Aug 12th, 10
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The School of Essential Ingredients
by Erica Bauermeister
Berkley Trade
Paperback, 9780425232095, 272pp.
Take one look at this gorgeous cover and I’ll wager you’d love to be sitting on that beautiful bench, enjoying the scenery and life around you, holding yourself back just one more moment before heading inside so you can savor the anticipation of a delicious, sensual experience!
The School of Essential Ingredients, written by Erica Bauermeister, introduces us to Lillian and the students attending her cooking class. From an early age, Lillian was drawn to the kitchen, and discovered the magic in food and its preparation. As an adult, she shares that magic with her students and we’re lucky enough to receive some ourselves.
Each chapter in the book is devoted to a different student. Lillian chooses a new assistant from the class each week and we grow closer to that person as through each lesson they discover more about themselves, their relationship with food and the people in their lives. As we witness Lillian’s uncanny ability to read her students and nudge them in the right direction, in the kitchen and in life, I found myself wishing I could sign up for the next session.
I hesitate in giving too many details because I don’t want to spoil the fun and magic you’ll find in this nourishing and refreshing novel. It’s a quick read and you won’t regret the time you’ve spent between its covers. Erica Bauermeister’s next novel can not come soon enough!
| Rating |
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| Story |   |
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| A sensuous and well-crafted story you'll want to read again. |
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| Book Cover | |
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| Beautiful and inviting. |
| Overall | |
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| Truly magic. You'll feel the glow, I promise! |
(Originally posted at Sweet Reads on 5/24/10.)
May 29th, 10
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If our patterns of thought and behavior remain unchanged our lives will continue to unfold much as they have previously.
Repeated bouts of adversity are an unavoidable aspect of human existence. We battle against our inner struggles or outer world forces, and in many cases, we emerge on the opposite side of struggle stronger and better equipped to cope with the challenges yet to come. However, we can occasionally encounter trials that seem utterly hopeless. We strike at them with all of our creativity and perseverance, hoping desperately to bring about change, only to meet with the same results as always. Our first instinct in such situations is often to push harder against the seemingly immovable obstruction before us, assuming that this time we will be met with a different outcome. But staying power and stamina net us little when the same choices consistently garner the same results. A change in perspective, behavior, or response can do so much more to help us move past points where no amount of effort seems sufficient to overcome the difficulties before us.
Whether our intention is to change ourselves or some element of the world around us, we cannot simply wish for transformation or hope that our lives will be altered through circumstance. If our patterns of thought and behavior remain unchanged, our lives will continue to unfold much as they have previously. Patterns in which fruitless efforts prevail can be overcome with self examination and courage. It is our bravery that allows us to question the choices we have made thus far and to channel our effort into innovation. Asking questions and making small adjustments to your thought processes and behaviors will help you discover what works, so you can leave that which does not work behind you. To break free from those unconscious patterns that have long held sway over your actions and reactions, you will likely have to challenge your assumptions on a most basic level. You must accept once and for all that your beliefs with regard to cause and effect may no longer be in accordance with your needs.
Stagnation is often a sign that great changes are on the horizon. Courting the change you wish to see in yourself and in the world around you is a matter of acknowledging that only change begets change. The results you so ardently want to realize are well within the realm of possibility, and you need only step away from the well-worn circular path to explore the untried paths that lie beyond it.
Apr 26th, 10
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Turn on laptop and wifi - √
Feed and water cats – √
Quick, slip downstairs while the cats are eating and transfer load of laundry to dryer – √
Clean litter box – √
Make coffee – √
Eat breakfast (Corn Chex today) – √
Check emails – √
Shower and dress – √
Try to wake son – √
Make lunch for work – √
Try to wake son again by telling him how wonderful the day will be – √
Almost step on cats as they tear through the house after each other – √
Discover flat iron is dead – √
Make threats to son if he doesn’t wake up NOW… – √
Set out son’s breakfast as he grumbles – √
Kiss husband goodbye as he sleepily tries to register my presence – √
Out the door and a mad dash to the park-n-ride – √
Just another Monday
