A Gate at the Stairs

One can see shining steps
and think love is enough,
Then sit at the bottom and wait.
The climb up to sweetness needs more than my love:
Darlin', please just open the gate...
Can someone just open the gate? 

It was wonderful to see everyone last night and catch up on everybody's news.  Not to mention the book talk.

Next month we'll be at Saara's on the 30th to talk about The Hero's Walk.  July 21st will be at Wanda's and the book will be Elizabeth is Missing.
We still haven't made a decision about the book for August 18th at Jane's house.

Japanese Cheesecake

• 1/2 large package cream cheese 
• 1/4 cup milk 
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup white sugar, divided
• 3 egg whites
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• 3 tbsp flour
• 1-1/2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp lemon rind (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.  Line the bottom of a 7 inch round cake pan with parchment paper.  If the pan has a removable bottom you'll need to cover the whole thing with foil on the outside because you'll be baking this cheesecake inside a pan of water.

Warm the cream cheese and milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.  Stir until the cream cheese is melted.  Remove from heat and set aside.

In a small bowl beat egg yolks with half the sugar until light and fluffy (electric mixer) Fold in the cream cheese mixture and lemon rind.  Sift in flour and cornstarch, and stir until blended.

In a separate bowl, with clean beaters, whip egg whites with cream of tartar to form soft peaks.  Gradually add the remaining sugar and continue whipping to stiff peaks.

Fold egg whites and cream cheese mixture together. Pour into the prepared pan.

Put the pan inside a larger baking pan half filled with water.  Put them in the oven.  After 20 minutes, turn the heat down to 300 and continue to bake for 15 minutes more.

Once out of the oven, allow the cake to cool before removing from the pan.  Decorate with sugar or fruit.

Robins on my balcony

This is a photo taken a minute ago.  I've been expecting a fourth egg to be laid this morning, but it's nearly noon and the count is still three.  Hmmm....

Between the World and Me

It was the unveiling of Maureen's new home, a beautiful condo in a scenic location and a wonderful setting for the evening.  Thank you for hosting last night, Maureen.

The messages of Between the World and Me were bleak and discouraging but here's a more playful Ta-Nehisi Coates writing something completely different: The Return of the Black Panther. 

 

Next month (Thursday, May 26th) book club will be at my place to talk about A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore.

We looked ahead last night to choose dates and books for the summer months.  On June 30th we'll be at Saara's and the book will be The Hero's Walk by Anita Rau Badami. 

On July 21st we'll be at Wanda's and the book will be Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey.  

And on August 18th the book club will be at Jane's, with the book to be determined later on. 

Books mentioned last night:

• All Our Names by Dinaw Mengestu
• Act of God by Jill Ciment
• Family Life by Akhil Sharma
• The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton 
• The Venice mystery series by Donna Leon
• The Three Pines mystery series by Louise Penny

In advance of next month's discussion, here's Lorrie Moore speaking about A Gate at the Stairs.

The Green Road

After spending some time on US politics, and several other far-reaching issues, we settled down to a good discussion of The Green Road.  A big thank you to Lynda for hosting and bringing out the good tea set.  Also an introduction to smoked salmon candy which is way better than it sounds.

Next month we'll be reading Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. That will be at Maureen's on April 21st.

In case you like to read ahead the May book will be A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore.

Books that were mentioned last night:

• A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson 
• Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
• Minister Without Portfolio by Michael Winter
• The Illegal by Lawrence Hill
• The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
• Birdie by Tracey Lindberg
• The Hero's Walk by Anita Rau Badami
• Bone and Bread by Saleema Nawaz

Don't forget that Canada Reads will be on March 21st to 24th. You can watch it live-streamed on CBCbooks.ca at 10 am and on-demand later in the day.

Here's the poem by Richard Wright that supplied the title for Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me.

Fifteen Dogs

Interview of Andre Alexis on Ideas,  with Paul Kennedy.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/andre-alexis-fifteen-dogs-q-a-ideas-1.3466154

February Book Club

Thank you to Jo for welcoming us last night.  The fire was a nice touch on a crisp evening.

Please remember that next time we'll be at Lynda's on March 17th to talk about The Green Road.

Healthy Recipes from Susan

Cheesy Veggie Quinoa Bites

• 1 cup cooked and cooled quinoa
• 1 cup (about 4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup chopped vegetables cooked {steamed, roasted, etc}
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 egg

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray or oil.
2. Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix until thoroughly combined.
3. Divide the mixture evenly between the cups of the mini muffin tin, and press down to pack it in firmly.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.

Banana Bread

• 1 ¼ C mashed ripe banana
• 3 eggs
• ¼ C macadamia nut oil, coconut oil or cold pressed olive oil
• 2 tbs raw honey or organic maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp baking soda + 1 tbsp lemon juice (lemon activates the baking soda)
• 2 C almond meal
• ¼ C ground flaxseed or chia seed

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 320.
2. Combine oil, bananas, and eggs (by hand in a large bowl or with a good blender)
3. Add the next 4 ingredients and mix.
4. Add the almond meal and seed and mix well.
5. Lightly oil one loaf tin and coat liberally with extra almond meal or desiccated coconut. This will prevent the cake from sticking.
6. Spoon the batter into the tin. Decorate with sliced banana or chopped walnuts and a light sprinkling of cinnamon.
7. Bake at least 60 to 70 minutes. Bake 20 min., cover and bake 20 minutes. Bake uncovered the remaining time. A skewer in the centre should come out dry. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before turning out the loaf.

A Train in Winter

Yes, Friday the thirteenth was on Wednesday this month, and it turned out to be an excellent day to have book club after all. 
Thank you Susan for hosting.  We are hoping to get a couple of your recipes if you have time.

The book was thought-provoking about a difficult subject, certainly  worth reading and discussing.

We made plans for upcoming months, April and May.  On Thursday, April 21st we'll meet at Maureen's new condo to talk about Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
On Thursday, May 26th we'll be at my place (Marian) to talk about A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore.

And to recap next month will be at Jo's on Thursday, February 11th - Fifteen Dogs.  March's book club will be on Thursday, March 17th at Lynda's - The Green Road.

Also mentioned last evening:

• Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey
• Adult Onset by Ann-Marie MacDonald 
• Close to Hugh by Marina Endicott 
• Stalin's Daughter by Rosemary Sullivan
• Purity by Jonathan Franzen
• My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout  
• The Illegal by Lawrence Hill
• The Big Short by Michael Lewis
• Flash Boys by Michael Lewis
• The Witches: Salem, 1692 by Stacy Schiff