The Book: John Bloom and the Victory Garden; The Bite: Buttered Noodles!

The Book!
The book, John Bloom and the Victory Garden, is a fun middle grade read that tells the story of three neighborhood friends, all aged ten, that create a 'Boys Club' in hopes of helping the wartime effort after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. You can read my full review by clicking onto the link here. John Bloom and the Victory Garden was written by indie author, chef, baker, and culinary arts instructor Leigh Shearin.

John Bloom and the Victory Garden: "John Bloom and the Victory Garden is the rollicking tale of 3 boys at the dawn of America's involvement in WWII. John Bloom, and his best friends Joe and Chewie live, play, and get into adventures in 1940's era Appleside, NJ. Because children are generally joyful and tend to put more importance on the goings-on of their own worlds than those of grown-ups, the events of the war are woven into the boy's daily lives. Along the way, a bitter and cynical old man is drawn into their hijinks, and contributes his own joy to the lives of these 3. 

Chapter One invites the reader to join John and his friends in Appleside, NJ on the afternoon of December 6th, 1941. Through newspaper headlines and radio bulletins, the boys learn about the incredible events of the war- beginning with the attack on Hawaii by the Empire of Japan. As the story moves along, John and his friends learn that everyone- not just soldiers- can make a difference. They learn that commitment leads to ultimate success and that taking a seemingly insurmountable task one step at a time will make that task simple. John, Joe and Chewie learn about where their food comes from, and how important good food is to the Allies overseas. 

John Bloom and the Victory Garden is not just a story of Homefront USA during WWII. Its about faith, endurance and sturdy values that transcend time and cultural differences. It's about accepting tough times, struggle and adversity and overcoming them anyway. It's about seeing the humor in life, and helping others to see the humor too. 

But mostly, they just have a gut-busting great time!"

Book Stats:
Genre - Middle Grade, Fiction
Page Count - 195
Target Age Group - 9 to 18
Theme(s) - Friendship, Historical, War, Food

The Bite! 

Nonna's Buttered Noodles!

I love a book that not only provides a good read, but also offers a great recipe at its conclusion; and John Bloom and the Victory Garden doesn't disappoint. The book offers a total of five recipes at its conclusion and the recipes range from main dishes to desserts. I opted to try the recipe labeled Nonna's Buttered Noodles since I had most of the ingredients on hand. The noodles were fast, flavorful, and super simple to make. My five year old and I loved them! Since I did not have fettuccine noodles in my pantry, I opted to substitute angel hair pasta instead; which I did have. Also, with the 2 tsp. black pepper, it was a tad bit on the spicy side. To cut down on the spiciness, simply reduce the amount of black pepper by half. Here is a pictorial step by step guide to making your own. Enjoy!

Ingredients for Nonna's Buttered Noodles:

1 pound Fettuccine Noodles (or pasta of your choice)

4 Tbsp Butter (1/2 stick)
3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese (plus more for garnish)
1 tsp Salt (plus salt for water to boil noodles)

1 to 2 tsp Black Pepper

Boil pasta as directed on package instructions in salted water.
(Note: I boiled the angel hair pasta for approximately 6 minutes.)

Drain pasta, but Do NOT rinse. The heat/steam from the pasta will help melt the butter.

Add the butter, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
(Note: To cut down on the spiciness, only add one teaspoon black pepper instead of two.)

Add the Parmesan cheese.

Mix well to incorporate. 

Add a little shredded Parmesan cheese on top, and Voila!
Buttered Noodles! 

Nonna's Buttered Noodles!

Nonna's Buttered Noodles!

Nonna's Buttered Noodles!

The Book: The Thanksgiving Visitor; The Bite: Broccoli Cheese Casserole

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
(POST 2 OF 3)

The Book!
The book, "The Thanksgiving Visitor" was written by famed author, screenwriter, and playwright Truman Capote and originally published in a magazine in 1967. It later became a book published by Random House. The book was re-released under publisher Knoph Books for Young Readers in 1996.

The Thanksgiving Visitor: "Another masterpiece by the great American writer Truman Capote is brought to an audience of all ages. Buddy and his closest friend, his eccentric, elderly cousin, Miss Sook - the memorable characters from Capote's A Christmas Memory--love preparing their old country house for Thanksgiving. But there's trouble in the air. Odd Henderson, a scrawny, freckled, red-headed bully makes Buddy the target of his relentless torment. But Miss Sook only counsels patience and understanding, "He can't help acting ugly; he doesn't know any different," she says. Filled with emotions that are universal to both young readers and adults, this poignant story brings to life what we all should cherish and be thankful for--the gifts of friendship and love. Enchanting illustrations by Beth Peck make The Thanksgiving Visitor a perfect companion for the holiday bookshelf. "

Book Stats:
Genre - Children's, Fiction
Page Count - 37
Target Age Group - 6+
Theme(s) - Thanksgiving, Bullying, Friendship


The Bite! 

Broccoli Cheese Casserole!

The broccoli casserole is one of the side dishes I am bringing for Thanksgiving. This broccoli side dish is wonderful in flavor and can accompany any meat...not just turkey! Note: Because I was cooking for Thanksgiving dinner, this recipe makes 2 (actually 2 1/2) casserole dishes. If this is too much, just cut the recipe in half. Here is a pictorial step by step guide to making your own. Enjoy!

Ingredients for Broccoli Cheese Casserole:

Approx. 13 heads of broccoli (both small and large) 

1-1/2 Onions
3 Green Bell Peppers
4 to 5 Garlic Cloves
Salt

Olive Oil

For the Sauce:
1 cup (2 sticks) of butter
4 to 6 Tbsps Seasoned Flour (see recipe below)
4 cups Whipping Cream
2 cups Milk (Note: I had to use milk because I ran out of whipping cream, otherwise it should be 6 cups of whipping cream)
4 oz Cream Cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
3/4 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese + more for garnish
3 tsps Salt
1 tsp Pepper
2 tsps Garlic Powder
2 tsps Onion Powder

Seasoned Flour:
(I generally make "seasoned flour" ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for later use. Typical uses include my macaroni and cheese, oven fried pork chops, my "magic sauce", panko crusted fish or chicken, etc.)
For seasoned flour; mix all below ingredients together and store in the refrigerator.
2 cups Flour

1 tsp each: Garlic Powder, Smoked Paprika, Black Pepper, Onion Powder, Dried Basil.
2 tsps each: Parmesan Cheese, Salt.

Chop broccoli.

Place in pot about 1/2 to 3/4 full.

Add water enough to cover broccoli.

Salt water. 

Bring water to a boil. Once boiling, let broccoli boil FOR 3 MINUTES.
DO NOT OVER COOK!

After 3 minutes of boiling, remove broccoli immediately and rinse under cold water.
Set broccoli aside.

Next, chop the vegetables.

Chop vegetables.

Combine and place in a pot to saute.

Add about 1 to 2 Tbsp of olive oil and cover to cook vegetables, stirring frequently.

Onions should appear translucent and bell peppers soft.

Chop garlic.

Add garlic to onions and peppers. Cook until garlic is fragrant.

Add mixture to cooked broccoli.

Place in a dish and set aside. Next, make sauce.

Melt butter.

Add seasoned flour.
Note: I already had seasoned flour on hand, so I didn't have to add as much seasoning later.

Stir to combine flour and butter.

Add whipping cream (and milk).
Note: I only used 2 additional cups of milk because I ran out of whipping cream.

Add seasoning.

Bring sauce to a boil.

Add all of the cheeses (Parmesan, cheddar, and cream cheese).

Mix well until cheeses are melted.

Pour cheese sauce onto broccoli.

Add more shredded cheddar cheese on top.

Ready to bake.

Place in preheated oven at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes or until sauce is thick and bubbling.

Voila!

Broccoli Cheese Casserole!

Broccoli Cheese Casserole!

Broccoli Cheese Casserole!

The Book: The Thanksgiving Story; The Bite: Quick and Easy Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
(POST 1 OF 3)

The Book!
The book, "The Thanksgiving Story" was originally published in 1954 by award winning author and publisher Alice Dalgliesh. In 2012 it was re-released under publisher Antheneum Books for Young Readers (and sold by Simon and Schuster Digital Sales). This Caldecott Honor winning children's book is still considered a classic!

The Thanksgiving Story: "In this festive Caldecott Honor–winning picture book, Alice Dalgiesh brings to life the origin of the Thanksgiving holiday for readers of all ages.

Giles, Constance and Damaris Hopkins are all passengers aboard the crowded Mayflower, journeying to the New World to start a new life. Things get a little more cramped when their baby brother Oceanus is born during the passage. However, when they arrive, there are even worse challenges to face as the Pilgrims are subjected to hunger, cold, and sickness that put their small colony in great danger. With the help of the Native Americans though, they might just be able to survive their first year in this strange land—and have a November harvest to celebrate for generations!"

Book Stats:
Genre - Children's, Fiction
Page Count - 32
Target Age Group - 5 to 8 years
Theme(s) - Thanksgiving, Historical

The Bite! 

Quick and Easy Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts

Need a last minute side dish? These quick and tasty green beans will get the job done when you are in a hurry. Even if you're not in a hurry, they are sure to impress. Done in just minutes (you will spend more time prepping them than cooking them!), you can add you favorite nuts, or just serve them plain...but rest assured there is nothing plain about these tasty vegetables! Here is a pictorial step by step guide to making your own. Enjoy!

Ingredients for Sauteed Green Beans:

Olive Oil 

Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Chicken Broth (I use Swanson)

Fresh Green Beans (cleaned with ends cut)
Garlic Powder (not pictured)
Onion Powder (not pictured)
Macadamia Nuts (or nuts of your choice), optional

Clean and cut ends off of green beans. 

Coat/Toss green beans with olive oil and salt and pepper. 

In a large pan, heat about 2 Tbsps olive oil and enough chicken broth to cover the bottom of the pan. 

Add green beans.

Cover and cook for approx. 10 minutes. 

Uncover and add your favorite nuts (I used macadamia nuts). 

Also add onion and garlic powders to taste.
Saute uncovered for an additional 5 minutes.

Voila!

Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts! 

Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts!

Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts! 

Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts! 

Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts!

Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts!

Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts!