Attempting to be a Super Mom

Recipe number 18 in my 52 new recipes was Garlic Chili Edamame. Shawn and I go to this place called Cafe Beautiful for anniversary every year. The very first taste you get when you are there is this amazing Chili Garlic Edamame.   This recipe wasn't exact but it was pretty good. Garlic Chili Edamame 10 oz edamame precooked 4 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 tsp sesame oil 1 tbsp chili paste 1 tbsp mayonnaise 2 tsp soy sauce sea salt In a small pan on medium low heat, add the sesame oil and garlic. Sauté for several minutes until golden brown. Remove pan from heat and cool. In a medium bowl, mix together the sautéed garlic, chili paste, mayonnaise, and soy sauce. Steam edamame in a microwave safe bowl for 2 minutes. Add the warmed edamame to the garlic chili sauce and toss to coat. Season with sea salt and serve warm.

The 16th book I read for 24 books in 2017 was called On Turpentine Lane. On Turpentine Lane by Elinor Lipman Hardcover: 320 Pages   Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (February 14, 2017) Ok, confession time... When I pick my books, most of the time I find a book I've read and loved on Amazon. Then when a list of books similar to the one I liked pop up, I find ones with interesting covers and read their little blurb that the book is about. If I'm still intrigued I throw it in the cart. I'm sure I'm not the only one who does this... This was exactly how I found this book. Faith Frankel is engaged and somewhat happy in her job, writing thank you letters for her alma mater. Her fiancé decides to take a crowdfunded cross country walk and she gets fed up with the inability to get in touch although he's able to post photos of him with other women to social media, so she breaks off their engagement. (I'm not so sure they were actually engaged.  He seemed t...

The 15th book I read for my 24 books in 2017 was Sugar by Kimberly Stuart. Sugar: A Novel by Kimberly Stuart Paperback: 248 pages  Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing (February 7, 2017) Ok, anyone that truly knows me, and maybe even not so truly, knows that I love everything about food.  The taste, the sight, the smell, cooking it, eating it... everything! I also love Chick Flicks and Chick lit. Give me a good love story that makes me laugh and cry, and I'll read it or watch it over and over and over again. This book was everything I love all rolled inside of one cover. Charlie Garrett works at a very high profile restaurant in New York City.  She dreams of one day becoming the executive pastry chef but doesn't seem to be making any progress where she's at. One day her ex-boyfriend Avery Michaels comes to her restaurant and asks her to come work with him at his new restaurant across the country in Seattle as his executive pastry chef.  When she gets to Seattle...

I actually read The Hate U Give for my 13th book this year, but accidentally typed up a review for the one I read after it first, so we'll just call it my 14th book. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Hardcover: 464 pages  Publisher: Balzer + Bray (February 28, 2017) I actually found this book because an author I love was tweeting nonstop about a book that was going to kick her from her spot on the Young Adult Bestsellers list. I don't think I feel comfortable writing a review on here for this book.  If you know me personally, you know where I grew up, the important people in my life, why I feel the way I do about world issues, and why this book spoke to me. If you don't and don't agree with me on world issues, I really don't want to offend you, so I will not be writing a review for people to see publicly. I will say that this book is worth the read if you grew up in a neighborhood filled with minorities, are a minority, love someone who is a minority, or...