Archive for March, 2012
The Help
Written by Rocky Mountain Woman on March 30, 2012 – 6:02 am -
I am pretty sure that I am the last person in America to read this book, but if I’m wrong and there are still a few of you out there that are kind of slow like me, READ THIS BOOK!
I typically avoid reading the latest best sellers because I have this stupid idea that they are usually drivel. That attitude has certainly led me astray before and this time is no different. This book is not drivel. It is a beautifully written, character driven novel, definitely not drivel.
It’s the story of a young woman in Jackson, Mississippi, who challenges the status quo between whites and blacks, even in her own family. She was raised by a black maid, Constantine, who disappeared while she was attending college. In an attempt to understand her world, she begins talking to the maid of one of her friends. With the help of a New York editor, she stumbles around Jackson gets engaged and unengaged, learns a lot about race relations in the volatile 60′s, and a lot about her own feelings towards people of a different color, and, in the process writes a book.
What I loved about this book was watching the characters grow as people during the process. The maids, as well as the author find new ways to look at their world.
They become braver as the book progresses, more in charge of their own destinies. At the beginning of the book they are all trapped in their own limited world, but by the end all of them have attained a degree of freedom they never expected to enjoy.
I haven’t seen the movie yet, but plan to this weekend.
Buy this book!
xxoo,
RMW
Posted in She Loves | 9 Comments »Spicy Chicken with Chilis
Written by Rocky Mountain Woman on March 28, 2012 – 12:17 pm -
This post is in honor of the letter “S” and part of Jenny Matlock’s Alphabet Thursday. For more “S” posts, please click here http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/
This will get your motor running! Not for the faint of palate though…
Ingredient list:
1 lb of chicken thighs, more or less
3 t canola oil
3 t cornstarch
pinch of kosher salt
few grinds from the pepper mill
1 sliced onion
3 t sweet paprika
1 t ground cumin
2 cloves garlic
1/2 t chili powder
2 t fish sauce
1/3 cup water
1 crushed dried red pepper or 1 T red pepper flakes
2 Poblano peppers, seeded and sliced
2 Anaheim peppers, seeded and sliced
Rinse the chicken under cold water and mix with 1 1/2 t cornstarch and 1 t oil in a large bowl, sprinkle with salt and pepper and let sit for 15 minutes
Heat remainder of the oil in a large skillet and brown the chicken on all sides
add onion and saute a few minutes
slice and seed and/or crush all of the peppers (if you don’t have a dried red pepper, just throw the red pepper flakes on top of the fresh peppers)
add paprika, cumin, garlic and chili to skillet and move the chicken around so the spices get mixed up a little
add peppers
cook for a few minutes until the onion and peppers soften
mix remaining cornstarch, fish sauce and 1/3 cup of water, whisking until it’s smooth. Add more water if it can’t be poured out easily.
add it to the skillet
Cook for a few more minutes until the sauce thickens, adjust salt and pepper and add a little more chili powder (if you are really brave!)
Serve on rice with a cold beer, or maybe a refreshing semi dry Reisling!
Print This Recipe
Tags: chicken, Main DishesPosted in She Cooks | 26 Comments »
Middle of the Week Sipping!
Written by Rocky Mountain Woman on March 27, 2012 – 6:42 am -
I picked this up for about $8.00 at the wine store a few days ago. I had a rump roast in the freezer that needed to be used up and had decided to make a pot roast on Sunday so I was looking for a nice inexpensive wine to serve with my nice inexpensive dinner. This wine was wonderful! It was fruit forward and had a nice finish. I’m going back to buy a half dozen bottles. At this price, it’s just perfect for middle of the week sipping!
Posted in She Drinks! | 2 Comments »