Mao's Last Dancer Review

Welcome back to my lovely book club. On the agenda today: Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin.

I thought this book was a fascinating look at real-life China but accessible to those from the Western world, such as myself. It's a good thing this is a virtual book club, because I have no idea how to pronounce many of the words in this book, including the author’s name (Kuhnksin? Koonksin? Koonkseen?). Update: I found on the Official Site of Li Cunxin that his name is pronounced “Lee Schwin Sing.”

Li’s writing style is engaging and honest--it caught my interest from the very beginning. I imagine it would be difficult writing an entire book in one's second language, but the author does it masterfully. He writes simply with a straightforward manner, but his story isn't simple. Even though much of Li's story is fraught with adversity and grief, he never tells it like a pity party. He just says what happened, and it resonates powerfully.

Li writes of his impoverished childhood survived only by eating despised dried yams. He describes childhood diseases and ills, such as worms and lice, as well as cuts and scrapes bandaged only with dust. He details his complete brainwashing by the Communist government. He writes about his niang’s (niang=mother) heart-wrenching sorrow that she couldn’t provide better for her children.

The author tells of his rampant homesickness when he left home at age 11 to study ballet, his only comforts found in his niang’s quilt and the weeping willow tree where he confessed his sadness; the internal conflict as he studied—and hated—ballet but wanted desperately to bring honor to his family.

The book progresses with Li's exhilaration as he learned to love ballet and found an all-consuming dedication to mastering technique. As he travels to America, his deep-rooted mistrust of Americans quickly fades as he sees true freedom for the first time. His dramatic defection, rather than solving his problems, causes other problems, one of which being fear for his family.

Ultimately, this is a book about the author's courage, determination, passion, and love.

It's worth a read, for sure. I loved every bit of it.

Stay tuned for my pick for April.

Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

These muffins are a family favorite. My mom has made them for as long as I can remember. Her recipe calls these "French Breakfast Puffs," but we have always referred to them as "Cinnamon Sugar Muffins." I have seen similar recipes for "Donut Muffins" or "Baked Donut Holes" (when baked in mini muffin tins), but this is my mom's recipe, so I'm calling them Cinnamon Sugar Muffins.

Cinnamon Sugar Muffins are a bit high on the calorie side, so I wouldn't recommend them for daily consumption.  Even so, I can't resist making them once or twice a year.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Cinnamon Sugar Muffins
Recipe by Sara (stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com)

1/3 cup shortening
1 cup sugar, divided
1 egg
1 ½ cups flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp nutmeg
½ cup milk
1/3 cup melted butter
1 tsp cinnamon

Heat oven to 350º. Grease 12 muffin cups.

Mix shortening, ½ cup sugar, and egg thoroughly. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Stir in alternately with milk, ending with flour.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

While the muffins are baking, combine remaining sugar with cinnamon.

When the muffins have finished baking, immediately roll in melted butter then in mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Enjoy!

The Pelican Brief Review and New Book

Welcome back to SBC!

I hope you enjoyed reading The Pelican Brief by John Grisham.

I enjoyed this one. It's a fairly easy read. The storyline is fast-paced with the right amount of intrigue. It kept me interested, at least.

Darby sure learned how to keep a low profile quickly, which was impressive. She's one of those characters that is a little bit too-good-too-be-true. She wasn't over the top, though, so I can't complain too much.

The storyline never lagged, which was a plus.

On to next month! The book I have selected for March is

Mao's Last Dancer
by Li Cunxin

This one is kind of a cheat: this is the pick for my friend's book club this month. She told me she enjoyed it, so I thought it would be a good pick for my book club.

Mao's Last Dancer is a memoir written by a world famous ballet dancer: Li Cunxin. From Goodreads: From a desperately poor village in northeast China, at age eleven, Li Cunxin was chosen by Madame Mao's cultural delegates to be taken from his rural home and brought to Beijing, where he would study ballet. In 1979, the young dancer arrived in Texas as part of a cultural exchange, only to fall in love with America-and with an American woman. Two years later, through a series of events worthy of the most exciting cloak-and-dagger fiction, he defected to the United States, where he quickly became known as one of the greatest ballet dancers in the world. This is his story, told in his own inimitable voice.

Sounds fascinating to me. I'm really looking forward to reading this one!

This book earns an average of 4.09 stars on Goodreads, 4 stars on Barnes & Noble, and 4.6 stars on Amazon.

I hope you read with me. See you next month!

Perfect Brownies

I love me some brownies. I love them fudgy and rich. Anything else just doesn't pass muster with me.

I have tried several different brownie recipes, but I found a winner in the Baked brownie. You can find recipes for it all over the internet (like here and here and here and here). This recipe was developed for a bakery called Baked NYC. It is lauded as Oprah's favorite. America's Test Kitchen backs it, too. ATK is king in the kitchen, so I really couldn't ignore this recipe. 

These brownies are perfect. Seriously. I did take a few liberties with the recipe, but the overall brownie is the same. The changes are minor, but they make the process a little more foolproof. The change in ingredients is reflective of the pantry items I usually have on hand, which means I can make brownies whenever I have the craving!

Try it my way, or try the original. You won't be disappointed.

Perfect Brownies 
Adapted from Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito and Baked: New Frontiers in Baking 
and the Internet
Brought to you by Sara (stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com)

1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
2 or 3 oz Baker’s unsweetened chocolate, chopped (alter to suit your taste)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
1½ cups granulated sugar
½ cup packed light brown sugar
5 eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the sides and bottom of a 9x13-inch glass or light-colored baking pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and cocoa powder together.

Place butter in a bowl (metal or glass) and set it over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, chop up unsweetened chocolate. When the butter is almost all melted, add the chocolate chips and chopped chocolate. Stir gently until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and smooth. Remove from heat and add the sugars. Whisk until completely combined. Cool the mixture to room temperature. . 

In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Add vanilla. Add half of the egg mixture to the chocolate mixture and fold in. Add remaining eggs/vanilla to the chocolate mixture and gently stir until combined. Do not overbeat the batter at this stage or your brownies will be cakey.

Sprinkle the flour mixture over the chocolate mixture. Using a rubber spatula (not a whisk), fold the flour mixture into the chocolate until just a bit of the flour mixture is visible. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.

Bake in the center of the oven for 30-35 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out with a few moist crumbs sticking to it. Let the brownies cool completely. Cut into squares and serve. 

Store at room temperature in an airtight container or wrap with plastic wrap for up to 3 days.

Enjoy!

The Beekeeper's Apprentice Review & New Pick for February

Welcome back to my lovely book club!

If your New Year's resolution was to read more books, you have come to the right place! I set the goal last year to read at least one book a month, and I'm still going strong. Every month I read and review one book here on the ol' blog. To see what else I'm reading, hop on over to my Goodreads profile.

I would love to hear about what you are reading, too. Feel free to friend me on Goodreads, or leave me a comment here on the blog. I'm always looking for suggestions, so don't be shy!

I started this year reading The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King. I really enjoyed this one. I hope you did, too.

I always love Sherlock Holmes, but the real star of the show is Mary Russell. She's full of bits of wisdom: “Always carry a length of rope; it’s the most useful thing in the world.” She and Holmes develop a relationship dynamic that was delicious to read.

Even though Holmes is a confirmed pragmatist, he is willing to listen to Mary Russell’s scripture recitations and the like. He is very respectful of this part of young Russell. There is a tenderness to his character that always seems to take me by surprise, and that piece of his makeup is largely what makes Holmes so endearing to me.

Mary Russell is indeed a match for Holmes. She is as smart as he is. Of course, she has less experience, but she had the essential quality that makes her a partner to Holmes: a sort of detachment, the ability to step back and see the bigger picture. Holmes doesn’t ruffle her feathers. They accept one another part and parcel. Even the parts they could disagree on. Their differences enrich their partnership as much as their similarities.

Their adventures are really what make their relationship what it is, though. Of course, you'll have to read the book if you want to know more! I wouldn't spoil it for you.

Overall, I really liked this one. I would recommend it.

My pick for February is

(source)

The Pelican Brief
by John Grisham

From John Grisham's official website: In suburban Georgetown a killer’s Reeboks whisper on the front floor of a posh home… In a seedy D.C. porno house a patron is swiftly garroted to death… The next day America learns that two of its Supreme Court justices have been assassinated. And in New Orleans, a young law student prepares a legal brief… To Darby Shaw it was no more than a legal shot in the dark, a brilliant guess. To the Washington establishment it was political dynamite. Suddenly Darby is witness to a murder — a murder intended for her. Going underground, she finds there is only one person she can trust — an ambitious reporter after a newsbreak hotter than Watergate — to help her piece together the deadly puzzle. Somewhere between the bayous of Louisiana and the White House’s inner sanctums, a violent cover-up is being engineered. For somone has read Darby’s brief. Someone who will stop at nothing to destroy the evidence of an unthinkable crime.

John Grisham is a well known author, but I haven't read many of his novels. In fact, I've only read one: The Pelican Brief. The Pelican Brief also happens to be the only movie-based-on-a-John-Grisham-book I've ever seen. I read this one when I was in high school as a part of the book club my best friends and I initiated. There were three of us, and we read three books before our book club seemed to go kaput. I remember liking The Pelican Brief, and while I remember the overall storyline, most of the finer details escape me.

If you've never read a John Grisham novel, this is a good place to start. Plus, you can watch the movie afterwards. Double win!

The Pelican Brief earns an average of 3.87 stars on Goodreads, 3.9 stars on Amazon, and 4.5 stars on Barnes & Noble.

Hit me back next month for my review!

Neat Gifts for Newlyweds—Twenty Bucks or Less

I don't know about you, but I've been invited to 4 weddings that took place within the last month, and I know it won't stop there. Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, which means wedding season is well on its way. If you need some gift ideas for the newlyweds, you've come to the right place!

Most newlywed couples are fairly young, which means their close friends are probably fairly young, too. Fairly young often means fairly poor (or at least it does in my case). That's why everything on this list is $20 or under.*

If you are looking for a nifty gift that both practical and unique, this is the list for you. If you are a newlywed, these might be items you didn't think to register for. Either way, this is a list of useful stuff that won't break the bank.

OXO Good Grips Adjustable Measuring Cup. A.K.A. measuring cup for sticky stuff—great for corn syrup or peanut butter, but you can also use it to measure ingredients like flour and water. I love a multitasker! This will adjust to any measurement you need up to one cup. These come in adjustable two cup and ⅛ cup sizes as well. Available from Amazon for $6-12 (depending on size). A similar measuring cup is available from Pampered Chef, if you prefer.

Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin. This rolling pin makes it easy to roll dough to a uniform thickness. Plus, the one with multi-color discs is cute (it also comes in grey and putty color schemes). Available from Amazon for about $20.

Norpro Flexible Cutting Boards. I love these babies. They make it easy to cut, transport, and pour ingredients. Set of 3 available from Amazon for about $6.

AccuSharp Knife Sharpener. The newlyweds might get some nice cutlery, and they'll want to maintain those sharp edges. This sharpener is recommended by America’s Test Kitchen. I always trust recommendations from ATK. Available from Amazon for about $9.

Microplane Zester/Grater. Completely awesome for zesting lemons or grating nutmeg. It will also give you super-fine shreds of parmesan cheese. It will feel like you are at the Olive Garden...except this isn’t the grater they have at the Olive Garden. Even so, this is a truly magical tool. Available from Amazon for about $13.

Ball Plastic Storage Caps. Since Mason jars are all the rage, why not get some storage caps for those suckers? These plastic caps are great for fridge or freezer storage, and they won’t rust. They come in both regular and wide-mouth sizes. Set of 8 available from Amazon for $3-4.

Perfect Grip Nail Clippers & Tweezers Set. Everyone uses nail clippers, but not everyone will splurge to get some nice ones. My sister and brother-in-law like this set. He says these clippers are easier to grip with his pudgy fingers...er...large man hands. Available from Drugstore.com for about $6. I’ve also seen them at Walmart.

Folding Board. Just like Sheldon Cooper’s. This is a neat tool for perfectly folded clothes with no hassle. Available from Amazon for about $8.

Kikkerland Hedgehog Dryer Balls. These little guys replace dryer sheets. They reduce static and improve airflow in the dryer. Use them over and over again. You can find plain dryer balls that serve the same purpose, but these hedgies are so darn cute. Set of 2 available from Amazon for about $7. Puffer fish dryer balls are available now, too!

Personal Library Kit. This one is a little quirky. The set includes self-adhesive pockets and check-out cards, just like a real library! It also comes with a pencil, adjustable date stamp, and ink pad. Perfect for merging his and her book collections (or his and his or hers and hers as the case may be). If you’re not a true book lover, you won’t see the appeal. If you are a bibliophile, you want one yourself. Available from Amazon for about $12.

Pilot G2 Pens. The new couple will have a lot of thank-you notes to write, and these pens are reliable. A bit pricey, but they last a long time and write consistently. Plus, the newlyweds can buy ink cartridge refills instead of buying more pens. Savings! Box of 12 available from Amazon for about $14. Of course, smaller packages are available for cheaper. I’ve seen these pens at Target, Walmart, Staples, and Office Depot. I linked to the 0.7 mm tip size, but they are available in 0.38 mm, 0.5 mm, and 1.0 mm also. Sometimes you can find them in fun colors, too.

Postage Stamps. Also for thank-yous. Sometimes the small things are the nicest to have around. Booklet of 20 available for under $10 from USPS.

Happy Gifting!

*Please let me know if any of these prices have changed, and I will update this post. Thanks!

Cold & Flu Season Essentials

Let me tell you a story. Once I came down with an awful stomach bug. My supply of food stuffs was all but depleted.  I lived alone, and I didn't have the energy to go to the store for Sprite or saltines. Long story short, now I keep a few things on hand for when illness strikes--because it's always unexpected. Here are a few of my staples for the cold and flu season:

Homeopathic Remedies

Personally, I'm a big fan of Oscillococcinum. You take it when you first start experiencing flu-like symptoms. Similarly, Zicam is marketed as a pre-cold remedy. I haven't tried Zicam, but I'm in favor of anything that will alleviate symptoms at the onset.

Waterless Vaporizer

I have a Vicks Waterless Vaporizer, but I have also used one made by PediaCare. Both are great. They release menthol vapors into the air. When I have a cold, I have trouble sleeping at night. Sometimes cold symptoms make it hard to breathe. These vaporizers have helped me a great deal.

Fluids

Drinking lots of fluids is always important. Dehydration is a serious concern, especially if you have the flu. If you have the stomach flu, clear liquids are preferable: water, white grape juice, Sprite, 7-Up, ginger ale, Pedialyte, etc. I like Powerade or Gatorade on ice. Just remember to sip slowly.

Bland Foods

My mom has always recommended the B.R.A.T. diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. I like saltines, and I always keep a box in the pantry. You might prefer pretzels, tortillas, graham crackers, Cheerios, or any number of other things. Just keep some around the house in the event of illness. Believe you me, you won't want to go to the store when you are ill.

Hand Soap

According to the CDC, clean hands save lives. Hand washing is "one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and and prevent the spread of  germs to others." Wash, wash, wash!
When you are out and about, carry some alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol). If soap and water aren't available, hand sanitizer is your best bet.



I hope you don't get sick this cold/flu season. But if you do, a stockpile of supplies will ease the burden. If you do get sick, go to a doctor. The products listed above won't cure your ailment.

And for heaven's sake, stay home! You need your rest, and the rest of us don't need your germs.