On the veranda, the parsley survived transplanting and I’m already using the leaves in dishes. In fact, I have been actively looking for dishes that will highlight the fresh flavor they give to meat entrees and vegetable sides.

Turning the pages in the World in a Skillet cookbook from Milk Street (now on sale for $23.95), I came across this mouth watering photo. That is cilantro in the recipe, but fresh parsley works just as well. It is mixed with green onions, jalapenos, and rice vinegar. The fresh green mixture is a garnish and not cooked. I decided I didn’t like the bitter taste of the vinegar, so I rinsed it off the onion/parsley mixture and used some sesame oil instead. I also left out the jalapenos. It’s my dinner, and I can do it however I like.

The technique that was interesting with this dish was to dust the chops with cornstarch before sauteing them in a skillet. This gave them a light crispy coating, that browned beautifully. I had my pork chop with a fresh salad.

My Sweet Babboo had his with leftover mashed potatoes and some steamed broccoli. He declared the chop recipe a keeper, but only if I leave out the vinegar altogether next time. Neither of us is a fan of pickled things, so the raw rice vinegar taste doesn’t appeal. I like using a bit of it in hot dishes to brighten the flavor. This recipe is also in the new Milk Street 365 cookbook, still on sale for $27.

On the book front, I was lucky to find a new novel on NetGalley by one of my favorite writers. So, I was able to read it prior to publication. I reviewed it for you last December so you could get on your library list early, and it published this week. The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl – No one writes food fiction like Ruth Reichl. Acclaimed cookbook author, food critic and magazine editor, she has written several non-fiction books and one previous fiction novel, Delicious. Her prose is easy reading and full of descriptive passages that are so well written, you can almost taste the dish. This historical fiction story is set in the 1980s, when the top chefs in Paris were redefining how to prepare dishes, with new techniques like sous vide. She incorporates the worlds of fashion and art into her story of a young woman coming to grips with her mother’s passing, and trying to find a way forward in her life and career. As she meets new people, she gets drawn into the lives of two patrons who want to help her find a direction. Be sure to read the authors note at the end, as you may be surprised how much is based in research and fact. Beautifully written, with a compelling story, highly recommend.

I keep saying that I am tired of murder mysteries, and that hasn’t changed. But I do enjoy a mystery with some other puzzle to solve. When one of my favorite writers, Melanie Lageschulte, began her new series as mysteries, I just wasn’t interested. However, reader Grace let me know the first in the series was not a murder mystery, but a missing person, so I decided to give it a try. The Route That Takes You Home is mostly a slice of rural life in a small farming town, the next town over from Prosper where her Seasons series is set. Once again it centers on a woman coming home to start over, coming back to where her family lives, and making a new life for herself. The mystery is really secondary to the plot, with the main character, Kate, asking questions and making a few observations, but mainly the mystery is solved by the local law enforcement, and not detailed in the story. The novel is charming, just as much as the beginning novels of the Seasons series, as Kate buys a house, and starts to get settled with her cat. The second novel in the 3-book series will center on an arson, and I’ve put it on hold at my library.

Last week, I saw a post on blogger buddy Deanna’s blog Wedding Dress Blue on a Second Chance Quilt she made with some heart blocks. Her strip piecing idea reminded me that I have a jelly roll in the closet just begging for a project. I pulled out the roll and opened it to see the pretty springtime colors. I laid some of the bird panels on top and the colors seem harmonious. I can sew the strips into sets of three, inserting the birds randomly around the quilt. I think I like this idea best of all the things I have considered. I can use the busier birdhouse print as the backing.

I need a project to take to retreat, and I think I’ll pack it all up and save it for that.
What do you think?