Weekly Menu #534 And The Book Of The Week

 


Hello Monday. Welcome back to the weekly menu where I share all the delicious recipes we will be making this week.

I managed to read a few books last week. Between Doctors appointments, taking the kids to school and work, my book count is 3. One of those books was a hefty 648 pager that took me several days to finish. I'm finally making headway on those backed up reads I've had hanging out for a while.

This weeks read is The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden. Arden is one of my favorite authors and I'm excited to dive into this one. Come back to see the review.

Well, lets get to the weekly menu. Enjoy!

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Crockpot Chicken Parmesan Soup

Kids - Nutritional Yeast Chicken Noodle Soup

 

Tuesday

Thai Chicken Basil

Kids - Chicken Tenders and Rice

 

Wednesday

Beer Battered Fish Tacos

Kids - Refried Bean Tacos

 

Thursday

Louisiana Red Beans and Rice

Kids - Cheesy Orzo

 

Friday

Trejo's Grilled Chicken Tacos

Pg 94 of Trejo's Tacos

Kids - Cheese Quesadillas

 

Saturday

BLT Salad

Kids - Bacon Grilled Cheese

 

Sunday

Leftovers Night

Sunday Confessions #227

 


Hello Sunday. Welcome back to my confessions where I recap what's happened on the blog in the last week.


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Weekly Menu #534 And The Book Of The Week
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Book Review: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
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November 2023 Wrap Up
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Book Review: The Ickabog by J.K. Rowling
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Sunday Confessions #228






Binge watching The Great season 2. This show is absolutely ridiculous, but I love it. 


128/100 2023 Reading Challenge



With the stress of the holiday last week, I didn't read much. It was a pretty rough day, but hoping to get back to a good reading vibe. Happy reading, friends.

Book Review: The Godhead Complex by James Dashner

My book review of The Godhead Complex by James Dasher.

Title: The Godhead Complex

By: James Dashner

Genre: Dystopian

Pages: 272

Release Date: November 14th, 2023

Publisher: Akashic Media Enterprises

Rating: ★★★☆☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:

The Second Book in The Maze Cutter Trilogy Sadina and the islanders are up against both man and nature as they navigate their way to Alaska to see the Godhead, but the Godhead itself is fractured. Within the cracks of the sacred trinity, secrets are revealed that blur the lines of good and evil. One person’s God is another person’s Devil. Isaac and Sadina are forced to split up, and while Minho holds the rest of the group together, it’s his beliefs that are slowly falling apart. What once drove Minho to join the Godhead is causing him to question his past and his future. Sadina finds something life changing in The Book of Newt, and her mission to save the world becomes even stronger. But while on his own, Issac meets a new traveler with a mission and learns that the cure isn’t what it once was thought to be, the immunes aren’t as immune, and the world as a whole is evolving in a dangerous direction. In Alaska, the Crank Army awaits to unleash its fury on the Godhead, ending Alexandra’s reign before it begins but nature and evolution become an even greater threat than all the Cranks in the world. Beliefs change, futures are rewritten, and not even the Godhead knows what will happen next.

 

Add on Goodreads

 

Review:

Nothing can ever compare to The Maze Runner. Not even this book. James Dashner is a wonderful writer, but his continuance of this second series just makes me sad. Let it go.

I found the story a bit slow moving and cumbersome. The characters were on a journey, but that was all they were doing. It was hard for me to find the adventure in it, or the connection to the characters.

I'll probably read the next book in the series since once I start something, I have an obsession to finish it. Crossing my fingers I will be able to connect a bit more.

Recipe: Homemade Sausage Stuffing


I know Thanksgiving is over for 2023, but make sure you save this recipe for next year, or even for your next family meal.

Stuffing has always been a bland side dish that came from a box, but this recipe has a hint of Sage and a bit of spice from the sausage. It can also be used as a full meal or still a side dish.

Enough of the talk of stuffing, lets get to the recipe. 

Course: Side Dish

Servings: 6-8 people

Time to Make: 1 Hour 10 Minutes


Ingredients:

1/4 Cup unsalted butter

1 TBS olive oil

1 lb Italian Sausage (I like turkey)

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 cup sliced celery

Salt and Pepper

2 TBS fresh sage

1/4 fresh parsley

1 large egg

1 lb sourdough bread (or gluten free bread)

2 1/2 cups chicken broth


Instructions:

1. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9' by 13' baking dish.


2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add Italian sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon into small pieces. Cook until no longer pink. Once cooked, remove from skillet and set aside for later.


3. Using the leftover sausage grease or more olive oil, add chopped onion and celery to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until tender. About 5 to 7 minutes. Add sage and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from skillet, and add to the bowl with sausage. Let cool for about 5 minutes.


4. Once cooled, add parsley, egg and bread, stirring until combined. Add chicken broth, continuing to stir mixture until the broth is absorbed, but not soaked.


5. Transfer the mixture to the baking dish. Dot with butter. Bake until warmed through and the top is crusted and brown. About 40-45 minutes.


Book Review: Making It So by Patrick Stewart

My book review of Making It So by Patrick Stewart.

Title: Making it So

By: Patrick Stewart

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 480

Release Date: October 3rd, 2023

Publisher: Gallery Books

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Summary from Goodreads:

The long-awaited memoir from iconic, beloved actor and living legend Sir Patrick Stewart!

From his acclaimed stage triumphs to his legendary onscreen work in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, Sir Patrick Stewart has captivated audiences around the world and across multiple generations with his indelible command of stage and screen. Now, he presents his long-awaited memoir, Making It So , a revealing portrait of an artist whose astonishing life—from his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to the heights of Hollywood and worldwide acclaim—proves a story as exuberant, definitive, and enduring as the author himself.

 

Add on Goodreads

 

Review:

My childhood memory of Patrick Stewart was his role in Star Trek the Next Generation. To me, he was a staunch man who was serious, a good leader, but of course, this was just his roll in the show. After reading this memoir, I've seen a whole other side of Patrick Stewart and come to adore him even more.

The childhood stories portrayed within these pages brings me back to a time before I can remember. It was interesting to read, easy and intriguing. There was heartache and joy. All the things that make a good story. And hidden between those words, a glimpse into the real Patrick Stewart. I no longer see him as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, but as an amazingly deep Shakespearean actors, father, friend and person. 

This book deserves all 5 of the stars I can give. The ease of reading and story telling was wonderful. I found myself lost in the pages. A great read. Would highly recommend.

Weekly Menu #533 And The Book Of The Week

 


Hello Monday. Welcome back to my weekly menu where I share all the wonderful recipes we will be trying this week.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving filled with good food and people who actually make you feel good. Not the narcissists you are somehow obligated to see because they are family. We had one of those gatherings and let me tell you, its so predictable how it turned out.

Anyway, enough about the dramatic side of the family and more about the books. This weeks read is The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab. I love this author and even though I have dipped into this book a little bit already, I'm still very excited to finish it. Its already intriguing at 4% of the way in.

Lets get to this weeks menu. Enjoy!

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Mongolian Chicken

Kids - Beef Ramen

 

Tuesday

Cheesy White Bean Tomato Bake

Kids - Biscuits and Cheese

 

Wednesday

Chicken Souvlaki

Kids - Cheese Pizza

 

Thursday

Pork Schnitzel and Mashed Potatoes

Kids - Chicken and Fries

 

Friday

Spaghetti Night

Kids - Mac and Cheese

 

Saturday

BLT Salad

Kids - Bacon Grilled Cheese

 

Sunday

Leftovers Night

Sunday Confessions #226

 


Welcome back to my Sunday confessions where we recap what's happened on the blog in the last week.


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Weekly Menu #533 And The Book Of The Week
~
Book Review: Making It So by Patrick Stewart
~
Book Review: The Godhead Complex by James Dashner
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Sunday Confessions #227









Catching up on The Ready Room after the season finale of Lower Decks.


128/100 2023 Reading Challenge



I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm hoping to post some recipes that we enjoyed from the big day soon. If you don't already, follow me on Instagram where I share those recipes first.

Happy reading, friends!