More Mortal Instruments

City of Ashes by Cassanda Clare
When I read City of Bones the first book in The Mortal Instrument series, I enjoyed it but didn't quite feel a spark. But with book I was definitely feeling it. I think it was partly because so much of the first book was used to develop the world of the Shadowhunters. By the time we get to the second we know all about the characters and their demon-hunting ways so instead we can focus more on the actual story.

While I really enjoy the book, there was at least one detail that seemed to get to me. Throughout the book various adults kept trying to tell Clary and Jace a big revelation about themselves. But they never seemed to finish their thought, and even though as a reader I could sense it was going to be something big, the characters barely knew it was happening. I will admit that while it was frustrating to me as a reader, I do think the author was able to get her point across.

The book definitely ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, far more than the first. And this time the next book I'll be reading will be the third book in this trilogy.

~Shoshanah

I'm Sorry to Tell You

I don't have a post for you all today. But in case you haven't already seen it, be sure to check out my cameo at yesterday's Monday Meeting at Amber's Girl with the Red Hair!

~Shoshanah

More Risotto Fun

The last time I tried to make risotto, I pretty much failed at finding "risotto" rice. To prevent this from happening again my mom gifted me with two boxes of arborio rice. They've pretty much been sitting in my pantry begging me to come up with a reason to use them. And when I saw a recipe for Grilled Shrimp & Meyer Lemon Risotto in an old issue of Family Circle I knew it was time.

Just as a side note, I don't subscribe or normally buy Family Circle. But I have no problem reading other people's recycled copied they've read and are now giving away.

Back to the recipe at hand. I guess it'd better to say I was inspired by their recipe because I made a few big changes. First I didn't use shrimp, mainly because I was too lazy. Second I couldn't find any meyer lemons, so I just went with regular ones. Also the recipe called for a shallot. And while the boy had told me he bought some, what he thought was a shallot wound up being purple garlic. So here's my version of their recipe.

Lemon Risotto
3 cups chicken broth mixed with 1 and 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 package of arborio rice
2/3 cup white wine
Zest from 1 and 1/2 lemons (Yes an odd amount, but its what we happened to have)
juice from 1 lemon
1 block of Fontina cheese graded (The official recipe called for 1 cup)
6 (or so) basil leaves chopped (mine were of course from my garden)
salt & pepper to taste

Place broth and water in medium-sized saucepan and bring to simmer.
In a large saucepan, heat olive oil and add rice. Stir until rice is coated. Cook for 2 minutes.
Add wine and cook till absorbed.
Add broth. Cook over medium-low heat stirring until absorbed. Continue with the rest of the broth mixture adding 1/2 cup at a time.
Stir in the zest, juice, cheese, salt & pepper. Stir in basil just before serving.
I think it wound up turning out really well. The boy complained that it was a little too lemon-y for his taste, but I thought it had just the right amount of lemon flavor. It made a ton of food, and we wound up with quite a bit of leftover. (Which I really need to finish eating!) I think it was a success, and even though risotto is more of a winter food, I think the lemon made it work for June. (There's also the fact that we have central air, which works wonders at cooling down the house.)

Anyone have a favorite type of risotto? Or do you have any supposed winter foods that you'll still eat in the summer?

~Shoshanah

The Karate Team

The A-Team
Remember my review of The Losers where I said it would probably be a not as good version of The A-Team? Well that was pretty much the case. I did enjoy the movie, and its not one I'm dying to see again. Again the story is pretty basic a team of military men gets frames for a crime, and has to show the world who the real bad guys are. Nothing too crazy.

For me the high points were really Bradley Cooper and Jessica Biel. It's really crazy to think of how far she's come from Mary Camden. There were a few good actions scenes, especially the finale, and there's a scene after the credits which a also appreciate. I'd say it hits the spot as a good summer action film.

The Karate Kid
I never saw the original growing up, but the boy tried to get me to watch it a year or two ago. I only remember the first half, so I have a feeling a fell asleep halfway through. So I guess you could say I only half knew what to expect. But I wound up really enjoying this movie, and think it was better than expected.

First there's Jaden Smith, who was surprisingly good. There was a moment where he said a line and sounded almost exactly like his father. But overall he seemed like his own person. He definitely held his own, and I do think he has a big future in front of him.

I think the one thing I didn't like about it, where the fighting bits between the 12-year-old boys. It's one thing when they're supervised at the big contest at the end of the movie. But the parts when the bullies are practically pummeling Jaden on the street? It hurt a little too watch. I know its not real in the movie, but the idea that it happens in real life is a little scary.

I think one of the reasons that the movie is going to do so well is because of the mass appeal. It's a story about a kid, so all the young boys want to see it and will drag their parents. And the 20-something guys, like my boyfriend, all want to see it since its a part of their childhood. (The boy was a fan, and did seem to like the fact it followed the original.) Then judging from the demographics of our theater, the fact that Jaden Smith was in it brought out the African-American segment. But I think like his father, he is going to able to people of every race.

And as silly as it may sound, I loved the credits. First they were done in both English and Chinese. Second they featured behind the scenes photos, which of course included shots of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith overlooking the action. And finally, there's the Justin Beiber and Jaden Smith song over the credits. I guess he's a singer too like his dad.

While I enjoyed both of the movies, The Karate Kid is easily my pick out of this weekend.

~Shoshanah

Art of the Choke

A few months ago the boy and I were watching an episode of Alton Brown's Good Eats on the Food Network. The episode was on artichokes, and Alton showed how to both cook and eat one. It seemed weird to me that an episode would focus on how you actually eat the food, along with the cooking. But according to the boy, while he had eaten artichoke hearts, he had never had an actual artichoke by itself.

Growing up in Southern California artichokes were a vegetable we ate fairly commonly. Until the boy mentioned it was something new to him, I had little idea that they were so unique in other parts of the country. But when I saw artichokes at the grocery store this weekend I figured it would be a perfect time for the boy to have his first artichokes.

Not only was the going to be his first time eating them, it was going to be my first time cooking them. I didn't have a steamer, but after some research I was able to craft one out of a pot, a strainer, and a cookie sheet.
In the water underneath I added a slice of lemon and clove of garlic, and set it to boil. The chokes could have probably cooked a little longer, but I was impatient and didn't want to wait any longer. A few leaves on the outside were a little tough, but once you got a layer or two in they were pretty perfect.
The boy's verdict? He was a fan! Although I think part of it might have been the garlic butter dipping sauce I made him as well. I wound up sticking with a vinaigrette salad dressing I had in the fridge instead.

Have you ever eaten a whole artichoke? If so, what's your favorite thing to dip them in?

~Shoshanah

Got Crabs

Welcome to another edition of Classy in Philadelphia's Where in the World Wednesday. The way to play is to share a picture of yourself somewhere in the world. This week we're heading to...
Baltimore, Maryland
I spent four years at college in Maryland. Where there I learned how to eat and enjoy crabs (along with the actually school learning). I'm pretty good at getting all the meat out, but I probably won't be winning any contest with my speed. One of my favorite ways to enjoy the crab meat is dipping it vinegar. This photo of me and my parents was taken June 2005, the summer after my Junior year of college.

Be sure to head over to Classy in Philadelphia if you're looking for more Where in the World Wednesday posts. Or if you'd prefer, you can see Where in the world I've been here.

~Shoshaanh

Not Your Average Chick Lit

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin
This books tells the story of two women living in Boston. There's Tessa the mother of two who recently quite her job as a college professor to become a stay at home mother. And there's Valerie a single mother raising her son while working as a lawyer. Neither one knows each other, until of course their lives becomes forever linked.

To start of on light note, while this isn't a sequel to her other books there were a few familiar faces. Dex from Something Borrowed makes his appearance as the brother of one of the characters. And while this book isn't Dex and Rachel's story it is nice to check in on them, and see how their lives are going.

As for the book, it similar in some ways to the author's past books. Reading the book it's almost as if you're not sure who to root for. Starting the book I knew what I wanted to happen, and when it almost does by the book's end I wasn't sure if I wanted it anymore. None of the characters come off as perfect, instead they come of as almost a real life flawed person. After all we know no ones perfect in real life. But I'm not sure if I always want that in a light summer read. While part of me does like the fact the characters seem real and easily identifiable, at times I almost wished for an easier read from a so-called chick lit book.

I can't list this book as one of my author's favorite. Nor do I really have any desire to read it again. But while I was reading it I couldn't put it down, and I get the feeling that this will be a book I won't forget. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I read it, and I have a feeling I be thinking about it for a good while.

~Shoshanah