May Reading Update

Once again, I've set a reading goal of 100 books for the year - I didn't quite make it last year (95), but it's close enough to set that as a goal again (and I like a nice round number). I'll track which books I read in a month and which I liked best. Mostly for myself more than anything, but of course I'm always glad to have others follow along.

So...  in May, new (to me) books read: 6; books re-read: 0
Favourite book in May: Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

in April: new (to me) books read: 8; books re-read: 0
Favourite book in April:  The Ninth House, Leigh Bardugo

in March: new (to me) books read: 8; books re-read: 1
Favourite book in March:  Spring, Ali Smith

 in February: new (to me) books read: 4; books re-read: 
Favourite book in February:  A Single Thread, Tracy Chevalier

in January:  new (to me) books read: 6; books re-read: 
Favourite book in January:  An American Marriage, Tayari Jones

May reading: 

• I read a couple of children's book which have been sitting in my stack of kids' books for a while (The Wonderling by Mira Bartok, Malamander by Thomas Taylor)
• I read a very interesting non-fiction book about fonts (Just My Type by Simon Garfield). I'm not a big non fiction reader, though I'm fond of a good memoir (not biography) and do like the odd quirky delve into some bit of the world - like this font book.
• I read a couple of crime fiction books in series which I follow (Island of the Mad, Laurie R King; Fear in the Sunlight, Nicola Upson)
• I read a great fiction book which has been in my pile for a while, by an author I always enjoy (Commonwealth, Ann Patchett)

Book 33: Fear in the Sunlight by Nicola Upson

What can be better than sitting in the sun reading?  And if your book is also linked to sitting in the sun, well, so much the better...

 

Dinner, 29/5/21: Vegetable Biryani

 

Book 32: Malamander by Thomas Taylor

This was a fun kids book - creative story and very engaging.

 

Dinner, 28/5/21: Courgette, Feta and Dill Pancakes

 

Dinner, 27/5/21: Orzo with Meatballs

 

Book 31: Island of the Mad, Laurie R King

Realised recently that I haven't read the latest couple of this series, which I really like. So I decided to catch up. 

 

Dinner, 26/5/21: Indian Masala Roast Carrots with Coconut Dal

 

We loved this the first time we had it, and loved it again this time. It's just an all-round excellent dish.

Dinner, 25/5/21: Giant Butterbean Stew

 

Book 30: Commonwealth, Ann Patchett

 

I always enjoy Ann Patchett, and this one was no exception - she just writes a very good story. I first encountered her when Bel Canto came out, and went on to read her previous books, and then her subsequent ones. I somehow missed this one, but picked it up in a charity shop a while back.  I'm a bit old for staying up late to finish books these days, but I got wrapped up in this one and had to finish it before bedtime. I think Run might still be my favourite, but this certainly is up there.

(purchased in a Wimbledon charity shop, 12 Aug 2020)

Dinner, 23/5/21: Ultimate Onion Tart

 

Sometimes - a lot of times - we end up with a glut of onions because of our veggie box.  This was a really nice way to use some of them up. 

Dinner, 22/5/21: Spring Green and Yellow Lentil Dal

This was very nice. Loving all the different ways to eat lentils!

 

Dinner, 21/5/21: Sausages, Mash, Runner Beans

 

Dinner, 20/5/21: Harissa Carrot Fritter Pitta

This was fun - a carrot fritter in a pitta. Nice change from eating fritters just on the plate. Almost makes you feel summery, which is something the weather is certainly NOT doing.

 

Book 29: Just My Type, Simon Garfield

You might not think a book about fonts would be very interesting, but I really enjoyed this. Highly readable, and made me think about type and fonts in a whole new way. I can't stop looking at signs now!

 

Dinner, 19/5/21: Cauliflower Cheese, Salad

Cauliflower (including the outer leaves and stems) and potatoes, cooked in cheese sauce. With salad.

 

Dinner, 18/5/21: Pasta with cherry tomatoes, prawns, asparagus & chili

A quick dish composed entirely from what was in the house - the veggie box came in with more cherry tomatoes and some asparagus, and there were some prawns in the freezer. Boom.

 

Dinner, 16/5/21: Harissa Spiced Chicken Legs with Cabbage and Potatoes

The chicken here was cooked on a bed of tomatoes, celery, olives, etc which was really nice - added a good touch to the meal.

 

Dinner, 15/5/21: Paneer & Chickpea Stuffed Pancakes

 

Dinner, 13/5/21: Mixed Bean Goulash

Simple, mainly using stuff from the larder, in tins. But tasty.

 

Dinner, 12/5/21: Stuffed peppers with potatoes, feta and pesto

The pepper recipe is from Hugh Fearnley-Wittingstall's book Veg Everyday, though I didn't use new potatoes, just the potatoes I had on hand. Nice change from using rice or couscous in stuffed peppers.

 

Dinner, 11/5/221: Scrambled eggs, asparagus, mushrooms

A quick supper using what came in the veggie box today - a small amount of asparagus, some lovely eggs (not technically a veggie, I know) and some fried mushrooms. Plus homemade (bread machine) bread.

 

Dinner,9/5/21: Roast Pork, Roast Potatoes, Cabbage

 

Dinner, 8/5/21: Cheese & Courgette Filo Parcels, Broccoli Soup

Cheesy courgette parcels, plus broccoli soup (continuing to use the broccoli glut - nearly through it now)

 

Dinner, 7/5/21: Stir Fried Chicken and Broccoli

We had a lot of broccoli in the house, so several meals this week have broccoli, but in quite different ways.  This was just a stir fry with chicken, broc and some noodles. Nothing fancy.

 

Book 28: The Wonderling, Mira Bartok

A children's book which has been on my shelf for some time - I enjoyed this, very much an Oliver Twist retelling in an unusual world, with animal (ish) characters. Fun and creative.

 

Dinner, 6/5/21: Chickpea saute, green beans, biscuits

Chickpea saute, green beans, biscuits.  This was fine, but not very interesting. Probably wouldn't do it again.

 

Dinner, 5/5/21: Sri Lankan Runner Bean Curry

I've made this before without the potatoes - this time we only had a small amount of runner beans, so it needed something else to bump it up a bit. It was still really lovely. 

 

Dinner, 4/5/21: One pan spicy rice

An easy supper dish, made with frozen spinach and other readily accessible ingredients (chickpeas, cashews, curry paste).

 

Dinner, 3/5/21: Tomato & Tapenade Tart

A glut of tomatoes = tomato tart. Yum. 

 

Dinner, 2/5/21: BBQ Chicken, Broccoli, Potatoes

Using up some leftover barbecue sauce from when we had ribs recently... We didn't BBQ the chicken, just cooked it in the oven. But still. 

 

Dinner, 1/5/21: Mushroom and Sausage Pasta

It's a basic meal, but it works.

 

April Roundup

 

WHAT WAS FOR DINNER, APRIL 2021

• 30th: Korean Style Prawn and Spring Onion Pancake
• 29th: Gnocchi with Wild Garlic Pesto
• 28th:Frittata with pepper, potato, chorizo
• 27th: Cabbage and Potato Cakes; Roast Spiced Carrots
• 26th: Fend for yourself Monday
• 25th: Burnt Aubergine Chili
• 24th: Chicken and Leek Pie
• 23rd: Penne with tapenade, Chorizo and rocket
• 22nd: Sausages, Asparagus, Potatoes
• 21st: Squash and Chickpea Stew
• 20th: Pasta with Sweet Potatoes & Bacon
• 19th: Fend for yourself Monday
• 18th: Burrito Bowls
• 17th: Courgette Lasagne
• 16th: Leek and Blue Cheese Risotto
• 15th: Ribs, Sweet Potatoes, Veg
• 14th: Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry with Noodles
• 13th: Greek (ish) Salad
• 12th: Fend for yourself Monday
• 11th: Chicken Korma with Courgettes
• 10th: Ham, Cabbage, Potatoes
• 9th: Late Lunch out/Fend for yourself supper
• 8th: Leek, Pea & Spinach Soup
• 7th: Scrambled Eggs, Asparagus, Oven Potatoes
• 6th: Masala Roast Carrots with Coconut Lentils
• 5th: Pasta with Chard, Bacon and Rosemary
• 4th: Roast Veggies, Couscous & Hummous
• 3rd: Minestrone
• 2nd: Salmon, Greens, Potatoes
• 1st: Broccoli & Cheese Frittata