The new kids on the block........

May 2009 Host: Jaci

Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks

Summary

This is a biographical account of two brothers, Nicholas Sparks and his brother Micah. Even though they both have very busy lives with a lot of responsibilities, they make the difficult decision to suspend their regular lives for three weeks and take a trip around the world together. As they visited exotic places such as Easter Island, the Killing fields in Cambodia, Peru, and the Ethiopian rock cathedrals, they reminisced about their unique childhoods which were spent in poverty and the tragedies they subsquently endured and how family helped them to get through those low points in their lives. The importance of family is stressed throughout. Humor is injected throughout the book, e.g. the author relays the tedium of the lengthy lectures on jars and bowls indigenous the the culture they are exploring at the time or how one of them as a child was given a carpenter's hammer by their parents for Christmas. The trip served as the background and inspiration for Nicholas Sparks to share his life story.

Discussion

-This was an easy and emotional read, there were many sad parts, expecially with unexpected loss of loved ones. This nonfiction book does read like fiction, it is well written, and we would recommend it to others.

-One particularly sad part was that Nicholas, as the middle child, often felt left out - he felt that his parents gave more attention to his older brother and younger sister. An example was that one Christmas, they all came downstairs to find brand new bicycles under the tree. Upon closer inspection, Nicholas discovers that his was his old bicycle with a new coat of paint, yet his brother and sister received brand new bicycles. We had a hard time understanding how a parent could do that to a child - or if maybe this was an exaggeration by the author.

-It was also obvious that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Nicholas and Micah's father was a workaholic. He held a regular job while attending graduate school and he rarely spent time with his family while the boys were growing up. Nicholas Sparks also described himself as a workaholic who spends about two months per year away from home.
　
　
Marley and Me by John Grogan

Summary

This is a story of a dog and his family. A young married couple (thinking that it would be great training for when they have children) decide to adopt a Labrador retriever, which is generally considered a calm breed. Unbeknownst to them, the puppy they adopt inherits some of his father's genes and we are regaled with tales of his incorrigibility. He eats everything and anything, including jewelry and clothing. He has a pathoogical fear of thunder storms which leads to even more of the seeming never ending damage to the couple's home and property. Marley (named after Bob Marley) grows up to be a hyper, yet loveable dog. This is an engaging memoir of a dog - it is funny, exasperating, and heartwarming.

Discussion

-The author is a good writer, he could make you laugh out loud or alternatively cry. The book was very well written and thoroughly enjoyable. We all agreed that it was an easy and entertaining read and so straight forward that we spent very little time discussing it.

Menu

Pot Roast with Vegetables

Smoked Pork Loin

Nutted Wild Rice

Potato Salad

Cream Puff Dessert and Cookies

Pot Roast with Vegetables

Smoked Pork Loin and Potato Salad

Nutted Wild Rice

1 cup (1/2 lb.) raw wild rice (I used a wild rice blend, that had brown rice in it)
5 1/2 cups chicken stock or water

1 cup shelled pecan halves

1 cup yellow raisins

grated rind of 1 large orange

1/4 cup chopped fresh min

t4 green onions, thinly sliced

1/4 cup olive oil

1/3 cup fresh orange juice

1 1/2 tsp. salt

freshly ground pepper to taste

1. Put rice in a strainer and run under cold water.

2. Place rice in a medium-size heavy sauce pan. Add stock or water and bring to a rapid boil. Adjust heat to a gentle simmer and cook UNCOVERED for 45 minutes. After 30 minutes check for doneness, rice should not be too soft. Place a thin towel inside a colander and turn rice into the colander and drain. Transfer drained rice to a bowl.

3. Add remaining ingredients to rice and toss gently. Adjust seasonings to taste. Let mixture stand for 2 hours to allow flavors to develop. Serve at room temperature.

Cream Puff Dessert

1 stick butter or margarine

1 C water (+ 1/4 C high altitude)

1 C flour (+ 3 tsp high altitude)

4 eggs

Boil together 1 stick butter and 1 cup water. Add 1 cupflour. Mix well. Pull off the heat and cool slightly. Stir in 4 eggs, one at a time. Mix well and spread into 9 x 13 inch greased pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 or 30 minutes. (Bake at 425 degrees for 20-30 minutes high altitude). Cool completely. Makes a pretty crust.

TOPPING

3 oz. box vanilla pudding

3 oz. box banana pudding

3 C milk

8 oz. pkg cream cheese

drizzle Hersheys syrup
(can use lite or sugar free of any ingredients) puddings can be changed

Take 2 boxes instant pudding. Add 3 cups milk and one 8 ounce package softened cream cheese. Mix together with a wire whip so lumps disappear. Pour onto cream puff crust. Spread 8 ounces Cool Whip on top of pudding and drizzle Hershey's syrup on top. Refrigerate. Keeps very well for days. The cream cheese gives the pudding a different, good taste.