Apr 22, 2016

Five on Friday

I'm too pooped to pop, since I stayed up entirely too late reading a new book (see # 4 )

So, I will get cracking on this while I hide from my children. . .

1.  Lands End Canvas 


It's relaunched and it's really cute. If I still worked in an office, I'd be snatching up the colorful classic dresses and jackets for a bit of brightness and fun.  I'm pining over this little number, since I've never met a trapeze dress I didn't like.



2.  Gingham Trench Coat  


Also, I was walking through Sears the other day, and this darling trench coat at Lands End caught my eye- the pictures do not do it justice.  I'm waiting for a sale, but it will be a wardrobe staple next fall, winter and spring!


3.  Mama's Spinach "Quiche"


This isn't really a quiche, more like a sausage spinach pie.  Whatever it is, it's delicious, and has been a family favorite for as long as I can remember.  I was craving it the other day, so I dug out my copy of the Knoxville Junior League cookbook, and tried my best to remember all of Mama's modifications to the now unrecognizable original recipe.

Makes 2 pies
Ingredients:

1lb bulk sausage (I used Wamplers reduced fat)
2 cups grated cheddar
2 cups grated monterey jack or mozzarella
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup milk
1 bag frozen spinach, thawed, drained and the water squeezed out
1 bunch green onions, chopped (or one medium onion chopped)
3 eggs
Italian seasoning, or whatever dried spices you have on hand
2 prepared pie crusts

1.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Prick holes in the bottom of the pie crusts, and bake for 8 minutes.  Reduce the oven heat to 350.

2.  Brown the sausage and drain the fat.  Let cool while you combine the rest of the ingredients (I like to mix everything but the eggs, including the sausage, check for seasoning, then add the raw eggs.).

3.  Fill the pie shells and bake for 40-45 minutes.  YUM!

4.  The Headmaster's Darlings and All the Governor's Men.  


I stumbled upon  Katherine Clark's novel while perusing the Southern authors section at Red Dog Books over spring break.  My favorite bookstore for a reason.  A protege of Pat Conroy, I love her attention to detail and effortless creation of atmosphere.

"The Headmaster's Darlings is a satirical comedy of manners featuring the morbidly obese Norman Laney, an unorthodox, inspirational English teacher and college counselor for an elite private school in Mountain Brook, a privileged community outside of Birmingham. A natural wonder from blue-collar Alabama, Laney has barged into the exclusive world of Mountain Brook on the strength of his sensational figure and its several-hundred-pound commitment to art and culture. His mission is to defeat "the barbarians," introduce true civilization in place of its thin veneer, and change his southern world for the better. Although Laney is adored by his students (his "darlings") and by the society ladies (also his "darlings") who rely on him to be the life of their parties and the leader of their book clubs, there are others who think he is a larger-than-life menace to the comfortable status quo of Mountain Brook society and must be banished."

 And the reason I stayed up too late last night?  Her newest release.

"All the Governor's Men tells the intimate story of one Alabama election that seems so authentic and universal it could stand as a case study in the ruinous underworld of politics everywhere. . . . Katherine's novel illustrates how fools can disguise themselves as idealists, and even as heroes, until the mask of idealism falls away to reveal a grotesque--or, worse yet--an all-too-human visage beneath. . . . Her power as a novelist is on full display in her comic, shrewd and unflagging interrogation of the South on the cusp of reluctant but nonetheless metamorphic change."--Pat Conroy, from the foreword

Ignore the dopey, old lady like covers.  These are excellent, smart, beautifully written novels.  Read them!

5.  Color Grabber Sheets


In entirely housewifely news, I am quite taken with these little laundry helpers.  After Deeds had to wear slightly pink shirts all winter, despite my careful sorting of the kids' clothes, I decided drastic measures needed to be taken.  I simply put one of these sheets in every load of children's clothing I wash, and it picks up all of the excess dye from sneaky embroidery or stay pjs.  It's so satisfying to pull it out after the cycle, gray with all the color that's not discoloring their cute appliquéd tees.

I found them at Walmart, but I'm sure Amazon has them as well.


Also, I would be remiss not to add-
Rest in Peace Prince.

Thanks to Five on Friday ladies!
 

3 comments:

  1. Love the quiche.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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  2. Those color grabber sheets are genius! A dream come true, really, because I just ruined a cute pair of Owen's shorts. And that recipe sounds delish!!!

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  3. I had Big Feminist Outrage when they pulled and apologized for their really excellent Gloria Steinem interview -- called them to have my name taken off their list and everything. AND THE FIRE HAS COOLED. I don't know how I handle this.

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