Dostoyevsky

My choice for the Dostoyevsky novel was the Idiot.  I came across a description of the story and was fascinated because of my own beliefs.  The Idiot is a man whose responses to circumstances are genuinely Christian, but not in the way that you might think.  The Idiot is not a pious man.  He does not judge or preach.  He just acts simply and graciously, which leads to his label of 'idiot'.  When money was involved, he acted honestly and transparently, called it like it was and refused to play games.  He even repaid debts that he legally could have avoided.  When it came to love, he overlooked the societal standards and dared to love a disgraced woman, fully and completely; reminiscent of Hosea and Gomer's situation. He spoke and acted without pretence and found himself trusted with many gossipy details, the owners of which had no problem with him keeping.
The story comes to an unexpected end, with the Idiot retaining his non-judgmental attitude in the extreme of circumstances. A strange story in the end, but offers some interesting thought tangents.

Tolstoy's War and Peace

I found some pleasure in this story. Very long, but lots of interesting characters and a nice little commentary on cultural thinking of the era.  The book made it very clear that I know nothing of the history of the French revolution and Napoleon, but this gave me at least some insight.  I think if I read it again I would get a lot more out of it as I would be able to keep better track of the different characters and build their personalities in my mind a little more.  I found it took me half of the book to get them straight in this case.  A positively worthwhile undertaking.

A Shakespearean Play

For my play I decided to read Richard the Third and found it thoroughly dull and outside my many fields of interest.  As is typical with me I found no interest in this highly revered writer and the content of his play.  Such things appear to be lost on me.  I would like to think I am well educated, but I'm clearly not sophisticated. Maybe a proper study of Shakespeare would reveal what I am missing, but for now I'm happy to be part of the ignorant masses that just don't get it :).

Final Food for Episode 3

Just a little endive with eggs.  Endive is a lot like bitter lettuce.  I have seen different types though and recipes to cook it.  But this sufficed and dressed up my plate nicely.
And with that, Season 1, Episode 3 food references are complete!

21 More Risottos! 5 to go!!

An almost final barrage of risotto recipes.  I think I have found the Magic Risotto.  A chicken and mushroom risotto by the Huon Hill restaurant in Wodonga. That risotto was just perfect - in seasoning, texture, flavour.  Just delicious.  If I weren't so tired of risotto, I'd be heading back for more very soon :).  See below.........

The Magic Risotto

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

So, the first half of the book I wasn't feeling it.  I had Disney's version in my mind and this was just not the same.  I struggled through the long chapter on the architecture of Paris.  It seems a theme with classics to educate as well as entertain the reader, which is all fine, but the education generally requires determined wading to get through. However, I will say I was, I guess, intrigued by the reality that the city had such a long history preceding the books time of setting (the 1400's).  Living in a country that has a 200 year documented history and buildings of lesser age than that, a reader can be left dumbfounded at the description of 200 year old building that would now be 600 years older. (I assume Notre Dame still stands.)  Amazing to think of it.
But anyway, about halfway through I began to come round, although I was still unconvinced by the crazed actions invoked simply by beauty. I am always frustrated at the thought of men losing their heads with passion at the mere sight of a pretty girl.  She could be awful, spiteful, controlling, money hungry and an unforgivable snob and yet a dance and a pretty face has men falling at a woman's feet. In a way it is realistic, but I felt like it was overplayed.  But finally, as the action built and I began to fear for the characters, I accepted the caricature that was the archdeacon.  The Hunchback's behaviour seemed more realistic, but then an outlandish character leaves more room for acceptance of out of the ordinary behaviour I suppose. Looking back I think my being slow to warm to the book came from seeing the characters as realistic.  A nice church leader taking in a poor orphan.  A pretty young girl.  A writer.  A grief stricken mother who had lost her child.  I wanted a real story. Not a fairy tale.  But when I think about i,t the whole story screamed fairy tale.  If I had accepted this sooner I would have sunk into the journey of the story much sooner I think.
The finale is I guess what moved this book to the rank of classic.  An unbelievable ending that seemed to be inevitable but still completely unacceptable.

Not one but three new risottos.

Now if only I could get the photos from my phone to my computer.  Alas,  an update to Mavericks has rendered iPhoto useless.  Attempts to download an update elicit requests for a password to someone else's account and refusal to let me change the user.  There must be another way??
Aha! Quick google search and the answer: Image Capture.  Here they come.

Hollywoods' Chicken and cashew risotto

Leek and mushroom risotto

Carrot Risotto

So I am discovering you can turn almost any vegetable into a risotto and many of them taste largely the same (although my taste buds are fairly indiscriminate).  The mushroom risotto tasted as you would expect - mushroomy, but the recipe called from minimal cheese so a fairly bland sort of flavour .  The carrot risotto called for a lot of cheese so a lot tastier.  The restaurant risotto reminded me why it is nice to eat out once in a while, but also why it might not be wise too often.  It was so tasty with onion and cashew flavours, chicken of course and sun dried tomatoes to add some zing.  But it was also deliciously oily. So good ;).