Friday's Favorites Fare

READING:  The Great Upheaval: America and the Birth of the Modern World (1788-1800) by Jay Winik.  Ooh, la la, Mark brought this home and said, "You are going to love this book."  He bought it for himself, I think, but right away offered to share it with me, as in I'm encouraged to read it simultaneously while he is at work, etc., as he probably deduced I would steal it one way or another anyway.  America, France, Russia, the Age of Enlightenment, etc., what's not to love here?  Starts after the Revolutionary War, encompasses the embracing of the ideas/ideals of such and how they led the way for the storming of the Bastile and the revolution in France, the uprisings in Russia, etc.  Washington and all the usual players in America, Louis XVI and all the usual revolutionaries in France, Catherine the Great (and her son Paul after her death in 1796), and all the usual suspects in Russia...oh, I am a happy camper!  Everything else around here can wait.  Just kidding, but this book is excellent.  Steamships and canals...again, on hold.  Just not enough time in a day. 

LISTENING TO:  Mozart's Requiem...Totally depressing for May, I know...I am blaming Nancy E...she started it.

COOKING THROUGH:  Le Cordon Bleu at Home (Le Cordon Bleu School of Cooking), this week's assignment is Salade de Foies de Volailles Tiedes (Salad of Warm Sauteed Chicken Livers), pages 306-307; Baking:  From My Home to Yours (Dorie Greenspan), this week's recipe is Chipster-Topped Brownies, and can be found on page 94-95; The Bread Baker's Apprentice (Peter Reinhart), this week's recipe is Greek Artos (Celebration) Bread, and can be found on pages 111-114.  You can cook/bake along, too!

FAV NEW FIND:  Brotforms...am getting ready to learn how to make baguettes.

FAV THING TODAY:  Early morning swim:  Let the summer begin!

GOING TO:  This is easy:  stay home as much as possible...it is Indy 500 Weekend here and no one in their right mind thinks getting around the city in this amount of traffic and craziness is using the better part of reason.  A time to get the yard/gardens in shape, swim, watch movies, cook out, and let people make their way here if so desired, but staying put is my idea of a lovely lovely Memorial Day Weekend.  I am not a race fan, can you tell?  Now, the Final Four here next year is a different matter altogether.

PRAYING FOR:  Safe travel for all the travelers this weekend, please join me.