Yes, Mollusc and I made meringues today. Not being the type to let anything sans chocolate be considered a proper dessert, we chopped up a bunch of semisweet choolate and stirred it in. :) I have to say that they are delicious!
Speaking of Mollusc, how would you like the chance to make an impression on a young, moldable child's life? I'm putting together the year's reading lists for all of the kids and am taking suggestions mostly for Mollusc. At 11.5, she reads and enjoys many kinds of fiction and nonfiction, lately coming more and more from the adult section at the library. She reads and comprehends at a college level (right now she's reading my review book and laughing as she goes) though we are still avoiding really heavy stuff on the socio/emotional level. I think this would be a great time for me to compile a broad list of titles from which we can choose over the next year, and hopefully even have more left over for the next year or two. And maybe you all will suggest things that might otherwise get overlooked. Feel free to suggest books from any genre you like. My one caveat - she has a high disregard for books with cruelty to animals, or those in which the main animal dies at the end ("Old Yeller" is right out but "No More Dead Dogs" would get a nod of approval) and is not a fan of anthropomorphic animals. (not that many older children/adult books have those)
Busy Thursday looms large, but for now I'm going to watch I ♥ Huckabees and then read more Outlander #2.
Maybe the next dance/food will be salsa. ^_^
22 comments:
Oooh! Put mangoes and peaches in your salsa! Yum.
Meringues are so much fun to make. Yours look great.
As for books... hmm. Let me think. Do you think you can get a copy of 'Each Man's Son' or 'Barometer Rising' by Hugh MacLennan in the States? I loved those books. And 'The Stone Angel' by Margaret Laurence. I also really loved 'The Beet Queen' by Louise Erdrich and 'Jacob Have I Loved' by Katherine Paterson.
I read almost everything I could get my hands on growing up.
Why is it that right when I make a resolution to diet, everyone posts about FOOD?! Stop torturing me like this.
I'll ask my daughter the bookworm, who sounds much like yer angel. My all time favorite is To Kill a Mockingbird...so I'd definitely suggest that.
I need Wonka-Vision right now.
Candace, I just received in the mail a copy of Sylvia Townsend Warner's "Kingdoms Of Elfin", out of print, but available at several used/classic book outlets through Amazon. Mollusc might enjoy it. A few of the stories are included in Warner's collected stories volume at most libraries. They'll give you a taste of them.
They're remarkable, literate, and very entertaining "fairy stories" about the classic English species, if occasionally a tad cruel in the classic folk tale vein. Mostly they're romantic, witty and have a knack for creating a detailed, textured and believable, old-school parallel world.
Meringues look good. Aren't they called angel's kisses?
Oooh! How fun! I have a bunch of ideas for an 11.5 year old, but aren't baby books! I take it she's not reading Stephen King yet? I was when I was 11, but I was weird.
Heinlein has a large selection of really good books for young people. He is good because he doesn't talk down to them.
just suggestin'
In The Day The Earth Stood Still, when Michael Rennie said "Gort, Klatu, Merengue" I always expected the robot to break out dancing to a Xavier Cougat tune.
My 12-year old loved Ender's Game, The Wee Freemen and it's follow-up Pocket Full of Sky. I would also recommend Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart (love this book) and The Chronicles of Amber.
I thought the dessert was pork buns, which are just as yummy :)
"and is not a fan of anthropomorphic animals."
~ no, I LOVE anthros! XD It's too bad they don't write actual stories about them that often :,(
The meringues look delish! As for the reading list? I've had Maus on my mind of late and wishing I still had my copies. It's a bit heavy. I wonder if she would dislike it b/c it involves anthropomorphic animals, but that's the point - the whole hierarchy!
Shame on them. There are many many excellent desserts sans chocolate. I have a huge sweet tooth, but don't crave chocolate.
How's Fishy doing these days? Mollusc's book selection should include Death of a Salesman. There are many others that I can't think of, but I do love me a good nonfiction book.
... and yes, To Kill a Mockingbird is very good.
Wow, I have some great suggestions to follow up on. THANK YOU!
Jaichan - my nearly BIL made a great mango salsa. My SIl shoulda kept him for that alone. ^_^ I was able to put a hold on some of those at the library. YAY!
Snay - my sincere apologies. That kinda sucks. It does seem to tbe the way of things. Last year I gave up chocolate for Lent (I know - WHAT was I thinking?!?!) and everywhere I turned there were mouth-watering choco-recipies. :-P
Cindra - that would totally rock! :)
The Grunt - nah - you just need chocolate!
Mr. Fab - it was, indeed, a pun. But I appreciate your willingness not to laugh at me in case it wasn't. ^_^
Joe - That sounds awesome. Our library system doesn't have it, but I'm going to look for it online. Sounds like something I wil love, too! :) As for the meringues - I didn't know they were called that. This is only the second time I've ever had them, I think. But they're so easy to make, it will certainly not be the last now that I know how!
ARM - not yet, though I think my stepson was at 12 or 13. :) I'm looking forward to your suggestions. :)
Stag - I hadn't thought of Heinlein. Thanks!! :)
Joe - if you Google the word "gullible" you'll find a big ol' picture of moi. :-/ Yes, I fell for it. And I thought "how very odd!!" until I remembered it's "Klaatu barada nikto." :-P I guess my blondeness is coming out again.
Jess - Oh! I ADORE Ender's game! You're right! She'd be ready for that now. Cool! The other 4 are new to me, and are going on our list. Thanks! :)
Ashira/Mollusc - you mock them!! O_o Ah, OK, OK. so you like "grown-up" anthros, but not kiddie anthros.
L - Wow, Maus has been around a long time, hasn't it? I kinda remember picking it up when I was a kid. She might like it. I check the library. Thanks!
Egan - nope, sorry, those are not "desserts" they are just sweet things. Must have chocolate to be proper dessert. Ooops - resorting to Cave-Speak in my emphaticalityness. ;)
Fishy is feeling lots better, thanks. This morning he ended up leaving class partway through warmups because his tummy hurt, but then tonight, after MuNKi and I had sparring, he came up and kicked me in the hogu (chestguard) which is pretty high for him, so I think he's recovering pretty well. ^_^
I love TKaM. I want to look at it again and see how graphic the implied rape is. I think it was pretty subtle. It's definitely on the list, even if it gets saved for a year or two.
Thanks again, folks, and keep 'em coming if you think of more!! :)
i just love meringues. Having such a bad craving for them stuff now... can't find good ones in shops here.
can you send some?
You're in Indonesia, right? Argh. Have you got a power mixer? I can send you the recipe. It's super simple, but without a power mixer I think yur arm would fall off. :-P
How long does it take something to get from the States to Indonesia?
Here are just a few book suggestions. These were (and still are) some of my favorites:
A Great & Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray
She's Come Undone - Wally Lamb
The Giver - Lois Lowry
A Yellow Raft in Blue Water - Michael Dorris
Outsiders - S.E. Hinton
Beloved - Toni Morrison
Awesome! Thanks! Hey did you know there are 2 sequels to the Giver now? I've read "Finding Blue" but not the other one yet.
On the list they go. I really appreciate the great suggestions. :)
Candace,
What a lovely task--coming up with reading lists for kids! I'll definitely second The Giver, Ender's Game, and To Kill a Mockingbird--and I'd love to find the sequel to The Giver for myself.
Orson Scott Card has a great series, The Alvin Maker series, that is as delectable as Ender's Game. I think it starts with Seventh Son...
I also loved Madeleine L'Engle's books as a kid right through teenage-dom. Great, especially for girls. Most of the characters are introduced in the first few (easy reads)--A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, etc--but they continue on a higher reading level.
The Outsiders, great, but that might be a good one to save until she's hit with teen angst.
Hmmm...also, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Gary Paulsen books like Hatchet, Roald Dahl's Matilda (among others), Tom Sawyer, Little Women...gosh there are so many.
I would NOT suggest Animal Farm (anthropomorphized animals causing physical and psychological harm to one another).
(Egan--As wonderful as it is, isn't Death of a Salesman a wee bit, uh, depressing for an 11-yr old?)
Lady Bonds - sounds like you and I have the same tastes! Great list! Thanks. Keep 'em coming. ^_^
Looks a lot like the divinity my mom used to make. Any relation? To the candy, Candy, not my mom! Has your eleven point five year old cracked The Little Prince yet? Hugs from over here, G
I don't know. I think divinity is more like fudge, right? And these are really airy.
No Petit Prince yet. I remember finding it boring at her age, but maybe. . . I'll grab it from the library.:)
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