AJ’s Archive
Ramblings & Recipes
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Six of Crows Duology
Where S&B is more of a fast paced epic, Six of Crows is a next level heist. There are no good guys in this book, only bad guys who you are absolutely rooting for the entire time. It’s like ocean’s eleven + fantasy and it is 100% amazing.
Tomato Basil Cream Sauce
This sauce…. this sauce was such a good find, I can almost smell the fresh basil as I write this. If I’m in the pasta mood, chances are I mostly just want this sauce again. A lovely blend of tomato and cream, this sauce is smooth, flavorful, hearty and rich.
Chipotle Lime Aioli
Let me tell you I’m never eating regular mayo on my sandwiches again. It’s fancy aioli time from here on out.
Cloud Cuckoo Land
I have been waiting for Anthony Doerr to write another book ever since I read ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ several years ago. Cloud Cuckoo Land leverages a similar (ish) story telling style - by jumping back and forth between different characters perspectives. However, unlike ATLWCS this novel is told across a timespan of thousands and focuses on five distinct protagonists…
BBQ Pulled Chicken
This one is so easy it’s barely cooking… okay no, it definitely still counts but makes for a very simple dinner and can be scaled up easily for a big BBQ with the whole gang. While BBQ typically means waiting for the warmer months, with this being made in a slow cooker you have the ability to enjoy it year round and give yourself a taste of summer whenever you make it.
Katsu Curry
Simple, savory, delicious. Katsu curry is a dish I was introduced to only a few years back, when getting takeout from a local Japanese restaurant but it quickly became a favorite with it’s hearty rich flavors. Typically it is served over rice - with a chicken or pork cutlet. In this recipe I’ve captured how to make the chicken but it can easily be swapped out for your desired protein.
Shadow & Bone Trilogy
This series sucks you right into the universe; Bardugo wastes no time - she somehow manages to weave an intricate world in a book that never seems to lose momentum, and then continues it throughout the next two as well.
Chicken Salad
Ever gambled on the grocery store chicken salad and been left disappointed? The good thing is, it’s actually not very difficult to just make yourself, there’s only one thing to cook (the chicken) and the rest is just chopping and mixing.
We Bought A House
Okay sooooo I know I haven’t posted anything on here in a while… but it is not without reason! As you can probably guess from the title some big life things have happened which has made my “free” time a bit more chaotic.
Project Hail Mary
The book starts with Dr. Ryland Grace waking up aboard a ship in an unknown place, with significant memory loss, and slowly realizes he’s there to save all life on earth (no pressure)… I felt like I watched Andy Weir grow as an author through this novel - humor paved the way and stepped aside sometimes for sincerity, strength, and heart.
Banana Bread
Ahhh the sweet sweet smell of this classic - is it dessert? is it breakfast? who knows, but it is delicious. The perfect solution for those bananas you bought with the best intentions and then forgot about.
French Toast
When I’m feeling fancy on a weekend this is one of my favorite things to make as I can achieve something quite tasty and seemingly luxurious without too much effort.
The Midnight Library
In the area between life and death Nora begins to explore all the lives she could have lived, all the choices she could have made differently, and all the regrets that have weighed on her. The Midnight Library leads you down a path of exploration….making you ask questions of yourself, of the universe, and of humanity.
100 Rides with Peloton
As of today, I completed 100 Rides on my bike! Besides the fact that the classes are genuinely engaging, fun, and have good music one of the coolest things for me is the data…I don’t need to rely on a scale that does nothing but tell me how much mass I have in the universe. Because I have proof, actual numerical proof, that I am getting stronger, healthier, and more fit.
Chicken Tikka Masala
While this is not the most traditional method of making tikka masala, like most curries - it’s all about the spices and the slow cooker does a great job of infusing those flavors over time for a rich and delicious outcome.
Circe
Circe covers the life of (you guessed it) the goddess Circe - Titan, witch, and child of Helios. Told from her perspective, and focusing in on the pivotal moments and relationships she had spanning hundreds of years - the story is a classic, retold and refreshed.
Tzatziki
This simple yet tasty sauce is the perfect fresh addition to almost any Greek cuisine and beyond. Besides being the ultimate gyro topping it is a great dipping sauce for sides.
Zucchini Fritters
The ingredients are light on this one but the flavor and tastiness is not. These make a great appetizer, snack or side dish and are perfect for dipping in some greek yogurt or tzatziki.
Oven Roasted Chicken Shawarma
Bring all the flavors of mediterranean shawarma into your home with this marinade and keep things simple by baking it.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
The original, the one and only, the perfect pairing for a glass of milk… the chocolate chip cookie. Are there a million recipes out there for everyone’s variation under the sun? Sure, so why not add one more to the pile, who knows maybe this will end up being your favorite like it is mine.