Much Ado About . . .: African Peanut Soup

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

African Peanut Soup

Two rainy days and a refusal on my part to concede and fire up the furnace again = a need for hot, spicy soup. I was jonesing for PCC's African peanut soup but the soup bar failed me, so I whipped up something similar on my own. Spiced with fresh ginger, cumin, curry powder, coriander and jalepeno, and mellowed out with almond butter, sweet peppers, onion and fire-roasted tomatoes, this one is hitting the spot. Threw in peanuts and some leftover rice for texture and it is a great "heat up the house from the inside out" meal.

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Recent Reads

The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency: My mother has been raving about this series for a long time now, but as I am not that into mysteries I never bothered to check it out. However, after viewing the HBO version I decided to give the books a try and wow, not what I was expecting. I am chuckling aloud as I read, and am truly enjoying the characters, culture and philosophy of these books. I also hear, via mom, that the audiobooks are to die for as the reader, Adjoa Andoh, is truy a great listen.
Belong To Me:Marisa de los Santos. This was the first book I've picked up in a while which I really enjoyed. The kind where I would stay up too late reading it. Good characters, interesting story, very easy read. Lovely!
Stolen Innocence: Elissa Wall. Yikes! Not the best writing but an intense topic.
The Whole Truth: David Baldacci. Airplane book, just right for the flight too and from Minnesota. Very little brain power required, but distracts you from the misery that is Northwest Airlines.
The Wordy Shipmates: Sarah Vowell
Certain Girls: Jennifer Weiner
How to be Single: No, this is not a self-help book. Just a novel by an author whose other book titie is "He's Just Not that Into You," which to me was enough of a reason to check it out. This book was pretty disappointing, though, so I can't recommend it.
Best Friends Martha Moody. Enjoyed this one quite a bit, though perhaps not as much as "Office of Desire."
Good In Bed:Jennifer Weiner.
Eat, Pray, Love: Elizabeth Gilbert
Run: Ann Patchett. I loved this book, and this author.
Acceptance:: Susan Coll. Grabbed this one off the new arrivals shelf in the library. It was about high school seniors and their parents going through the absurdities of the college application process in a town full of over-achievers. I enjoyed it.
No Second Chance: Harlan Coben.
Just One Look: Harlan Coben. I stumbled on this author on my recent trip and got hooked on the style. Psychological thrillers, not too cheesy, fast read.
Life's a Beach: Claire Cook. This was a beach read. Not great, not bad.
I Love You, Beth Cooper: Larry Doyle. I didn't really enjoy this one.
The Gatecrasher: Madeleine Wickham. This author also writes under the pseudonym Sophie Kinsella. The SK books are some of my favorite "pink books," and the MW books are slightly more serious but also nice light summer reading.
When You are Engulfed in Flames: David Sedaris
Skeletons at the Feast: Chris Bohjalian. One of my favorite authors. This book was a bit of a departure from some of his other novels -- more of a historical fiction than an examination of a current topic. But well written as always. Not a light topic (World War Two).
The Office of Desire: Martha Moody. I enjoyed this one and found the writing very good. The author had a very challenging and well done approach to the narration, where she managed to get many points of view filtered through 2 narrators. The plot unfolds as the characters deepen. I felt it was very real.
Up High in the Trees by Kiara Brinkman: Bought this today before going to get my hair done, and finished all but about 30 pages sitting in the chair at the salon. It was a fast read (obviously) about a family of 5 who loses the mother, told from the perspective of the youngest child, an 8 year-old boy. I enjoyed it, and didn't find to it too terribly heavy despite the topic.
Plenty: This book fits in nicely with my obsession with reading about local food, sustainable argiculture, and connecting with what we are eating and why. Written with alternating chapters by its two authors, it has a bit of a playful back and forth that made me feel like I was getting more of the true story of this 100 mile diet experience, and not just what one author would want me to know. Also enjoyed the fact that they live in the Pacific Northwest, so more of their food choices are also local to me.
Bodysurfing Anita Shreve. Pick. Light but not too light. If you like her books, you will enjoy this one I think.
World Without End: Ken Follett Could be "book without end," given the hefty tome, but a fun read. Worthy of being called a "Follett," aka perfect for a long airplane trip but not a deeply intriguing work.
Pick: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (Barbara Kingsolver)

Recent Viewing

Glee: Oh, Glee, how I love thee . . . sadly, this show will be off the air until April, but happily, it appears to appeal to a wide audience and so it has made it over the hump and should be around for a while. At least I hope so, because the talent on this show is unbelievable. I really was hoping for guilty pleasure at best when I first tuned in, but it far surpassed my expectations, and is currently draining my iTunes budget while I console myself with the music until the show returns.
30 Rock Season 3:: I tried Season One when it started and didn't give it long enough, but now that Netflix (aka my last remaining link to anything remotely current in pop culture) is running the old seasons on their instant viewing feature (aka "somewhere in my youth, or childhood, I must have done something good") I have been laughing, snorting, and "lizzing" my way through the first 3 seasons of this show with glee. Perfect when I need a laugh or can only manage a short time to watch something.
Julia and Julia: Okay, so the link is to the blog, not the movie website, but if you're like me, you'll see the movie and then immediately google her to read the blog, and this will save you a step. Or add a step, since presumably you won't keep Much Ado open during the entire time you get yourself the DVD, view it, and then proceed. But do. Get this DVD, that is. A lovely light look at Julia Child's life interspersed with Julie Powell's year of cooking through the recipes of Julia Child. Watch it early enough to have a meal afterwards!
Burn After Reading: So awesome. The Coen brothers come through yet again. The cast is incredible, the plot is great, the quirky details of the characters are right on. Makes me want to start a library of Coen brothers' films so I can just watch them anytime.
The Office: (BBC) Watched these again in order (had seen a few) and appreciate them even more now after more seasons of the NBC version, and after watching "Extras."
The Kite Runner: It has been several years since I read this book, and I enjoyed remembering the story and seeing the filmmaker's choices in telling it.
Biggest Loser Couples:: I am thrilled to have another new season of Biggest Loser to enjoy. These people have an incredible journey ahead of them in the next few months, and I am inspired to take on my small challenges while I watch them take on their huge ones.
Homicide: Life on the Street: I didn't catch this series the first time around, but while I'm waiting for The Wire's next season to come out on DVD, I am enjoying the slow, character building style of this show by the much of the same creative team.
Smart People: I liked the way this movie was paced, the dialogue and the music.
Get Smart: Somewhat painful to sit through, given the slow pace of the laughs (and jokes that fell flat) of the first 2/3 of this flick. But had to see it, and got a few great belly laughs near the end.
Fingersmith BBC, good stuff.
Foyle's War: He's back! It seemed to take forever for this disc to arrive (it is popular, and deservingly so).
ER: Oh, I am so glad this show is finally calling it quits. I have managed to quit watching several shows to which I was addicted despite thinking they really suck (buh-bye, Grey's Anatomy, I don't miss ya!), but kicking the ER habit has proven too challenging to be worth it. I'm glad at least so far this season they have stopped having their own cast be the victims. Oops, except the fact that they killed off one of the best characters, in the ER no less. Sigh. We're almost done.
You Tube: Sarah Palin Bashing Videos Abound! I know, I can't help myself. Will refrain from posting the links. You know you've already viewed them yourselves.
Sex in the City, The Movie: Had to. Made me miss the show, though I did watch a few at the "villa" this summer and they seemed dated. Hm. Think I'm dated, too. But the movie was fun!
Extras: Fun, 30-minute episodes with lots of ridiculous situations and dry humor.
Entourage, Season 1: I'm only about 8 episodes in and I'm not sure the verdict yet. I do like the surreal Hollywood life aspect thus far, and the short episodes work for the time I have for viewing. I'll have to withhold comment for now.
Democratic National Convention. All Obama, all the time!
The Wire, Season 5: The addition of characters who work in the newsroom of the Baltimore Sun adds to an already excellent series.
30 Days: It seemed to take forever for season 2 to come out on DVD, but it was worth the wait. I did find Season One to be more cutting edge but the concept for this show is still a very good one.
Lars and the Real Girl: This movie had a lot to offer. It was funny and touching, and quirky of course.
The Closer: I gave up crime shows a while back after a Law and Order overdose caused dreams about murder and death, but I think I've had a long enough hiatus because I am really enjoying this show.
Saving Grace: Holly Hunter = bad ass.
Flight of the Conchords: I only made it through an episode and a half before sending the disc back. I thought the song parodies were funny but didn't have the patience to wait through the plotline. I have the feeling this show might grow on you, but I don't have the time to wait and see at the moment.
Vitus: This one sat around in my basement for a long time before I finally watched it. As I expected, I wondered what took me so long as I really enjoyed it. I think it's just the case that I am watching fewer full-length movies in favor of shorter tv episodes. Plus reading more than viewing these days.
Shameless: Funny drama about an offbeat British family.
Mad Men: This is a great show. Good writing and acting, and lots of details that make it really fun to watch.
Death at a Funeral This was a fun, British comedy of errors type film. The link will show you the trailer.
Californication: Two words: David Duchovny
Rescue Me: Season 4: I'm enjoying Season 4 after a long wait for its release on DVD. It seems like it is not as violent as Season 3 (a good thing), but the plots are good and stand up to back-to-back viewing.
Good Food: I was lucky enough to see this at the Seattle Film Festival and stay for the Q & A with the directors and some of the farmers afterwards. This film may not have a wide release but I hope it does well because it has a very positive message while educating people about the importance of eating locally.
Pan's Labrynth: This was a movie that Netflix thought I would like, and I thought I wouldn't. Netflix wins. It had some difficult violence but a compelling plot. Not something I would have chosen for myself but sometimes it pays to trust Netflix.
Weeds: Season 3: So excited that this DVD is out! It has been a bit of a dry spell for DVD's and so far Season 3 is living up to the first two seasons.
The Diving Bell and The Butterfly: This was a pretty intense movie. I must admit I almost gave up on it in the first few minutes, but I'm glad I stuck with it. It is a topic of interest to me (not many other movies out there with a speech therapist hero) but I think it's a compelling story about communication and disability for a variety of viewers. Watch for the book to appear on my recent reads soon.