Book Review of The Clearing, by Thomas Rydder

I've finally finished The Clearing this month, and I must say it was a good little read. I wouldn't put it at the top of thriller writing, but it Thomas Rydder has great potential moving forward in his career.

I also want to mention how great it was to cook for this book, and that's because it opened my tastebuds to some truly good American food. (A rarity since most is based off other countries.)

I also enjoyed the change of pace that this book delivered for me - it's way off what I normally read.

The Clearing
by Thomas Rydder
(Thriller)

         This was a nice reprieve from the previous book I read, and it was also a quick one. Thomas Rydder’s The Clearing is a story that is centralized on a small Pennsylvanian town’s problem in which werewolves are the culprits. Rydder focuses the majority of the book on Sheriff Frank Cutlip’s expeditions trying to repress the werewolf killings. 

         The four most prominent characters in this book are Frank Cutlip, Adam Cutlip, Beth and the werewolves. I found that some of the characters fell a bit short of fully developing, however there was still enough development to make them worthwhile. Frank Cutlip I found endearing because he reminded me of a true old-fashioned gentleman. (A rarity nowadays if I can be so blunt.) It really showed through too because of his interactions with other individuals throughout the book, which Rydder truly showed how much he was true to character. I was a tad disappointed in how Beth was sort of tossed aside from any further development, and instead reverted from strong to dependent upon Frank. In some circumstances I can understand the reasoning, but not when Rydder spent the beginning part of the book on her independence. I suppose though that the feature of the werewolves had much to do with her growing dependency. 

         In focusing on the werewolves the way Rydder did, he gave them depth without taking too much space. In a way I’m glad they were more of an object than characters when mentioned, and yet their obvious desires were clearly portrayed without being overly done. I especially love the way Rydder tied Adam Cutlip into the revolutions from himself to that of victim, and from there his character established itself well. 

         There are however some flaws in the ways that Rydder wrote The Clearing, he had moments that shone through in some passages - however in others he fell short. I find that he started this book with the intention of following Beth and then became more interested in Frank Cutlip, therefore following him without properly trying to create more of a link. Granted he did try, but I would’ve appreciated a further effort on his part to show more development between the two characters first. 

         In the end The Clearing was written well, it could’ve done with a few changes before it hit the shelves however it was a great read for the season. To be honest it reminded me of a crossbreed between Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park and Stephen King’s Cujo. (Never quite a bad thing.) This is a book that I’m glad I read, and I’ll be likely to read it again on a blustery fall day. 

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars.

I hope you all give this book a chance! It's worth the time to read, and it truly is a fun one as well.

Back To "Deutsch" Roots Tomorrow

As the very last meal why wouldn't you want to go back to the roots? American food would never be here without all of the unique influences we have from our own personal heritages. The individuals from The Clearing may be from Pennsylvania, however Pennsylvania has a large heritage from German settlers.

I also wanted to make a German meal in honor of some of the food my sister is eating now that she's living in Germany! (Love you seeeeeester!)

I decided that some Sauerbraten (Sour Roast) was precisely what this book needs for it's ending. Just a hint of sour, and a whole hunk of meat! When I cook tomorrow it's going to be another crock-pot dish, perfect for those long work days! This is something that individuals eat in Germany quite often, and it's something new to me which shall be exciting as I generally do not eat German food. (It's not exactly common fare here in Maine.) I am looking forward to trying it though! Hopefully you can all join in tomorrow after it slow-roasts for 8 hours!

A Wedding Without Cake? I Think Not!

Who here loves cake? I know I do, and I certainly believe weddings deserve cakes. It may be a wedding that only those in The Clearing may be attending, but I still want a piece!

A girl can be spoiled numerous times over this week, and I find cake is in the program… Ricky would most definitely want some cake tomorrow as well after the small (large) disagreement we got into tonight - what says sorry better than a home baked cake?

I don't have a quote from The Clearing like I do with a lot of other pre-cook posts that I do, and to be honest not many fit. I can say though that I believe Beth and Frank's development from neighbors to life partners was a huge development. I find that the wedding they had probably brought a lot of happiness back into their small Pennsylvanian town, and it was much needed after what happened to all of them. 

A wedding cake was traditionally believed to bring good luck to the guests of the bride and groom - and believe me these poor folks need a little bit of that in their lives. I figured heck why not join in and celebrate their wedding myself? (I could use a bit of luck now too!)

Thus, I shall be making a wedding cake tomorrow (albeit a small one). 

Tune on in for that festive cake day!

Tomorrow Is Another Crock Pot Special: Country Style Ribs

I love working from home, it's perfect, and nothing beats it when it's raining like this! 

I feel like this week has sped by, and I can't believe tomorrow is Friday already, for some reason I keep thinking it's Wednesday. However it doesn't change the fact that it's Thursday, and tomorrow I have a lovely meal for you guys: Slow-Cooked Country Style Ribs with a Whiskey Barbecue Sauce!

I love whiskey, anyone who knows me knows that, and I love to cook with it as much as I do drinking it. I love how the flavor works with certain types of meat. (Pork and Ham especially). I needed a dish with whiskey for tomorrow, as the men in The Clearing were drinking it as if they're hopes depended on it.

"Looking after him, David swirled the last of his drink around. 'I have a feeling our troubles are far from over.'" (Rydder 183).

I hope you all check in tomorrow for the next meal! 

I'm Feeling Like Sweets Tomorrow...

I'm making something sweet again for tomorrow, and it's because I feel like everyone in the book deserves it after the stuff they've been through. (Honestly!)

"The men bowed their heads. The crickets and tree frogs providing a melodic background to the group's prayers." (Rydder 178).

I'm not going to spoil a lot of what's happened up till now, but clearly nothing well for this small town of simple folk. 

Just like I did for Beth's sentiment, and now I'm choosing this again for the men.

I would write a little bit more, but I'm with my boyfriend enjoying a Columbus Day getaway in Bar Harbor!

Sometime's I'm A Sucker for Italian - That's For Tomorrow's Menu

I know I know, most books nowadays feature romance somewhere in it's midst. Sometimes it's overdone, and other times it's honestly realistic and perfectly balanced into the rest of the plot. Thus far in The Clearing I will give Rydder credit where it's due. The romance that's been blossoming between Beth and Sheriff Frank Cutlip is realistic, and not overly focused on - but it adds a much needed offsite focus from the action of the plot.
I don't remember how far along it was that lasagna was mentioned in the book, but for some reason the following passage reminded me of it.

"Frank stood and crossed over to the hat rack, strapping on his gun belt and pulling on his uniform hat. 'You know,' he said, sweeping Beth up in his arms, 'you have a pretty smart mouth, for a teeny tiny professor type.'" (Rydder 159).

Oh I know it's so cheesy, and it's certainly not everyone cares for in books and that's okay! I personally like it, and this particular passage reminded me of the first time when the Sheriff and Beth started delving from just being neighborly to a potential date (even though they never made it to dinner). On that particular time though they were out for lasagna, and I figured why not make it this time?

Plus who else thinks of this for romance mixed with Italian food?

Tomorrow I'm Making the Pennsylvanian Version of Pot Pie

Hey everyone, today's an actual early post! (Shocking I know!)

I actually finished a lot of my household chores a little early today, and therefore got the chance to hit up my computer before 7 for once!
I will say though that sometimes it's so funny raking leaves in the backyard, once I get one pile the wind blows as many leaves down as I just raked up. Point being I gave that chore up as something Ricky and I will deal with once at least 50% of the leaves are down. As gorgeous as the trees are surrounding our yard, I will say ouch for us on the amount of leaves we'll be raking… (We have three trees at least 50+ years old.)

I am now 75% of the way through The Clearing, and I'm not entirely decided on what I'm reading next -  all I know is that I'll be reading some sort of murder-mystery novel. I'm tempted right now by two very different ones. (I won't mention them yet.) If anyone has some great suggestions for me to read, or would like to recommend a book I'd appreciate it! Just send me an email or leave a comment!

Moving on to the rest of this post though, because after all it does have a point (it's not just about my house chores). I want to mention how I'll be making a pot pie tomorrow for The Clearing. I'm going to first give you an excerpt as to why I chose to make a Pennsylvanian Pot Pie.

"Frank looked at each man, examining their expressions and judging their fear. It was a Friday morning, and the posse was meeting at his office to work out their strategy for the following night. … … The rest held expressions showing everything from resignation to relief." (Rydder 156-157).

I'm not sure why I chose specifically a Pennsylvanian Pot Pie for this excerpt, but I think a lot of it has to do with the good ol' community feeling that a lot of small towns have when they get together and have the traditional baked bean suppers at churches. (Or at least that's what they do here in Maine.)
In addition to that Maine also has a very strong hunting tradition. Annually we hold every year (in some towns) an Opening Day Breakfast for Hunter's.
Since the men following Sheriff Cutlip are going hunting I kind of pictured an idyllic meal that would be found (at least in Pennsylvania) in some of those types of events. Granted hunting werewolves doesn't bring about the same camaraderie - but it's something right?

So tune back in tomorrow for a Pennsylvanian Pot Pie, which you shouldn't think is going to be like the ones with the pastry crusts on top, I assure you it's entirely different. So just tune back in tomorrow to see what makes a Pennsylvanian Pot Pie not quite like the ones we automatically think of!

Apple Dumplings To Be Baked Tomorrow!

Hey everyone! I said I was going to post a little earlier, and voila!

I want to say how ironic it is that currently as I'm typing right now I have a gorgeous (almost) full moon outside my window right now on one side, and a still setting sun on the other. I hope that Wednesday this week will be a little clear out so I can look at the full lunar eclipse this month (a Hunter's Moon). I mean how perfect - a werewolf novel and a Hunter's Moon.
On Wednesday is my reading day as well, and honestly it coincides perfectly where I left off in The Clearing (it also is why I'm baking Apple Dumplings).

"As the Bronco wheeled out of the drive, Beth wrapped her arms about her chest. … … Besides, the doors and windows would all be locked. With a resolute step, Beth entered the house, made her calls, and settled in to wait." (Rydder 117).

Clearly the suspense is getting at me, because on the one hand I want to say, "Oh god Beth you idiot!"
However on the other hand I want to say, "I wish I was as brave to do the same, and I totally get the reasoning Beth."
I mean this passage may not make much sense to those who haven't read the book yet, but I'm sure you can read between the lines. (If not, read the book!)
I bet some of you may also be wondering why Apple Dumplings for this passage? I will tell you for the same reason I love eating sweets for scary movies - something freshly baked and sweet offsets the fear we may have of what's out there. If I was going to be staying in that house by myself - I'd be baking something delicious to bide away the time.
I'm also excited to bake these Apple Dumplings because they're supposedly a mix of Pennsylvanian Amish food, which I think will be delicious! (Just like the Chicken Corn Soup.)

I hope you all check back in tomorrow! If any of you have some freshly picked apples and you're sick of making a standard apple pie then check out my Apple Dumplings tomorrow for possibly a new tradition.

PS: Hope you all cheer on for my Seahawks tonight versus the Redskins!

Sunday Is A Hamburger Night - Easy Cooking For Football!

Sorry for the late post! Gosh I'm getting bad about that… The problem is though I sometimes don't pre-blog things so that I can just have them scheduled to post like I did two weeks ago.
Tonight I was late posting because right after I got out of work Ricky and I went to the Biddeford Eagles club for a charity event. (Which was freakin' fantastic!)

I had a bunch of cake tonight at the event… So it's a good thing this isn't a true cooking post because I don't think I'd have it in me!

"What was wrong with him? He had never eaten a rare hamburger in his life, and certainly not a bloody one. And the dreams - they had been going on since his arrival, and were now even more detailed. He nodded off, the bleating of the terrified deer still in his ears." (Rydder 87).

Nothing beats wanting to cook than a man - possibly a vicious werewolf - talking about rare, and bloody hamburgers. So I figure, hey Football Sunday is like a man holiday (or a woMAN day), so why not make some bloody hamburgers as well to tame the savage beast of Fantasy Football Monsters!!! Don't worry though, they'll still be Pennsylvanian Dutch!

Check back on in tomorrow for a Werewolf Burger Day!

Tomorrow is Another Sandwich Day (Those Pennsylvania Dutch Love Sandwiches!)

I know sandwiches never seem special, hell I never really eat them myself unless I'm lazy, bored, or hungover. However when a book demands sandwiches, I shall make sandwiches, and apparently thus far this small town Pennsylvanian village loves sandwiches.

I'm not going to give away anything else about the plot thus far in The Clearing, but needless to say a lot has happened in a few pages. I'll leave you with nought but this:

"The room contained a couch, easy chair and television, as well as a desktop computer.
'The couch pulls out, and it's comfy enough. Here's the bathroom. Are you hungry?'" (Rydder 76).

Sheriff Cutlip has had an interesting few days thus far, and so has Beth. I know this doesn't answer much as to what's been going on in the book, but I assure you if you do pick up a copy you won't have to travel long to get to the action. I've also noticed that whenever things start to hit the fan in The Clearing characters always have a tendency to fall back on fixing up a small sandwich for a meal.
Therefore I must follow protocol and make some Pennsylvania Dutch Sandwiches tomorrow! (I'm going to make them Panini style though…)

Check back in tomorrow! I promise another easy meal for long days!

Making a Chicken Corn Soup Tomorrow! (It's Pennsylvanian Amish!)

Hey everyone!
I feel like I've been posting later and later lately, and I really don't want to get into the habit of that, so starting next week I shall be posting earlier.
The reason tonight's another late post is because Ricky and I went to the Fryeburg Fair, and we happened to stay a little later in North Conway. (Oh delicious goodness of fried foods…)

I've been craving soup lately though, and I also still haven't been feeling the greatest which is why I jumped at the opportunity to cook a Pennsylvanian Amish soup. Therefore tomorrow I'm going to attempt to make that, and see how it all turns out!
The other bonus to making the Chicken Corn Soup is that it happens to be the kind of thing I can picture being served at a hospital, and that so happens to be where both Beth and Sheriff Cutlip are right now in The Clearing.

"He found Beth leafing aimlessly through a magazine. 'It's getting late. Why don't I buy you supper in the cafeteria?' … … Beth played with her fork for a moment then blurted out, 'I have to tell you about Flapjack.'" (Rydder 61-62).

As The Clearing has been progressing, it's becoming more distinctively intriguing as to what's really going on to Beth's dog Flapjack. In addition it leaves one to wonder about how Sheriff Cutlip's brother is going to be affected by all of this.
I'm excited to forage onward into the next section of The Clearing, and I'm also excited to make some Chicken Corn Soup tomorrow. I hope you all check back in to see how that comes out.

See you then!

It Wouldn't Be Pennsylvanian Without A Philly Cheesesteak

Hey everyone, sorry for the late post. Some stuff came up this evening, like going out to dinner and other nonsense. (Test driving a new car for instance…)

I will say I stretched on this one, but you can't possibly cook for a book based in Pennsylvania and not cook a Philly Cheesesteak! How perfect is it that it's also for Football Sunday tomorrow? I think it works out just swimmingly…

Moving on (because my pajamas are calling me) I wanna give you guys another passage from the book that made me wanna make a cheesesteak.

"Six wolves, massacring animals just down the road. The largest one - the size of a pony? … … "It's lunchtime. Let's have a sandwich, and I'll tell you about it." (Rydder 34).

I know it's not the most descriptive of sorts, but essentially Beth is trying to keep her daughter from realizing something is wrong with Flapjack (their dog). Nothing like a parent brush off with the promise of a surprise, and the talk of lunch to chase away a problem. It also starts to give off more of a vibe that something is truly going to start happening in this book, and it's going to get more interesting in the small town.

Who knows, but hey tomorrow you guys can at least get mine and Ricky's version of a Philly Cheesesteak. Catch you all tomorrow!

Cooking an Italian Pizza for Tomorrow

Some of you may think that cooking pizza doesn't really count, but hey to me it does. I also think sometimes it's important to cook pizza from scratch.

My family used to do pizza every Thursday night because we were addicted to Survivor (when it first started), and my dad would always toss the dough. My mom was the queen of sautéing the vegetables, and we always had speciality pizza's varying on what we were craving. I think pizza is fun to make, and I hope my rendition encapsulates what a true Italian would make in their home kitchen. 

I think the other reason why I decided this was an important recipe to make this time around was because it's kind of the first meal had when things start becoming abnormal…

"Flapjack jumped and bayed. A wide gauze bandage was wrapped snugly around his neck, and Beth looked up questioningly. Monica shrugged. 'His wounds were weeping a little, so I wrapped them. Come on inside. All Lizzie could talk about was your promise to be home for pizza night, so I went ahead and ordered it.'
As Lizzie pulled Beth's suitcase out of the trunk, Monica continued in a lower tone. 'When things settle down, we need to talk.' She looked into Beth's eyes for just a moment before she went off to set the table for dinner." (Rydder 27).

Rydder doesn't wait very long to introduce the air of mystery into The Clearing, and it leaves you wanting to read more. I personally can't wait to see when the action starts unfolding even more.

Tune in tomorrow night for some true Italian Pizza!

Book Intro: The Clearing, by Thomas Rydder

I told all of you that after reading The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard Morais that I needed a break. No not a break from reading, I could never do that, but I needed a break from just regular fiction. I needed something different. I probably spent about the last two weeks browsing for a new book that would be unique, and different from what I normally read but still had some fantasy thrown in the mix. It turns out that the book I chose was also going to be great for an October read, a fantasy thriller featuring werewolves? Can you say hello Halloween!? 

That's precisely the book I've chosen for the next month, and I can't wait to read it. It's called The Clearing by Thomas Rydder. It's been given great reviews, and some other readers have mentioned his book is reminiscent of a Stephen King novel.

I have no idea what I'll be cooking up for next month, but I know it's going to be a lot more work for me than The Hundred-Foot Journey was. I think I'm up for the challenge though. It will also give me a chance to take this book and put my own twist on passages in the form of food. (Not to mention I'll be cooking lots of Pennsylvanian Dutch!)

Without further ado, I'm going to include an excerpt from Amazon for the book, as well as a the awesome cover art.

The Clearing

By

Thomas Rydder

After twenty years in the Marine Corps, Major Frank Cutlip comes home to the quiet hills of his beloved Pennslyvania to take up a new life as the sheriff of Allegheny County.
Professor Beth Lowe took up a post at Paxton University because she became enamored with western Pennslyvania's charms, a more enduring love than she thought she would ever feel for a man.
When Beth's dog is savaged by wolves, their peaceful lives are shattered, and their fates entwined. On the brink of death, the dog not only survives but grows larger… and more vicious. A thousand-year cycle of carnage is reaching its climax once more, and the peaceful wooded hills will soon be smeared with blood.
Sheriff Cutlip leads his community in a hunt for the hidden terror, but then his own brother is bitten, his blood corrupted by the ancient evil. The sheriff must confront terrible choices, and he can't do so alone.
'The Clearing' - a novel of ordinary people thrown together in extraordinary circumstances.