Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Cassa Star on Sale, Bowling and Alleys, Another Book.

I have just heard that our Ninja Captain and famous blogger, Alex J. Cavenaugh, the Kindle version of  his book Cassa Star on sale this week. It's on Amazon for 99¢



I have read this, a very exciting and enjoyable story. Not only that, I have read all three books in this series. I thoroughly recommend them.

Today there were just two people on our bowling team. Matt and I. Matt had a very good game with his last one being 212. Nuff said. Our team has been reduced to four people now because one member doesn't have transport and felt awkward, guilty, embarrassed, to have either of the other two pick her up although they were both willing to do so. They neither of them lived very close to her. Such a pity, a really nice woman. There is one other bowling alley in our town and we were told last week, which I had forgotten, that the other alley, Victoria Lanes, has just been sold. We are supposed to bowl there with the winter league in January so the person who organises this will have to get in touch with the new owners. Everyone was surprised at the sale, even the alley owners apparently.

Many of you will know Jim Butcher's books, particularly The Dresden Files. I am presently reading his first book in a new series. It is called The Aeronaut's Windlass. I can recommend that too, wholeheartedly. A good start to The Cinder Spires series. Someone described it as futuristic, dystopian, steam punk.


This sounds like an interesting recipe. I have only just learnt, after all these years, that one can eat radish greens. Mind you, I didn't know you could eat beet greens til I came to Canada. They taste a bit like spinach. Had never heard of eating them in England 40 odd  years ago.

Spaghetti with Radish-Greens Pesto

Food and Wine

Radish greens make a superfresh, flavorful pesto. You can also use beet or turnip greens.

Ingredients

  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • Greens from 1 big bunch of radishes (8 loosely packed cups), chopped
  • 1/4 cup parsley leaves
  • 3/4 cup roasted salted pumpkin seeds (3 ounces), plus more for garnish
  • 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus more for garnish
  • Kosher salt
  • Pepper
  • 12 ounces spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, combine the garlic, greens, parsley leaves and the 3/4 cup of pumpkin seeds; pulse until finely chopped. With the machine on, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Stir in the 1 cup of cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
  2. In a pot of salted boiling water, cook the spaghetti until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water. Return the pasta to the pot. Add the pesto, lemon juice and 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Season with salt and pepper and toss over low heat until coated, about 2 minutes; add more pasta water if a thinner consistency is desired.

  3. Transfer the pasta to bowls and garnish with pumpkin 

Have a great day
 

16 comments:

  1. Hi Jo - organising things can be challenging .. and definitely not helped by the alley being sold - hope it works out and your league can continue during the winter. Alex' books are amazing ... while the Spaghetti sounds delicious. Cheers Hilary

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    1. It should be OK Hilary, if not that alley, another no doubt. I do so agree about Alex' book. Have you ever eaten radish greens before?

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  2. What would be a perfect game for the kind of bowling that you do? I know you use less than the usual 10 pins.

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    1. I can never remember myself JoJo so I Googled. This is what they said:

      A perfect score is 450, requiring 12 consecutive strikes bowled in the same game without fouling. It does not happen as frequently as in tenpin bowling. The Canadian 5 Pin Bowlers Association sanctions from 15 to 30 perfect games annually.

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  3. Thanks for mentioning my book today, Jo! And the recipe sounds great.

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  4. What are the 'greens'? Are they the leaves off the top? Aren't some leaves poisonous... like rhubarb leaves? Not that I'm suggesting you're trying to poison us Jo :) I'm just not sure what you mean by greens.

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    1. Yes, the leaves off the top in both radishes and beetroots can be eaten. You are right though, don't munch any rhubarb leaves Pinky. I have never tried radish leaves but as I said, beet leaves are reminiscent of spinach. Just shows you I have thrown away pounds of food over the years because I didn't know you could eat it.

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  5. Hi human, Jo,

    Pawesome news about Alex. Will you be having a bowling Christmas party? Thanks for the recipe which looks quite a healthy option.

    Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses,

    Penny xx

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    1. Hi Penny. Yes we will be having a bowling part for Christmas. Not quite sure when yet though.

      Pawsitive wishes and lots of licks to you too.

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  6. Aww, what a shame about your bowling friend. I definitely understand the struggles of no transportation!

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    1. It is a shame Carrie, although two people were happy to pick her up.

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  7. A nice shout-out for Alex and his books. I hope the bowling place doesn't close. It's always scary when a place changes hands

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    1. At least our bowling alley is OK for the moment, but I agree, I would hope the other place doesn't close Birgit.

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