A Peek At My Week 6/13

We are back home, after being away 6 months and a day snowbirding in Florida, well over a week now, and we are just about finished settling in.

Grocery shopping is done, we set up the deck, planted flowers, visited my older son, daughter-in-law, and the grandkids on their deck (had not seen them in 6 months), and have enjoyed the cooler weather (as compared to Miami) for taking walks and sitting outdoors. 

I'm sharing a book review, A TV series review, and 2 vegan/gluten-free recipes.

I'm playing Canasta online

What I'm Reading:  Ten Green Bottles by Vivian Jeanette Kaplan

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This very fascinating true story of the life of Nini Karpel who was a  young adult in Vienna in the 1920s. The story follows her life into the 1930s where she and her friends frequent the opera, enjoy political discussions at coffee houses, and spend time skiing and enjoying a cultured lifestyle. When Hitler invades neighboring Germany and things begin to change for people of the Jewish faith, Nini (who is Jewish) and her friends do not feel threatened because they feel nothing could happen to the Jews of Vienna who were so modern, educated, and sophisticated. As the climate worsens and all human rights are taken away from the Jews, Nini and her family are able to escape to one of the few countries who were accepting immigrants at the time: Shanghai!! With great struggle, they were able to obtain tickets and barely escape before the Nazis put all the Jews in concentration death camps. It is an amazing story of her family's life in Shanghai along with 20,000 other Jews who found refuge and were saved from death as well, only to end up living in another war-ridden country in extreme poverty, unsanitary conditions, with challenging life-threatening diseases, lack of food, and an unsafe lifestyle that hey had never imagined. Eventually, after many long difficult years, they are rescued and able to immigrate to Canada. Truly a fascinating and historical read about life in Shanghai in the 1940s from an immigrant's perspective.

What I'm Watching: A Place To Call Home

The show takes place in Australia in the early 1950s and is about an attractive and very educated nurse with a very secretive and seductive past. The acting is superb in this suspenseful drama. The main character becomes involved with a wealthy widower whose controlling and exceptionally wealthy meddling mother is intent on breaking up their relationship. Feeling that the woman is not of their social status or religion, the powerful mother tries to manipulate everyone in the town to be suspicious of this newcomer and drive her away. In additon, this grandmother rules the roost of her family and estate. The saga of the other family characters and many scenarios make for an exciting series whose characters are trying to evolve with the challenges of a changing world. I highly recommend it.  

My friend recommended this series. It is on Acorn TV which is part of Amazon Prime.  It costs extra to join but they are giving a 7-day trial which we took, so we could see the show. My husband and I have enjoyed it immensely but are planning to cancel the 7 day trial as soon as we finish binge-watching it. ** A few days after watching on Acorn TV, I saw that the entire series is available on Hoopla from the library. 

What I'm Cooking: 


Recipe: Vegan and gluten-free
 Lemony Greek Stuffed Tomatoes or Peppers

These delicious stuffed tomatoes and stuffed peppers are a perfect meatless summer dish that is flavorful and tangy. It is adapted from a family recipe that I veganized. It makes a spectacular presentation and is a perfect side for when you have an abundance of summer tomatoes.

Recipe: Vegan and gluten-free
 Tomato, and Cashew Salad with lemon and mint dressing

This is one of my favorite salads. The crunchiness and creaminess of the cashews add something special to this colorful summer salad. Lemon and mint make a light but flavorful dressing. 

Sharing on Weekend Cooking hosted by The Intrepid Reader every Saturday where anyone can a food-related post. 

Sharing on Linking up to Sunday Salon There are no real requirements for linking up at Sunday Salon. Sunday Salon is simply a place for us to link up and to share what we have been doing during the week. Sunday Salon is a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there.