Feeding a Crowd and Feeling Regent

Feeding a crowd is not easy or economical these days, but here is a fun recipe from the Jane Austen Centre that allows you to do just that. I plan on trying it soon, just because it's so easy and I have all the ingredients on hand, and I want to "feel Regent" while feeding my particular crowd, (if mac and cheese can be even remotely Regent, I'll make it Regent).


From the Jane Austen site:
"This recipe, from Martha Lloyd's Household book, looks as though it could be an early version of baked macaroni and cheese. It is actually a form of pasta in Alfredo sauce. Use any type of pasta (shells, elbows, etc.) though it looks beautiful with penne."

Stew a quarter pound of pipe macaroni in milk and water until it is tender, then lay it on top of a sieve to drain. Put it into a stew pan with two large spoonfuls of grated Parmesan cheese, a quarter pint of cream, a small piece of butter and some salt. Stew it gently 'till the whole seems well done and then put it into a dish. Strew grated Parmesan cheese over it, and brown it with a salamander or in a Dutch oven. It may be done with gravy instead of cream if preferred.

Find out who Martha Lloyd was.

Autopsy of a Book

Raw.Exposed.
Delicate.
It's beauty, Vulnerable and uncensored, Shines out in every flaw.

I've Missed the Sun

I went outside this morning and could just feel spring. While there is still some snow on the ground, I felt more, the warmth of the sun's rays, reaching its kindled tentacles from miles in the sky to permeate my skin. I've missed the sun, and it felt good to be warmed by it again. Prelude of more to come!

Photo credit - Frost-Covered White Birch Trees with the Sun Rising Behind by Raymond Gehman



This post was actually written several days ago. Outside my window right now is a cold wet rain.

Eavesdrop on the Trees

"I say, look at the trees," - Edna O'Brien
I say sit beneath the trees while the breeze blows.
Smell their spring boutonniere
Gather their colorful leaves into blithe bouquets.
Eavesdrop on them at dawn and dusk.

Charlotte Bronte's Most Famous Story

The new Jane Eyre is coming this March, and it's being described as a "darker, more gothic" treatment of Charlotte Bronte's most famous story. I always welcome new adaptations of my favorite books, so I'm looking forward to seeing what they make of it.

Watching the trailer, it almost feels a bit like Wuthering Heights, which I've always found to be a tad too dark for me, (both the book and most of the films). Not to play favorites, but Jane Eyre is by far my favorite Bronte story and Emily Bronte is by far my favorite Bronte. There you have it.

Regardless, I'll happily be watching this new version, and I love the official movie poster, too. Nicely done!



















Oh, wait, how did this get in here?

Love at First Bite