Welcome to Friday Favorites, a weekly series where I share interesting articles, books, fashion finds, recipes and more.
Good Friday morning friends, how was your week? We had a great week. the long awaited counters are in and the backsplash is being installed in the kitchen and laundry. I cannot wait to start loading up my cabinets with all of my dishes, food and utensils. Today though it is all about my Friday favorites.
I have a few easy salads, risotto, dessert and lots of cocktails. Grab yourself a drink and a snack and settle in to read the interesting articles, book recommendations and finds I discovered this week.
Friday Favorites No. 493 from Simply Delicious, Eat Well 101, My Sweet Savannah and More
Food
Image Eat Well 101
Hot days call for cool, crisp salads and a version of this Apple Cranberry Bacon Salad is on constant rotation in my house.
Image Simply Delicious
If you have a lot of zucchini in your garden try this Grilled Zucchini and Corn Salad!
I could eat this whole bowl of Creamy Lemon Risotto with Asparagus.
Because it is Friday, I have to share a pizza!
Banana Bars with Browned Butter glaze, a delicious alternative to banana bread.
My friends are sharing some delicious cocktails and cocktails. Check out the recipes from Mary Ann, Annie,
Cindy, Juliet, Sheri , Kim and Melanie.
Interesting Articles
Food expiration dates don’t have much science behind them
Curious How Strawberries became the Ultimate Summer Fruit?
The tale of the domesticated horse
The Gambler Who Cracked the Horse-Racing Code
If Paris is on your upcoming travel list make a note of Pastries in Paris and where to find the best ones worth traveling for.
What the “Golden Age” of Flying Was Really Like
An Effortless Way to Improve Your Memory
Being awake after midnight might be bad for your brain
Romance Novels, Don’t Call Them Trash, the case for the “Bodice Ripper”
LOVE this post Is There a Future in Blogging? 14 Reasons to Keep Writing Your Blog
Thinking of painting your kitchen cabinets blue? Here are 22 beautiful blues to consider.
Listening to: The Trojan horse affair.
Books
JOAN
1412. France is mired in a losing war against England. Its people are starving. Its king is in hiding. From this chaos emerges a teenage girl who will turn the tide of battle and lead the French to victory, becoming an unlikely hero whose name will echo across the centuries.
In Katherine J. Chen’s hands, the myth and legend of Joan of Arc is transformed into a flesh-and-blood young woman: reckless, steel-willed, and brilliant. This meticulously researched novel is a sweeping narrative of her life, from a childhood steeped in both joy and violence, to her meteoric rise to fame at the head of the French army, where she navigates the perils of the battlefield and the equally treacherous politics of the royal court. Many are threatened by a woman who leads, and Joan draws wrath and suspicion from all corners, while her first taste of fame and glory leaves her vulnerable to her own powerful ambition.
With unforgettably vivid characters, transporting settings, and action-packed storytelling, Joan is a thrilling epic, a triumph of historical fiction, as well as a feminist celebration of one remarkable—and remarkably real—woman who left an indelible mark on history.
The House of Fortune
Amsterdam in the year 1705. It is Thea Brandt’s eighteenth birthday. She is ready to welcome adulthood with open arms, but life at home is increasingly difficult. Her father Otto and her Aunt Nella argue endlessly over their financial fate, selling off furniture in a desperate attempt to hold on to the family home.
As catastrophe threatens to engulf the household, Thea seeks refuge in Amsterdam’s playhouses. She loves the performances, and the stolen moments afterwards are even better. In the backrooms of her favorite theater, Thea can spend a few precious minutes with her secret lover, Walter, the chief set-painter, a man adept at creating the perfect environments for comedies and tragedies to flourish. The thrill of their hidden romance offers Thea an exciting distraction from home. But it also puts her in mind of another secret that threatens to overwhelm the present: Thea knows her birthday marks the day her mother, Marin, died in labor. Thea’s family refuses to share the details of this story, just as they seem terrified to speak of “the miniaturist” – a shadowy figure from their past who is possessed of uncanny abilities to capture that which is hidden.
Aunt Nella believes the solution to all Thea’s problems is to find her a husband who will guarantee her future. An unexpected invitation to Amsterdam’s most exclusive ball seems like a golden opportunity. But when Thea finds, on her doorstep, a parcel containing a miniature figure of Walter, it becomes clear that someone out there has another fate in mind for the family . . .
A feat of sweeping, magical storytelling, The House of Fortune is an unputdownable novel about love and obsession, family and loyalty, and the fantastic power of secrets.
The Whalebone Theatre(pre-order)
One blustery night in 1928, a whale washes up on the shores of the English Channel. By law, it belongs to the King, but twelve-year-old orphan Cristabel Seagrave has other plans. She and the rest of the household—her sister, Flossie; her brother, Digby, long-awaited heir to Chilcombe manor; Maudie Kitcat, kitchen maid; Taras, visiting artist—build a theatre from the beast’s skeletal rib cage. Within the Whalebone Theatre, Cristabel can escape her feckless stepparents and brisk governesses, and her imagination comes to life.
As Cristabel grows into a headstrong young woman, World War II rears its head. She and Digby become British secret agents on separate missions in Nazi-occupied France—a more dangerous kind of playacting, it turns out, and one that threatens to tear the family apart.
Friday Finds
Just as I am starting to look at and pin Fall and holiday decor my carts are filling up with classic fall and winter pieces. This Wyatt Shirt in Mixed Stripe shirt is one of my new favorites, it’s classic and yet has a touch of whimsy.
A less expensive striped button down shirt for Fall. I did order this and will let you know how it looks once I receive it.
Cardigan sweaters are great for the transitional weather between summer and fall. This black sweater is $28.00! A great deal for a classic piece.
Are you looking for a hands-free bag to carry this Fall? Look no further than this Italian leather crossbody bag.
In case you missed it this week I shared some cosy Fall finds from Williams Sonoma.
UNTIL TOMORROW
I hope that you enjoyed Friday Favorites no. 493 and that you found something to make, read and to enjoy. Have a wonderful weekend and stay cool.
Don’t forget to stop by tomorrow for “weekend meanderings” with Kim and Juliet! We will have lots to share from coast to coast.
This post contains affiliate links.
Friday Favorites No. 499~ from Sheri Silver, Susanna Salk, Cooking Classy, Well Plated, and More
Friday Favorites No. 498 ~From Foodie Crush, Gimme Some Oven, Damn Delicious and More
Friday Favorites No. 497 from Two Peas and Their Pod, Creme de la Crumb, Gimme Some Oven and More
Happy Birthday America! Happy 4th of July
Interesting info about foods expiration dates. Just last week I tossed never opened almond milk because of the date outside it. Plus a whole dozen organic eggs. Also interesting was the article about blogging. Have a great weekend!
Brenda
Point 1 of why to blog – “Writing your posts generates motivation to research, to self-reflect, to pay attention to details…”, – is so true. I upcycle furniture and I have to research so I don’t send people down the wrong path. I learn so that I can share.
I could not agree with that post more. So many good points!
Have a wonderful weekend Rachel!
Have a good weekend.