Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loved this book! Novella Carpenter is a rad (as my friend K would say), ultimate do it yourselfer. She sets up a farm on an unused lot in urban (i.e. ghetto) Oakland. And I don't mean a big garden with maybe a few chickens. This gal also has ducks, turkeys, rabbits, and pigs(!)--all of which she harvests for food. She even befriended a chef who taught her how to cure the pig meat into fancy salume. Yum!

It was very readable and just a fascinating account of someone who's marching to the beat of a different drummer. Lots of lessons for us all to learn on where our food comes from, sustainable eating, etc.

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Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost: A Memoir of Hampshire College in the Twilight of the '80s by Richard Rushfield


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed the book about a guy who started college the same year I did: 1986. While liberal, make-up-your-own-education Hampshire College is very different from the traditional, state school that I went to, he captures the "feeling" of that era very well. It made me nostalgic for some of the funnest years of my life.

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Confections of a Closet Master Baker by Gesine Bullock-Prado


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A sweet, light read about a woman (who happens to be Sandra Bullock's sister) who gave up a profitable career in Hollywood to be a baker in Vermont. She cooks German style pastries and cakes and describes the joy of living out your dream, rather than doing what you're "supposed" to do.

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Wintergirls

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 starsI wish I could give this 4 1/2 stars. It was a haunting and painful book that I know will stick with me for awhile. I listened to the CD version, which was produced very interestingly. It had "tricks" that annoyed me at first, but once I understood them, it really added to the experience. I found myself looking forward to my commute so that I could listen to this book.
It's a story about an 18 year old anorexic, self-mutilator, who is not only dealing with her illness(es) but the death of her ex-friend who died from binging. Not a book for the faint of heart, but beautifully written.
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Cranberry Bars

I've been terrible about blogging lately. I have lots of yummy things to post, and will hopefully get to it over the Christmas break.

Right now, I'm posting this recipe for posterity. I posted a link to it last Christmas and went back to get it today because it's holiday baking day in our house. Unfortunately, I had only posted a link and the magazine it was in is now defunct! That'll learn me. Thankfully, I found it posted somewhere else, but here it is. These are truly delicious and easy.

Cranberry Bars

Crust:

1 C flour
1/3 C granulated sugar
1/2 C (1 stick) of cold butter, cut into tablespoons

Topping:

2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 C packed light brown sugar
1/3 C flour
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/2 t vanilla extract
1 C whole berry or jellied cranberry sauce (I use whole berry)
1/2 C slivered almonds

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the sides of an 8 inch square baking pan.

2. Make the crust: In a food processor, combine the flour and granulated sugar. Add the butter and pulse until evenly combined.

3. Press the mixture into the baking pan and bake for 35 minutes or until golden. Remove from the oven to add the topping, but leave the oven on.

4. Meanwhile, make the topping: In a bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the eggs and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the flour, baking powder, salt and vanilla. Stir in the cranberry sauce and almonds.

5. Pour the topping over the cooked shortbread bottom and return to the oven for 40 to 45 minutes, until set and evenly browned on top.

6. Let cool completely in the pan on a rack before cutting into 12 bars.

Disney On Ice Report - Discount Tix Still Available!

We saw the opening show of Disney on Ice at the Pepsi Center on Friday night. We took our two boys, who are 7 and 5, and our niece who is 4. The boys enjoyed it, but my niece REALLY loved it! She is really into Disney heroines and princesses, so she especially loved the Ariel (Little Mermaid) and Tinkerbell portions of the show. The show also featured Cars, Lion King, and, of course, Mickey and Friends. My niece clapped and oohed and aahed through the entire show. So cute!

You can still get discount tickets for the shows at the Coliseum:

The Denver Coliseum(Purchase tickets fromwww.ticketmaster.com)

Dec. 11th: 11:00am, 7:30pm

Dec. 12th: 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

Dec. 13th: 1:30pm, 5:30pm

**Get 4 tickets for $44 Monday‐Friday matinee, or

$4 off weekend tickets by entering the code “MOM”in the promotion code box on Ticketmaster.

Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required;

additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each.

Offer not valid on Rinkside or VIP seating.

Cannot be combined with other offers. Service charges and handling fees will apply.

Disney on Ice Discount Tickets!

Come experience
Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy
playing the Denver area with your family!
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU!
Purchase a 4‐pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday shows
or receive $4 off weekend tickets by entering the
coupon code: MOM**

Pepsi Center
(Purchase tickets from
www.tickethorse.com)
Dec. 4th: 7:30pm
Dec. 5th: 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30am
Dec. 6th: 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

The Denver Coliseum
(Purchase tickets from
www.ticketmaster.com)
Dec. 11th: 11:00am, 7:30pm
Dec. 12th: 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
Dec. 13th: 1:30pm, 5:30pm

**Get 4 tickets for $44 Monday‐Friday matinee, or $4 off weekend tickets by entering the code “MOM”in the promotion code box on Ticketmaster or Tickethorse respectively. Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Rinkside or VIP seating. Note: Denver Coliseum Box Office opens on Nov. 23rd. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service charges and handling fees will apply.