Hello my most wonderful read alongers, hard to believe that we are over halfway through, kind of sad but fun at the same time. It has been a joy to read along with you. So many of your answers are full of things I've never thought about, which makes this even more fun for me!
Onto the super fun part, the awarding of last weeks prize and this was a big one if you pick the handmade gift (if you don't I'm making more brownies LOL)!
The winner of the PBS credit OR $5 Amazon Gift Certificate or Handmade bookmark with Brownie Kit is...
Sandy
Congratulations!
Please let me know which prize you would like cmoh@earthlink.net
Now onto the Clairvoyance section of the book. First a quick review of how this all works.
Below you will find a few questions. Answer them to the best of your knowledge in the comments section. Please number your answers (you do not need to re-type the questions) and leave a way for me to get in contact with you (e-mail, blog address, PBS nickname).
For each question you answer correctly I will enter your name in the cauldron for this weeks prize (1 PBS credit OR $5 Gift Certificate from Amazon OR a handmade gift by me). You have until Thursday September 15th at noon EST to answer the questions. The winner will be announced on next weeks Read Along questions and have 48 hrs to claim their prize (I will redraw at that point if contact has not been made).
This weeks handmade prize is a Bookmark and a blue silk flower hair pin (to wear when you are in trouble, for me that is always).
1. What has no fear of Jimmy's ghost?
2. What do the Aunts send Kylie for her birthday? How late is the gift?
3. What does Kylie cook and whose favorite is it?
4. What is sitting on Kylie's window sill and what does it give her?
5. What does Gillian o to help Sally out of her depression?
Bonus: There are 3 animals mentioned in this section what are they and what is their significance to the story?
Just for fun:
So how are you feeling about Kylie and Antonia now? Do you think it reasonable that the girls personalities would change so much with just one person entering their life (Gillian)?
What about Gillian do you like her more as a character now or less?
Have you noticed all the food mentioned in this book? There seems to be something in each chapter, why do you think the author did this? Do you think she did it intentionally?
How are you feeling overall about the book? Are you still enjoying it? What story line are you most interested in?
Cream of Carrot Soup with Fragrant Indian Spices
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh ginger root
1 pound carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
2 medium potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
7 cups chicken broth
1 can coconut milk
1 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste
Melt the butter in a large pot. Add the onions and cook until soft and lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Stir in the spices and ginger root. Cook about a minute. Stir in carrots, potatoes, chicken stock andcocnut milk, bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer 30 minutes or until carrots are very tender. Using a hand blender liquefy the contents of the pot. Add cream simmer 10 minutes, add salt and pepper and serve hot.
Welsh Rarebit
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup beer (I used Sam Adams Oktoberfest)
3/4 cup heavy cream
6 ounces cheddar cheese (I use extra sharp)
2-4 drops hot sauce
Rye bread
In a medium saucepan over low heat melt the butter and whisk in the flour. Cook whisking constantly for 2-3 minutes. Whisk in mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper until smooth. Add beer (drink remaining) and whisk to combine. Pour in cream and whisk until well combined and smooth. Add cheese, stirring constantly until cheese melts. Add hot sauce. Cut thick slices of bread and pour creamy cheesy concoction over it.
For the salad I just bought a bag of European mix and added some artichoke hearts that have been marinated and topped it with a bit of balsamic dressing. This is my new super fast super yummy salad.
Of course I couldn't leave out the chocolate cake, even though the one in the book had a rather traumatic ending. Here is my Hazelnut Expresso German Chocolate Cake with Black Cherry filling and Hazelnut Mocha Rum Icing (that is a mouth full I need a better name for this concoction).
I thought about adding decorations to it but decided Kaylie wouldn't have so I shouldn't. Taste the same regardless.
Alas there is no recipe, I made this one up as I went, If you really want me to figure it out I have no problem re-making this (and eating it) just let me know and I'll try to get that done next week.
Hope you are enjoying the book.
Next week (Friday September 16th) the Questions will be about the Levitation portion of the book. See you then!
7 comments:
ok i soo need to live by u so i can get a piece of that cake....
hugs
1.Bees don't fear Jimmy's ghost. Toads as well.
2. The aunts sent Kylie a small portrait of her ancestor Marie Owens two weeks after her birthday.
3.Kylie baked a cake that was Gideon's favorite kind.
4.A toad was sitting on Kylie's windowsill and it spit up Jimmy's ring.
5.Gillian made Sally get out of bed and go to the backyard and share margaritas. I thought what was cool was when Gillian told Sally her girls would still need her when they grew up.
Bonus: Toads & bees (were drawn to where Jimmy was buried, but the one toad brought the ring to Kylie-msg from grave? Maybe a portent of evil and dark), birds & squirrels (sense Jimmy and avoid the area), snake(Snake symbol was mentioned, but only it's it's viporous nature of harmful words and behavior), cats (thought to be dangerous if brought in house at night), groundhog (thought to predict the weather), rabbit(Ben had a pet rabbit named Buddy he used in his magic shows who was in love with Gillian) crow (symbol of bad luck), eel(eel skin was once to used to prevent rheumatism), spider & earwig (their bites didn't bother Maries little one), mice(didn't bother Marie's field), dog (onion for bites). Fox mentioned, not sure why. Prairie dog (Jimmy took pleasure in killing innocent critters and said Only good rodent is a dead rodent. It showed his vile side.) Wow!! If I counted right, I had no idea how many animals/critters were mentioned in this chapter. 17 of them unless I missed a few.
I love that Kylie and Antonia are rediscovering their sister love. It always takes adjustment time when another person enters the equation, and with Kylie searching for her identity, it made sense that she'd look to a somewhat strong willful persona to identify with.
I like that Gillian is finally discovering that she does not have to continue being a victim, and appreciate her character more since she isn't as self centered as she was in the beginning.
OMG yes, the food. The one that has me way curious is a fave of Gillian's called No Flour Chocolate cake. I'll definitely be making this sometime in the near future. Perhaps the author recognizes that food is basically like thread in a tapestry, and feels that food holds people/relationships together. It's also thought of as a healing aspect.. can soothe emotions, excite, etc. I think it's very possible her weaving in throughout the book of food relations was intentional.
I love the book, except honestly, I think the author could have left out the rather bold descriptions of sex. It is possible to get an idea across without strong words and description, creating visual with the use of subtlety impresses me way more. I think the author was hoping to grab the audience that needs those things to feed their interest so to speak. I am still enjoying the book, even though I've finished it. I love reading back through to glean the answers to your thought provoking questions, and seeing if I missed anything. I think the storyline I like most, is watching Sally come back to life. When her hubby died, it was like she died with him and became a robot on autopilot. Watching her bloom again is fabulous. And of course seeing how the family finds their way to that perfectly woven tapestry again is the bonus. Smiles, Sandy (sandyponey@yahoo.com)
Wow Sandy I think you picked up on a few animals i missed! It is kind of intense to see them all listed like that, makes me wonder how many of those animals the author has actually come across in her life.
The flourless chocolate cake, I have one every year for my birthday. It is scrumptious, but very very sweet. Which means it pairs perfectly with coffee which I might love more than cake LOL. i can't seem to look at my posts of pick up this book without wanting to cook and eat. I've already started on next weeks food that was insired by the book, a turkey dinner! So yes, next week i'm sure you will see images for that one and I can't decide what desert to make, I might have to make 2!
In the book (vs the movie) I never got a good feel for Sally so to see your take on her character is fun. I loved watching Gillian change.
Part III
1. Bees
2. Portrait of the family matriarch,Maria Owens. It was 2 weeks late.
3.Gillians favorite, a choc. chip pound cake with maple frosting.
4.A toad that gives her the ring.
5.Makes her margaritas! Olala
Bonus: Toads are everywhere. Common in rainy weather yet uncommon when they bring you a ring or hang in one spot.
A Rabbit comforts Gillian and of course there's Welsh rabbit.
Birds are mentioned a lot. Their chirpping or lack of, the Owl Cafe,"robins egg blue",a dead bird clogging the toilet and a the "call of the mockingbird."
I'll have to get back on later with the just for funs. Hugs!
1. What has no fear of Jimmy's ghost? - BEES AND TOADS.
2. What do the Aunts send Kylie for her birthday? How late is the gift? - SENT HER A PICTURE OF MARIE OWENS - 2 WEEKS LATE - thought it was interesting that Gillian hated the picture.
3. What does Kylie cook and whose favorite is it? - A CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE WITH MAPLE FORSTING FOR GIDEON.
4. What is sitting on Kylie's window sill and what does it give her? - A TOAD AND SPITES UP JIMMY'S RING.
5. What does Gillian o to help Sally out of her depression? - FORCES HER OUT OF BED AND OUTSIDE IN THE BACK YARD TO DRINK MARGARITAS AND TALK.
just for fun: Yes I think one person entering someones life can change it dramatically. Everyone we meet and interact with change us either for the better (hopefully always the better) or not.
I like how the author is slowly changing Gillian.
I have noticed all the food and yes I think she has done it intentionally. Food is a thread that draws us all together in one way or another. Sometimes it helps heal old wounds too.
I love the book and will read it again - I like the way the interaction changes the way the characters see each other and themselves.
1. What has no fear of Jimmy's ghost? bees
2. What do the Aunts send Kylie for her birthday? How late is the gift? a portrait of maria owens / 2 weeks late
3. What does Kylie cook and whose favorite is it? chocolate chip pound cake / Gideon
4. What is sitting on Kylie's window sill and what does it give her? toad and it gives her a ring
5. What does Gillian o to help Sally out of her depression? make margaritas and takes her to the back yard
Bonus: There are 3 animals mentioned in this section what are they and what is their significance to the story?
bees are attracted to jimmy.
squirrels stop dead in their tracks when they sense him. the birds avoid the lilacs. and the bunny that ben owns. the toads ..especially the one that spits up the ring.
while the book is interesting.. i still prefer the movie..
So I've been thinking a lot about all of your comments and the book and all the cooking I've been doing and trying to decide what to do for the Practical Magic Blog party which is coming up in 2 weeks when it hit me.
First off let me tell you a bit about myself, I read for the pure pleasure of it, I don't analyze the books and hardly ever get deep meaning out of them. Even writing my own book and writing in deeper meaning I still don't look for it in other works.
So last night when I was formulating an idea for the blog party post it hit me. What is Practical Magic? Well I think it is the love and bonds of family (most specifically those shared by women) Without the book and this read along I don't think I would have ever realized this.
Long story short, I didn't like the book nearly as much as the movie but now I will cherish the book and this read along because without being beat over the head by an english teacher I seem to have found a deeper meaning to all of this.
Okay, I'm going back to my dungeon to start on next weeks handmade item.
Oh and I do love the movie but I now love the book too!
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