What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A True (As Told To Me) Story by Bess Kalb

I shared this one last Wednesday and have since finished it, but it bears showing again as it was a winner.  I rated it 10 out of 10 points on my rating system.  Usually I find it hard to rate a memoir, but this one's style was so engaging, and I felt I was there with the family.  I know I would love to read it again sometime.  Lovely, lovely book. 

The Perfect Gentleman: The remarkable life of Dr. James Barry by June Rose

Now I'm on to another non-fiction, this time a biography.  It just piqued my interest when I saw it on Kindle Unlimited.  A child prodigy born in early 1800s, came from poverty but had a few well-placed benefactors, began medical school at 10, served for decades as a surgeon with the British Army, and practiced many medical innovations.  When death came at age 56, it was discovered that the doctor was, in fact, a woman.

This seems like it had to be made up, but it is historically documented.  How have we never heard of this person?

Forgotten notes to myself...

 When I empty my pockets at the end of the day, I put any notes I've written myself that I feel are worth keeping in a little pile on my vanity, and there they stay till I get around to going through them.  Usually it is a quote, the name of a book I learned about from hearing an author interviewed, or a recipe.

Recently going through the pile I found this list:

• 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
• 2 bell peppers
• 6 slices bacon
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless/skinless chicken breasts
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• All in slow cooker?

That was it.  No instructions.  Since there is a question mark after the "all in slow cooker" I'm thinking that it was not originally a slow cooker recipe, but that I thought it could be.  

I do not remember a thing about where I copied this from, but it is in my handwriting.  Today I had everything in the fridge, Carey and Jared are driving home from visiting family, so I decided to give this a try to have in the slow cooker when they arrived home.   

I layered 3 slices of bacon on the bottom of slow cooker, 3 chicken breast halves (frozen), the cream cheese (I just kind of pinched off pieces and placed them onto chicken), sprinkled dressing mix over, then topped with the shredded cheddar.  (I didn't use any olive oil, as the bacon would render some fat since I put it in raw, and my slow-cooker liner is all non-stick.)  I had enough of everything to double the recipe, so I repeated these layers, then poured a cup of heavy cream over the top.  I set to 'high' slow cook setting for 4 hours.  

I'm serving it with linguine, green beans, and garlic bread.  I don't know yet how it will turn out, but it smells divine!  

...Several hours later...

(After awhile I realized that the delicious aroma smelled like jalapeńo poppers that Beau cooks on the grill or in the oven.  Those are seeded jalapeńos stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped with bacon.    This recipe's bell pepper, cream cheese, and bacon was very reminiscent.)

And here's how it turned out:

Thank goodness it worked out, as it really was a bit of a mystery.  It was yummy!  A nice Father's Day meal for Carey.

Hope all the dads at your house had a Happy Father's Day!

The Frugal Friday File 2021, week 24...

It's been an expensive week.

• Taxes got paid, so that took quite a chunk.
• Two separate instances of medical insurance not covering a service.  Now I have to find time to spend on the phone to figure it out.
• Picked up a new CPAP machine.  Now I'm crossing my fingers that insurance will cover it without more extra effort on my part.
• We went out to dinner for the first time in forever.
• I noticed that I've been paying for a Starz subscription without realizing it.

Successes:

1.  I cancelled the Starz subscription.  Also cancelled Prime Music Unlimited, which I love, but I only listen to at work.

2.  Carey and I have both been reading library e-books.

3. I came home for lunches.

4.  I brewed tea to cut down on soda purchase and consumption.

5.  I moved our savings accounts from the credit union to another institution.  It's driving me crazy.  At the credit union I could compartmentalize and know at a glance how much was designated for what.  Now it is all lumped together, and I'm afraid I'm going to lose track of things.  I know in my head that every penny is still safely in an account, but it gives me anxiety not to see it the way I'm used to.  It's making me rethink expenses and spending after Carey's retirement this fall.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

I finished this one last weekend.  (I am getting nothing done on weekends lately but reading!)  I almost stopped reading in the first chapter, as there were several points very early on that had me rolling my eyes at how Harlequinesque they seemed, but I read on and it got better.  Still, overall I didn't think it was this author's best work.

Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A True (As Told To Me) Story by Bess Kalb

Then started this one.  I find myself picking up a lot of memoirs lately and not enjoying them, but here I am again...I think because it is about a special relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter...but also that matryoshka cover!  Enjoying it.  The writing is spare and laid out in easy bites.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

I checked this e-book out from the library...one of those I saw on Kindle deal of the day, but checked the library website for e-book availability first...free is better than $1.99.  So many WWII novels out, and some are just meh, but enjoying this one more than I thought I would.

Seven random thoughts on the 7th...

Let's see how quick I can complete a 7 on the 7th...GO!

1.  I am SO tired of the extended deadline for tax season this year!  Has made my job a real hair puller.  (Our deadline in Texas is June 15 due to the severe winter storms and the ensuing problems.)

2.   Heard about nw drug approved for Alzheimer patients.  Hopes for progress.

3.  Eating up leftovers.  Meh.

4.  I made a cake yesterday, so at least there's dessert to look forward to.

5.  I had a minor disaster in home office a week ago, and haven't managed to find time to clean up the mess.  Need to go spend time in there tonight.  A shelf with lots of small bits stored on it fell off the wall...UGH!  I have to clean it all up and empty the whole desk so that Carey can get in there to rehang the shelf before he has to go back to work.

6.  Today is my Catiebug's 16th birthday!  Can't believe she is going to be driving!

7.  My car needs a thorough deep-clean wash and detailing.  

FYI:  Ten minutes...not too bad.  :)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Biloxi by Mary Miller

I heard the author interviewed a long time ago.  I never got around to looking for the book, but I never forgot the interview or the book.  Recently the book was a Kindle deal, so I clicked 'buy.'  I'm over a third through it, and the human characters are a little weird, but the canine character is adorable.