Kielbasa with creamy tomato sauce

16 oz bowtie pasta

2/3 pkg kielbasa
3 oz tomato paste
1-2 c water
1 tsp bouillon
1 tbs flour
salt, garlic and pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions.

In a separate pan, saute kielbasa. When browned, add flour, salt, garlic, and pepper. Stir. Next, add water, bouillon, tomato paste. Stir. Simmer until at desired thickness. Mix with pasta, and serve!

Alternate version: stir in some cheese after the sauce is at the desired thickness. I used swiss (about 2 Tbs) and cheddar (maybe 1/4 cup?)

Discussion questions for Kilmeny of the Orchard

So my book club will be discussing Kilmeny of the Orchard at our next meeting. Since I choose the book, I was curious to see what kind of discussion questions were out there for it.

I found none.

So I decided to create some of my own!

Some of the themes, on the surface of the book, are that love conquers all; unyielding pride causes difficulty not just for the prideful one, but also for their loved ones; eugenics; and the beauty of nature and of people with pure hearts.

1. Let's get the ugly one taken care of right now. The book uses an "Italian peasant" as the villain. It really gives no reason for his bad character except his heritage and "otherness." Near the beginning of the book, "good breeding" is referred to several times as an essential trait for a good match. However, in other respects, this book is very progressive for its time. Coeds are discussed in very positive language and are described as just as capable as the men intellectually. This was before WWII and eugenics were very popular. However, according to most eugenicists, people with any major defect were considered unfit, including those who were deaf or "dumb."
What do you think this book shows about the views on eugenics of the time? How does it align with them? How does it refute them?

2. The book goes into great detail about why Eric is such an eligible match: he's educated, handsome, rich, young, well born, popular, and has a promising future ahead of him. However, it seems like Kilmeny's lack of speech is a very real obstacle to their marriage, as many of the characters (David, Eric, Mrs. Williamson, the Gordons, even Kilmeny herself!) point out. Kilmeny has to be essentially perfect in all other ways to make up for it! Today, something as trivial as being mute would hardly stand in the way of two people in love.
Why do you think this was such an issue in this story?
How do you think this book affected the way people thought of eugenics, especially in respect to physically "unfit" people?

3. What of the sin of the parent being brought upon the innocent child? In the book, the consequence is merely fantastical. However, there are real-life applications of this principle.
When have you seen an innocent suffer from the sins of another person, especially a child?
How does knowing that someone's defects may be caused by another person's sins make you act toward them?

4. Nature is heavily featured in the book. Did you relate to the lyrical descriptions of the sunset, the woods, the flowers, or the orchard? Would you like to see the orchard described in the book? Why?

5. How would it make you feel to be loved as wholly as Kilmeny is, to be seen for you are without having to say a word?

6. What would the world be like if you could look into someone's eyes and tell their character, like Eric, David, and Eric's father can when they meet Kilmeny?

7. Given that Neil is unmistakenly the villain, why do you think that Montgomery puts in the tidbit near the end about him selling his own filly to obtain money for his journey?

8. How do you think we should approach books that espouse a different moral system than our own?




Please, if you find a site that includes discussion questions for this book, link to it in the comments! I would love to see what other questions people have to discuss.

Dairy free hot chocolate!!!

Almost since the day I abandoned dairy, I have been hankering after a nice hot cup of cocoa! Especially these last few weeks of really cold weather.

Pretty much every recipe I found, especially for chocolate mix, called for some form of dairy (in the mix it was powdered milk).

So I adapted this recipe and came up with the following, which you can use water for!

Single serving dairy free hot cocoa :)

1.5 T baking cocoa
2 T sugar
1/2 t vanilla
1 t oil (I used canola. You might be able to use a little less)

1 C hot water

Stir together cocoa and sugar in a mug; add vanilla and oil. Stir until combined. Add hot water, stir thoroughly, and voila! Hot cocoa is served!