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!
Recipe
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 canola 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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Recipe
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.
Tried this recipe? Pin it for later!Follow @FeelsLikeHome or tag #FeelsLikeHomeBlog!
Centsible Mommy says
My life is sweet because I am fortunate to be a Sahm to my 2 boys!
Centsible Mommy says
My life is sweet because I am fortunate to be a Sahm to my 2 boys!
LadyBug says
My life is sweet because I have the most beautiful daughter in the world who i love with all of my heart! And I have a husband who is an amazing father! And i get to be a SAHM and raise her! Life is sweet!
ladeebug224 at hotmail dot com
LadyBug says
My life is sweet because I have the most beautiful daughter in the world who i love with all of my heart! And I have a husband who is an amazing father! And i get to be a SAHM and raise her! Life is sweet!ladeebug224 at hotmail dot com
Sandy says
my life is sweet because I have my family and even sweeter because I wake up each day and see the sunrise and not a toe tag on me
Sandy says
my life is sweet because I have my family and even sweeter because I wake up each day and see the sunrise and not a toe tag on me
michelle says
My life is sweet because I have a great family and so many caring friends. We have really been blessed.
michelle at northofthe49 dot com
michelle says
My life is sweet because I have a great family and so many caring friends. We have really been blessed.michelle at northofthe49 dot com
Meg says
I've got a sweet life b/c I married a man who wants me to be happy, I have a beautiful, healthy, spunky son and a little girl on the way...life is good!!
gomeggo[at]gmail[dot]com
Meg says
I've got a sweet life b/c I married a man who wants me to be happy, I have a beautiful, healthy, spunky son and a little girl on the way...life is good!!gomeggo[at]gmail[dot]com
M's Mommy says
My life is sweet because I have a terrific husband and baby, and I just started a new job that I really hope I'm gonna love. And... I love to eat chocolate, so that keeps things sweet too!
crt4book[at]yahoo[dot]com
M's Mommy says
My life is sweet because I have a terrific husband and baby, and I just started a new job that I really hope I'm gonna love. And... I love to eat chocolate, so that keeps things sweet too!crt4book[at]yahoo[dot]com
Heather Brandt says
My life is sweet because I have a loving husband to hold me and I have the hope of seeing my little boy we are adopting again soon!
heatherlbrandt (at) verizon (dot) net
Heather Brandt says
My life is sweet because I have a loving husband to hold me and I have the hope of seeing my little boy we are adopting again soon!heatherlbrandt (at) verizon (dot) net
Melissa says
Oh wow, such a great giveaway! My hubby and I have a trip planned to Hawaii next summer so this would be great to help me get even more excited (is that possible??). Anyways, my hubby is what makes my life so sweet! He takes such good care of me, including making ME dinner so I can study and do homework! jeepcutie82 at msn dot com
Melissa says
Oh wow, such a great giveaway! My hubby and I have a trip planned to Hawaii next summer so this would be great to help me get even more excited (is that possible??). Anyways, my hubby is what makes my life so sweet! He takes such good care of me, including making ME dinner so I can study and do homework! jeepcutie82 at msn dot com
crystal says
My life is sweet because i wake up everyday and smell the flowers...Literally!! I take my dog out and walk around our yard and enjoy my herb garden and all of our roses:)
[email protected]
crystal says
My life is sweet because i wake up everyday and smell the flowers...Literally!! I take my dog out and walk around our yard and enjoy my herb garden and all of our roses:)[email protected]
Jenny says
My life is sweet because I get to spend a lot of time with my daughter. Right now I am breastfeeding her as I type. I only have to work part-time, so we have a couple of days a week just for each other.
the_other_alice_(at)yahoo.com
Jenny says
My life is sweet because I get to spend a lot of time with my daughter. Right now I am breastfeeding her as I type. I only have to work part-time, so we have a couple of days a week just for each other.the_other_alice_(at)yahoo.com
Ma Val says
My life is sweet because all my needs are currently being met. I have food, shelter, and lots of love in my life. Things are sweet.
thundercloudgirl[AT]hotmail[DOT]com
Ma Val says
My life is sweet because all my needs are currently being met. I have food, shelter, and lots of love in my life. Things are sweet.thundercloudgirl[AT]hotmail[DOT]com
Heather R says
My life is sweet because I have a beautiful baby girl and wonderful husband to share it with.
Heather R says
My life is sweet because I have a beautiful baby girl and wonderful husband to share it with.
gunzie says
With 3 gorgeous children and a fantastic husband my life's just very sweet. Thanks for this great giveaway!
ann dot guns at mac dot com
gunzie says
With 3 gorgeous children and a fantastic husband my life's just very sweet. Thanks for this great giveaway!ann dot guns at mac dot com
megankortepeter says
Oh, I'm obsessed with Hawaii too. I love it there. Life there is sweet but my life in Indy is sweet too b/c that's where my family is. My hubby, my parents, my inlaws, my siblings, neices, etc.
megankortepeter says
Oh, I'm obsessed with Hawaii too. I love it there. Life there is sweet but my life in Indy is sweet too b/c that's where my family is. My hubby, my parents, my inlaws, my siblings, neices, etc.
lace says
My life is sweet because I have to sweet, beautiful nieces who I get to love on.
lace says
My life is sweet because I have to sweet, beautiful nieces who I get to love on.