Hi there,
It is my pleasure to introduce you to my friend and fellow blogger Darlene Foster. Darlene blogs at https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com. Darlene has written a very entertaining series of books. These books are in the style of the Nancy Drew mysteries. Her main character is a very plucky and interesting character named, Amanda and her adventures are set in a variety of countries. Darlene lives in Spain and in addition to Amanda, you will find on her blog wonderful posts on a variety of subjects. What follows is Darlene’s review.
Milk Street: Tuesday Nights Mediterranean: 125 Simple Weeknight Recipes from the World’s Healthiest Cuisine by Christopher Kimball
I am delighted to be part of this Cookbook Confidential Book Club. I enjoy trying new recipes and the first book chosen was perfect. My five-star review on Goodreads:
A fabulous cookbook with delicious, healthy, and easy-to-make dishes. I love Mediterranean recipes, using readily available fresh ingredients, such as Greek Style Spinach rice with Shrimp and Dill, Rigatoni with Artichokes, Basil, and Pecorino, Spanish Shrimp and Chickpea Stew, and Crispy Pasta with Chickpeas, Lemon, and Parsley. There are plenty of vegetarian dishes, but also some healthy chicken and fish recipes. The photos are gorgeous, and I enjoyed reading about where the author found the recipes like the Soupe au Pistou; “We learned our version from home cook Agnes Daragon, a Harley-driving nurse who teaches country dancing and grew up in her mother’s restaurant.” A great cookbook to leaf through and drool over. It would be difficult to pick a favorite recipe.
The recipe I chose for this challenge was Greek Style Spinach Rice with Shrimp and Dill which was delicious and not at all difficult to prepare. I love Greek food but seldom have it, and since I had some shrimp in the freezer I wanted to use up, it was perfect.
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
About Darlene Foster
Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales
I created this blog for writers, readers, travelers, dreamers, friends and friends I haven’t met yet. I believe everyone has a right to dream and everyone has the capability to make their dreams come true. I wish to share some of my dreams and would love to hear about yours. I welcome any comments, suggestions, words of wisdom and interesting stories.
A bit about me. I am a writer of children’s stories, a retired employment counsellor, and ESL tutor, a wife, mother and grandmother. I love travelling, reading, shoes, cooking, sewing, music, chocolate, walking on the beach and making new friends. My grandson once called me “super-mega-woman-supreme”. I was brought up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, where I dreamt of travelling the world and meeting interesting people. I currently divide my time between Orihuela Costa in Spain and the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. My husband, Paul, and I enjoy spending time with our adorable rescue dogs, Dot and Lia.
I can be contacted at darlene.foster@telus.net
My short stories have won prizes and have appeared in a number of anthologies. I have eight published books in a series about a spunky young girl who loves to travel, Amanda in Arabia – The Perfume Flask, Amanda in Spain-The Girl in the Painting, Amanda in England-the Missing Novel, Amanda in Alberta – The Writing on the Stone, Amanda on the Danube-The Sounds of Music, Amanda in New Mexico – Ghosts in the Wind, Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action and Amanda in Malta:The Sleeping Lady. Readers from seven to seventy plus enjoy following Amanda and her adventures. My bilingual book, Pig on Trial/Cerito a juicio is in English and Spanish.
I enjoy sharing my books and writing experience with young readers and am available for guest visits to schools, libraries, coffeeshops and special events, in person and digitally.
My short stories have been included in the following Anthologies:
Country Roads, Memoirs from Rural Canada
The Memory Shop and other Stories
Every Child is Entitled to Innocence
Visit my website www.darlenefoster.ca
My Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/DarleneFosterWriter/
Follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/supermegawoman
“Never let a day go by without a dream”
Thanks, Bernadette for organizing this Cookbook Confidential Book Club.
And thank you, Darlene, for being such a good friend and your participating in this project.
37 responses to “COOKBOOK CONFIDENTIAL COOKBOOK CLUB – Darlene Foster reviews Greek Style Spinach Rice with Shrimp and Dill”
this looks delicious ! I bought my daughter one of the milk street cookbooks for christmas and she loves it
It is a great cookbook. I’ve already made 6 dishes from it and all were winners.
Bernadette, a beautiful share of this cook book by Darlene! Although as young when we visited Greece a lot I didn’t like Greek food, now I love it. Like Darlene, I don’t cook Greek food much but if I buy this book I’ll rectify this! Btw, I love Darlene’s Amanda books … feel I’m reliving my childhood when I was an ardent Nancy Drew fan and still have all the books. Is that a Nancy Drew oven glove I spot in the corner?
It is for sure Annika. I think Amanda is helping to school another generation of feminist,
So true -and that is great! 😀
Thanks so much, Annika. My friend made me a Nancy Drew placemat and hot mitt. Isn’t it special. I just love the set. I hope you try this recipe, it iso tasty.
What a lovely friend – I reckon these would market really well! Now your friend just needs to make you some Amanda ones!😀
Darlene, thank you for sharing this recipe with us. It looks simple but so tasty and healthful.
Thanks for stopping by Angie. It is a good recipe and review, isn’t it.
Thanks, Angie! It is an excellent recipe and a fabulous cookbook.
OK, I read that wrong on your blog, but ‘spinach rice’ sounds even better. Thanks for the idea!
The spinach adds a nice flavour and is good for you too!
This definitely looks easy and delicious and something I think my family would like! Thanks for the tip about the salt – we’re trying to reduce how much we consume. Thanks to Darlene and Angie!
We cut back on salt a few years ago so we notice it now when there is too much. One of the problems with eating in restaurants.
Definitely. So many things to cut down on and keep track of!
Was looking for a great but simple recipe with shrimp – and voila – thanks Darlene!
You will like this one, Irene.
I am enjoying your Cookbook Confidential Club so much Bernadette, so interesting to hear other bloggers views and recipes. Darlene sounds like such an interesting person and the recipe she chose sounds delightful!
Thanks Jenna. Yes, this has been a really fun project.
Thanks, Jenna. We are having fun with this challenge. Glad you are following along.
Terrific series and Darlene is a great writer and Chef! Sharing!
Thanks John for your comment and support.
Thanks, John. So pleased you are joining us.
Hi, Darlene – This Spinach Rice with Shrimp and Dill looks and sounds delicious. I agree that this Milk Street Cookbook was an awesome opening choice. There have been so many great recipes to choose from. 😀
I know. I’ve made this and three other recipes so far and they were all great.
Hi Bernadette, what a fabulous choice of recipe by Darlene. I am also going to make this dish for my family. I will be using Milk Street going forward too, I like the book very much. Darlene is also a wonderful writer and I have read and enjoyed a number of her Amanda books.
Hi Robbie, I am excited about this recipe also.
Thanks for your kind words, Robbie. I agree, it’s a great cookbook.
A great review Darlene – it looks and sounds very yummy indeed.
It was very yummy. Did you make this one as well?
Not yet, but I suspect I will…
I just realised why you asked this question…I think the wrong review was published…
A delicious sounding recipe Darlene. Its good to see that the shrimp wasn’t cooked with rice when it was first put on so many recipes overcook shrimp… xx
I agree. I don’t like overcooked shrimp.
ooh yes i love prawns. this sounds so good.
If you love prawns then this recipe is for you!!
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