parents, through their childhoods, and now in their lives as college students. Though the two boys are African-American, the bonds of the family's love have never been tested. But as the snow begins to falls, an accident triggers into motion a series of events that will forever change their lives."
I can't wait to read it. Apparently the author weaves and stages a dramatic story to show the strength of family and how far we can go to protect our kids.
The second book is a cookbook that I can't wait to dive into. Thanks to Auntie Missy for suggesting it. It is nothing new, nothing earth shattering, but brings a shift to the way we plan and prepare our plates. It is called The New American Plate and is brought to us by researchers, doctors and cancer specialists.
The old American plate is traditionally a big piece of meat, a starch, and a veggie. They are telling us to make a shift on our plates. "It's not a short-term diet to use for weight loss but a new approach to eat for better health. The New American Plate emphasizes the kinds of foods that can significantly reduce our risk for disease. It also shows how to enjoy all foods in sensible portions. That is, it promotes a healthy weight as just one part of an overall healthy lifestyle...At the center of the New American Plate are a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans. These plant-based foods are rich in substances that help keep us in good health and protect against many kinds of cancer. They are also naturally low in calories. When plant based foods are on our plate, we're able to eat more filling and satisfying meals."
I like this book because this is how I have been trying to cook anyway. Not for less calories, but for overall health. If you have been reading this blog, you will know I am slightly obsessed with keeping as far away from The Marble Orchard as possible, but also have a weakness for starchy treats, like muffins and Timbits. This book is a way to keep me in check. Also, I want the Wee Ladies to be able to eat a variety of fruits and veggies, dished up in different ways. A lot of the recipes are kid-friendly which is great. I don't want to rely on having the meat on the plate all the time. The book is not anti-meat. There is a lot of meat throughout. They just think it is time to scale back on the meat intake. So what I like about this book is that it provides me with different and easy, relatively quick recipes, all for the greater good. There is a whole chapter devoted to one-pot recipes. YAY! I have this in front of my face and will find it easier to plan and make the trip to the store knowing exactly what I am going to get. This will be great now that we are on the move more with activities and all that is going on around town. It will be good from so many perspectives.
This weekend is the CIBC Run for the Cure. We will be running in support of breast cancer research. I heard they get about 850 participants here in town which is amazing.
I look forward to getting myself tucked in and reading through these books.
All's I'm sayin's all.
PS I will be working on this month's Who's DDM and also a few new reviews. I will keep you posted on that front.
PPS It's another small town fall fair weekend! We had our fall fair last weekend and this week it is a neighbouring village. The Wee Ladies are having a ball with all that is going on here. They saw a sheep get sheared last week and watched a tractor pull. This weekend it's arts and crafts, apples, and scarecrows. Along with a birthday party and the Run for the Cure.
Labels: DDM
