I love to read.
When I find a book I love, I sink down into it and roll around in it, enjoying every word, scene, and character. I stay up way past my bedtime devouring it, and I keep it within arm's reach so that I can sneak in a few words at every idle opportunity. I become obsessed.
This doesn't happen very often, fortunately for my family. Since Grace was born, there have been only three books that really pulled me in: Little Earthquakes, A Thousand Splendid Suns and Gods in Alabama. Now, add Sweet Life to that list.
Let me pause to say that I am obsessed with Hawaii. A colleague moved there last year, a friend just found out that her husband is being transferred there in the spring, and I've always wanted to visit for a vacation. Or maybe move to Hawaii some day? Who knows.
So, back to Sweet Life. From early on, it reminded me a lot of Jennifer Weiner's style and her book, Little Earthquakes. Both books are clever and real, with well developed characters who live in today's world. They are women you could find walking down the street anywhere and women you want to befriend.
In Sweet Life, Marissa is a fabulously successful and worldly New York business woman whose husband accepts a transfer to Hawaii. She leaves her job, her friends, her life to accompany him on the move. Then he leaves her, saddled with a dilapidated house, the care of their eight-year-old daughter, and virtually no money. What is she to do? Feeling like she's lost everything, Marissa comes up with a plan and soon discovers that the sweetness in life isn't at all where she expected.
I love everything about Sweet Life. I love the characters, especially the girls who become Marissa's friends and a handsome cowboy named Tom. I love the descriptions of the volcanoes and geology of Hawaii. I also love that the author, Mia King, has included recipes in an appendix for many of the dishes mentioned in the text and a website with even more. How cool is that?
You could make the Spambalaya that the girls enjoy for dinner or the macadamia nut energy bars that they snack on. The first one that I'm going to try is the Hawaiian Style Crispy Dumplings with Ginger Chili Sauce, which I've included below.
Yum!
Hawaiian Style Crispy Dumplings
Ingredients
- 25 wonton wrappers round
- ½ pounds ground pork
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ½ tablespoon green onions thinly sliced, about 1 stalk
- 2 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 ¼ cups Chinese cabbage finely shredded
- 1 ½ cups oil for frying
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients, except for wonton wrappers and oil, in a large bowl and stir until well mixed.
- Place 1 heaping teaspoon of filling mixture into each wonton wrapper.
- Moisten edges with water and fold edges over to form a half-moon shape. Roll edges slightly to seal in filling. Set dumplings aside on a lightly floured surface until ready to cook.
- Set a 12-inch wok or 10-inch skillet over high heat and pour enough frying oil to cover the wontons. Heat the oil to 375 and deep fry the wontons, no more than 10 at a time, for minutes, or until crisp and golden.
- Transfer to paper towels and drain the excess oil.
- Serve with Ginger Chili Sauce (below).
Notes
For steamed dumplings, place in a steamer so that no dumplings are touching. Steam for 6-10 minutes, until centers are no longer pink.
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Ginger Chili Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons chili sambal
- 2 ½ teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
- 2 ½ tablespoons sushi vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic pressed
- 3 slices ginger minced
- 1 ½ teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients and serve.
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mornduve says
My life is sweet because despite all the physical ailments I have been given, I am able to enjoy the most important things in life such as my wonderful Granddaughters and being able to always be creative and crafty.
mornduve says
My life is sweet because despite all the physical ailments I have been given, I am able to enjoy the most important things in life such as my wonderful Granddaughters and being able to always be creative and crafty.
jceko77 says
My life is weet because of my three little girls who keep me smiling.
[email protected]
jceko77 says
My life is weet because of my three little girls who keep me [email protected]