Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge

 

Hello everyone. I hope you're having a wonderful week.

I love having a whole roasted chicken in the fridge, it's so homey and I feel like I can make a million different meals from that one ingredient.  Yes, I know I mention chicken roasting ad nauseam here, but believe it or not I can cook other things.  I can trim a whole beef tenderloin, clean and sectioned, in under 15 minutes.  I can make stuffed, braided bread, chocolate pot de creme, ice creams, seafood, ratatouille, or biscuits that will make you cry out in joy. Surprisingly, I don't have that many cookbooks, preferring books that teach not just feature recipes.  Of course, many people, including me, have the classics like The Joy of Cooking or the ever-famous Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child.  I have my mother's copy of Julia Child's famous book, even in 1970 it was in its 19th printing, it's still going strong today.  Pretty amazing for a book not to be relegated to a backlist, all these years later. Of course, me cooking anything out of this book likely looks like Lucy and Ethel in the chocolate factory, while standing on banana peels and being pelted with eggs, but I imagine I'm a world class chef. The hot, boob-a-licious kind of chef with dazzling smile and great hair, not the grumbling old man with dirty towel tucked under his apron.

I recently read Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge.  The first thing that you'll notice in this mystery is the cover, which looks very much like Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking only with a chef's knife plunged through the middle with blood running down it.  An amusing start without even opening the book.  This is the story of Tabitha Knight and her pal, Julia Child in 1949 Paris.  The book opens the day after a party held at Julia and husband Paul's apartment.  Tabitha and Julia are food shopping.  Julia has undertaken the task of teaching her friend to cook so is introducing Tabitha to various vendors and how to pick the best vegetables.  Upon returning to Julia's apartment, they discover something amiss, one of the guests from the previous night's festivities is dead in the building basement.  Not only is the death of a young woman terrible enough but she has been stabbed in the chest with Julia's own chef's knife.  Quickly, Julia and Tabitha become the main suspects in the brutal murder.  The only way out is to help solve the murder.

This book will be delightful for any fan of Julia Child, post-war Paris, cooking in general, or mystery lovers.  While Julia is present throughout, she does not overwhelm the story nor does the author treat the book as her term paper about all her Child research.  A pleasant read, with plenty of twists, the story will "stir" your imagination as you "strain" through the characters to figure out this "well-seasoned" who-dun-it.  Okay, I'll stop, but seriously, this was lots of fun.

I have to go start making dinner, hope I can find my chef's knife.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having a nice day.

As I type, our house is filled with the scent of roasting pork.  When I moved south one of my coworkers insisted that I try a barbeque sandwich.  Now, up north, bbq is a way of cooking...cooking outside over a charcoal or gas grill.  In the south, bbq is a noun, an actual thing.  It's pork that has been long roasted, often smoked, then pulled apart and dressed with the cook's secret sauce.  Then it's piled high on a hamburger style bun where it is topped with a generous "splat" of coleslaw before having the lid applied.  To be honest, when that coworker insisted I try it, I was a bad sport, I believe I referred to it as "dog food on a bun."  Don't give me that look, southerners do some wacky things with food, and it really did look like dog food. Years later, after having a favorite bbq restaurant, that was repeatedly named best by Southern Living, I start making it myself.  Imagine my surprise when while trying to come up with my own secret sauce, I actually recreated that Southern Living favorite.  Now instead of paying nine bucks a sandwich, I get the exact same thing for nine bucks for at least a dozen servings. How did I crack the prize-winning sauce, creating a balance that would please everyone.  Balancing sweetness and acidity.

I recently read Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.  This story set in the 1960's is about Elizabeth Zott.  She is a brilliant chemist, but kind of awkward socially, perhaps just a bit quirky.  This follows several years in Elizabeth's life as she deals with women being unappreciated and almost always underestimated.  The reader sees her happiness and sorrow, in addition to triumphs and betrayals. Originally set in a laboratory, years later as a popular tv cook, preaching the chemistry of making dinner, this story is engaging and charming.  The writing, while delightful, fades into the background as the reader becomes overwhelmed with the story.  You'll find yourself laughing and crying, often at the same time.  

If you like science or like to cook, this book is for you.  If you are a woman this is for you. If you're a young woman, this is a must for just a tiny glimpse of what the women in your family have endured to get you the treatment you now enjoy.  A great book.

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

Hello everyone. I hope you are enjoying your day.

I try and stay light-hearted here.  Reading books and writing an often too long paragraph about some family thing that somehow ties into the story, isn't really rocket science.  Let's call it what is...a self-indulgent way to justify buying more books. Yes, I know you're shocked that I admit it but hey it's working for me. Today, though, I want to be a bit more serious for a minute.  It's the holidays and lots of people are by themselves, more because of the pandemic.  Please know that you are not alone.  For us, illness counts are climbing rapidly in our state, so we are hanging out at home.  I haven't been able to see my family in person for years. That's okay if it keeps everyone safe, that is what is important.  We haven't even put up any decorations yet.  We usually have SIX Christmas trees and a house full of people but not now.  It's hard to get in the spirit of things when the world is upside down.  Heck, the roast we usually serve now costs almost two hundred dollars.  So, if you're sitting in an apartment somewhere, maybe sad, please know that you are not alone.  Even though I am married things aren't the same.  The news may show crowded airports and large family gathering, but many of us are not willing to take that chance.  Again, you aren't alone.  If you're feeling down, maybe you don't have to do the whole holiday "thing" but have a cup of hot chocolate and watch a seasonal favorite, for me it would be Charlie Brown Christmas, even though it makes me think of my mom and I cry every time.  Or perhaps a good old movie, like Gaslight.  Yes, it's not just a political term but comes from a real movie.  I annoy hubby by imitating Claude Raines saying "Oh Paula" with my fake French accent for days after seeing it.  Or here is a "novel" idea, you could read that book you've always wanted to get to but keep putting off.  Get it...novel idea?  

I recently read The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox.  This is the story of twins (yes, again) who are each a cooking wiz.  Charlie bakes and is a judge on a tv cooking competition show.  Sister Cass runs the family bakery back home.  While taking a break from filming Charlie is hit on the head when a rack of pans falls over.  Her concussion causes her to lose her sense of taste and smell.  How can she continue her job like that?  She can't, so the twins switch places. Of course, they don't tell anyone.  Not only do they each have trouble blending into their new temporary lives, but each meets a man that seems to be their perfect match.  Now what?  

This is a cute, quick hit, Christmas romance.  It's easy reading that is an absolute requirement if you are a baker or lover to cooking competition shows, it mentions some by name.  In addition, there is holiday cheer aplenty with small town quaintness and lots of snow.  My only suggestion, don't read on an empty stomach.

Cooking for Ghosts by Patricia V. Davis

Sometimes it is hard to imagine what people are into, what their interests are. I'm not talking those "internet" type interests, minds out of the gutter people and eyes up here. If you read this blog you know several things about me, I am a housewife that buys way too many books, I like to cook but detest cleaning.  I am an Olympic quality, championship style, procrastinator, often, to enable me to read the ending of some great book. You might think given all the wifey stuff, I might have a thing for collecting recipes or a certain kind of china. You'd be wrong, although, for the record, I will gladly accept any good recipe.

I grew up with an inground, heated pool. My sisters often had their friends over swimming and had pool parties for their birthdays. I was always a strong swimmer, but during high school my mother insisted I become certified as a lifeguard, which I did. She could then relax at those numerous pool parties and even tell parents that there was a lifeguard attending. You might find it odd that I have developed a fear of deep, dark water. It freaks me out. You might find it even odder that I have a thing for ships. Yes, ships. I am fascinated by vessels in the navy and have been on several, from aircraft carrier to submarine. I've even seen the famous concrete ships in two locations (google it if necessary they are totally cool).

What I find the most interesting is the old ocean liners. Not the ones of today that are top heavy, odd looking things. I mean the old elegant ships. The kind of ship you'd make a transatlantic crossing on. You know, black on the bottom with a ring of white around the top. How sharp is that? In fact, I'm more than interested, I'm obsessed with the liner SS United States. It was built in Virginia at famous Newport News Shipbuilding. It set the record for fastest transatlantic crossing (New York to England) and still holds the record to this very day! The ship, designed by William Francis Gibbs, was meant to be fireproof with very little wood on board, even down to aluminum coat hangers. When air travel became more popular the SS United States was removed from service. The furnishings were stripped and sold at auction. I was so fortunate to go to a restaurant on the Outer Banks that had much of the furniture. I saw the stool where Marylyn Monroe sat at the bar and the actual bar. I ran my hand down the smooth railings. I ate dinner on the table and sat in the chairs from the main dining room. One time I stuck my hand under the crisp white tablecloth to find a cork wedged in the underside lip of the table. I often think of that silly cork, wondering what it would testify to if it could.  Sadly, the SS United States doesn't sail anymore and is docked in Philly, hopefully to be turned into a floating hotel and event space, turning a blind eye to those who don't care for history and call for it to be scrapped.  I hope that terrible day never comes. I was given a plaque of the time trial records of the winning speed from the office of an executive at Newport News Shipbuilding. I have stationery and a room key, lots of little things. Not related to the SS United States but another legendary ocean liner, I also have a post card mailed from the Lusitania before it was sunk by a German torpedo. You think I'm kidding, but seriously, I am a regular housewife that is now afraid of water but fascinated by ships. I can see you shaking your head from here.

Imagine my absolute joy when I was given a copy of Cooking for Ghosts by Patricia V. Davis. It is part one of The Secret Spice Café trilogy. It is about THE QUEEN MARY! Yes, I'm yelling. It has cooking (see above, yes cooking, no cleaning) and ghosts, and a famous ocean liner. What could be better? Honestly. I know, I know, it is not a thriller. It is thrilling enough....the setting is aboard the Queen Mary!  Are you getting the feel for my excitement? Now despite my major desire to dive into this book, I have been holding it for a bit, waiting until October. Although it is an advanced reader copy the title was actually published in 2016. Otherwise, I would not have held it as it is completely unfair to the author and publisher who were so generous to send it to me. But this one, I waited a bit. Finally, I couldn't stand it and dove in.

I don't know where to start, I have so much to say. This book is beautifully written, it reads smoothly, you will be shocked to know you've flipped pages and that time has passed. It is completely enveloping. For me, the story has three basic components; the ship itself … the exploration and description, the four women that are the main characters … each with their own back story to be told, and the fact that the Queen Mary is haunted. This book features some of the ghosts. Now, each of these components could have gone so wrong. If it were me, I would have described the ship in so much detail, you would have been fast asleep by page 2. The ghosts could have been so hokey and cliché. The woman's stories could have taken over. BUT none of these things happen. The story is told in absolute perfect balance AND each of these parts are sprinkled evenly thoughout. It is just amazing. The characters are imperfect and yet the reader cares for them because of these imperfections and life trials. The ghosts are so believable, at first the characters think they are living people, I might have too if I didn't know the title. The paranormal could have been so overdone, but wasn't.

This book works, from top to bottom, bow to stern, beginning to end. The story is haunting and moving. The descriptions are just enough to pull you in but not enough to overwhelm. Then there is the ending. I was reading it out loud to my husband, by the last three pages, in tears because it was so wonderful. For me, this book will linger for a long time. I will never look at any ship in the same way as Patricia Davis has literally brought them to life for me and I am very grateful.