2009 Books

Hey!  Want to know all the books I read in 2009?  Here ya go!


January
Lisey's Story - Stephen King
The Mist - Stephen King
Nights in Rodanthe - Nicholas Sparks
The Fiery Cross - Diana Gabaldon
The Coma - Alex Garland
The South Beach Diet - Dr. Arthur Agatston
Brisingr - Christopher Paolini

February
Just After Sunset - Stephen King
Odd Thomas - Dean Koontz
The Host - Stephenie Meyer*
You Suck: A Love Story - Christopher Moore
Divine Justince - David Baldacci
The Boleyn Inheritance - Philippa Gregory*
Odd Hours - Dean Koontz
Storm of the Century - Stephen King*


March
A Dirty Job - Christopher Moore
A Homemade Life - Molly Wizenberg*
The Lucky One - Nicholas Sparks
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski
The Eyes of the Dragon - Stephen King*
The Husband - Dean Koontz
Sleeping with the Devil - Vanessa Marlow
Breath of Snow and Ashes - Diana Gabaldon

April
Breath of Snow and Ashes - Diana Gabaldon
The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove - Christopher Moore
Skinny Legs and All - Tom Robbins

May
Along Came a Spider - James Patterson
The Virgin's Lover - Philippa Gregory
The Constant Princess - Philippa Gregory
Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser

June
The Queen's Fool - Philippa Gregory
Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer

July

Fluke - Chrisopher Moore
Blackwood Farm - Anne Rice
Harry Potter & the half-blood prince
Harry Potter & the deathly hallows
eleven on top - janet evanovich

August

Full Speed - janet evanovich
The Other Queen - Philippa Gregory
The Island of the Sequined Love Nun - Christopher Moore

Sept

The Prometheus Deception - Robert Ludlum
Remember Me
Second Child - John Saul

Oct

Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris
Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris
The Magic Kingdom of Landover - Terry Brooks
The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart
The Black Unicorn - Terry Brooks
Wizard at Large - Terry Brooks
Club Dead - Charlaine Harris

Predator - Patricia Cornwell

Nov

Book of the Dead - Patricia Cornwell
A Kiss of Shadows - Laurell K Hamilton

Black Rose - Nora Roberts

A Caress of Twilight - Laurell K Hamilton

Seduced By Moonlight - Laurell K hamilton

A Stroke of Midnight - Laurell K Hamilton
A Kiss of Shadows - Laurell K Hamilton
A Lick of Frost - Laurell K Hamilton
Mistral's Kiss - Laurell K Hamilton

December
Swallowing Darkness - Laurell K hamilton
Guilty Pleasures - Laurell K Hamilton
Dead as a Doornail - Charlaine Harris
Definitely Dead - Charlaine Harris
Swan Song - Robert McCammon
All Together Dead - Charlaine Harris
My Soul to Lose - Rachel Vincent
Irresistible Forces - Brenda Jackson
Hide in Plain Sight - Marta Perry
Double Cross - James Patterson

* The starred books are the ones I consider favorite books read of all time.

Some of these books had been read before.  I love to re-read good books.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Okay, this is the recipe I've been so excited about the last week.  This is the Mediterranean Chickpea Salad, adapted from a New York Times recipe. 

 I got the idea from a salad I've eaten on the Portland Spirit.

Normally, I would use fresh tomatoes, but I subbed quality canned tomatoes due to the season.  I can't wait to try this in the summer.  For this version, I used frozen artichoke hearts, WHICH I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND AGAIN.   Use marinated artichoke hearts or ones stored in water.  The frozen ones have no flavor if they are not cooked.  Also, contrary to the picture below, I only used one jar of kalamata olives, but 2 cans of tomatoes.  Keep this in mind, although it can be a preference rather than a recipe requirement.

I forgot to take a pic of the cucumber, so here it is.

The dressing is only lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.  Use the proportions you prefer.  Usually recipes call for 2:1 oil vs. acid, but I like a 1:1 ratio instead.  Make a dressing you like.

A pic of the final dish.  Not too colorful, but so tasty.  Full of protein and veggies, it's an easy side or dinner entree.

Recipe:

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad:  adapted from The New York Times

2 cans chickpeas
8 oz artichoke hearts
1/2 red onion, chopped,
1 jar kalamata olives, halved
 1/2 cup roasted garlic cloves (optional, mine were from the olive bar and tasted of anise)
3/4 cup feta
2 - 15 oz cans good quality chopped tomatoes, or 2-3 summer tomatoes, chopped
1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup chopped herbs ( I used parsley and basil, but tarragon, chives or any other fresh herbs may be added to your taste)

Dressing

juice of one lemon
2-3 T good olive oil
1 T red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste.

A Recipe to Come

I had given up blogging for the past year or so, since I moved away from Portland, into the boonies they call McMinnville.  There are few good restaurants here, and, considering my new job, even fewer opportunities to try new recipes at home.  However, we seem to have developed a routine where I have some time to cook and some time to write, so I hope to revisit the blog.

The recipe to come is my inspiration to continue blogging.  It's a Mediterranean Chickpea Salad, and it's all I want to eat this week.

I hope to make it again in the next few days and take some pictures to post.

The idea came from a salad I had on the Portland Spirit, which usually has terrible food, but redeems itself with this salad.

See you soon!


Lisa