Little Fires Everywhere
Synopsis: Mia Warren moves to suburbia Ohio with her teenage daughter and rents a house next door to Elena Richardson. The Richardson’s are the picture perfect family and Mia’s daughter quickly becomes friends with the Richardson’s kids. All seems to be going smoothly until a custody battle divids the town.
Corey’s Review: I started reading this book without actually knowing much about it. I enjoyed Celeste Ng’s other book so I picked this one up too. My favorite books are those with good character development and I felt this book was average. It took me a while to get into it because it was slow going at first. Once the Pleasantville family drama started to unfold, I really became interested in it. This book hits serious topics and would be a great pick for a book club. I actually think my book club, (RIP we could never agree on a date/time) read this. If you enjoy family drama, then I would grab this one. Rating 4/5
Nicholette’s Review: I want to give this a good review, and largely, I will. One thing about this book that hit home was the way people, society, and especially mothers, judge other mothers. It seems we have this irresistible urge to pass judgement on other people’s parenting decisions. The primary story presents in juxtaposition Mia Warren (the bohemian artist) and Elena Richardson, portrayed as a repressed suburban cliche. Neither one felt quite real, but sadly, the judging is all too real! C’mon folks, we’re all just doing the best we can….. The subplot involves a custody dispute between a hopeful adoptive family, and the single mother of the Chinese baby in question. A lot of questions were raised about the ethics involved in this situation, and again, judging. I did enjoy this book and found it thought provoking. Some of the plot twists were a little far fetched, but probably no more so than real life.
Rating: 4/5
Menu: When we started thinking about dishes that Ohio is famous for we both agreed, Cincinnati Chili. Technially this book isn’t set in Cincinnati, but it’s February and Chili is always a good idea. Cincinnati Chili combines spaghetti, chili and cheese- what’s not to love? Rating 5/5
Method:
My mom uses an instant pot for this recipe to help speed up the process and get that bowl of goodness on the table ASAP.
1 pound ground beef
1 cup finely chopped onion
3 cloves minced garlic
2 cans (14.5 oz) Mexican style stewed tomatoes
8 oz can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili owder
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
8 ounces cooked and drained spaghetti
Chopped white onions, shredded Cheddar cheese, kidney beans for topping
1) Place the beef, onion and garlic in a large skillet, and brown, 4-5 minutes.
2) Drain and place in slow cooker with tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, cocoa, cinnamon and allspice, stir to combine.
3) Cover and cook 8-10 hours on low heat, or use a pressure cooker, 18 minutes on high pressure for speedy delivery!
4) Serve the chili on top of spaghetti, and add toppings as desired.
Nicholette’s Review: I really like the warm spices and unusual flavors of this chili. Not quite chili, not quite spaghetti, it’s an Ohio classic! Not that I’m from Ohio, but I can still appreciate it. Is it still Cincinnati chili if you use Vermont cheddar?
Rating: 5/5