Heartburn by Nora Ephron is featured at Cook the Books

The featured book at Cook the Books is Heartburn by Nora Ephron hosted by Simona at Briciole. Great selection for this round.

“I look out the window and I see the lights and the skyline and the people on the street rushing around looking for action, love, and the world's greatest chocolate chip cookie, and my heart does a little dance.”
― Nora Ephron, Heartburn

“I married him against all evidence. I married him believing that marriage doesn't work, that love dies, that passion fades, and in so doing I became the kind of romantic only a cynic is truly capable of being.”

What a way with words. What a loss to have Nora Ephron gone from this world. I was`reading I Fell Bad About My Neck by Nora when I heard the news of her death. Talented, gracious, funny.....a favored author and script writer.



I’d wager there are quite a few of us out there who have experienced a bad breakup, our pride hurt and served with a side of humiliation. Then we have the imaginings of destroying the ex-husband/boyfriend in print. Yes… assuaging our injured heart with revenge. Good for you, Nora Ephron. She had the verbal and intellectual skills to realize that dream and exorcise the beast called “cheating husband.”

The star of the book is Rachel. She is a cookbook author, seven months pregnant with child number two and married to Mark Feldman. It is discovered that Mark is in love with another woman whom Nora/Rachel cleverly describes as having "a neck as long as an arm and a nose as long as a thumb and you should see her legs." Ouch!

The realization her marriage is over and her acceptance of it comes at the end with the vinaigrette recipe. As Rachel put it,

“Even now, I cannot believe Mark would want to risk losing that vinaigrette. You just don't bump into vinaigrettes that good.”

That must be why she saved the recipe for the end of the book. It was too good to leave. She was too good to leave. Her marriage was over but her life wasn’t and she moved on and prospered. The story is told in a conversational tone is an easy read, easy to follow. The bonus here are the recipes.

Bacon Hash




I also made bread...here is a loaf, fresh out of the oven.


And for kicks and grins...here is the famous vinaigrette recipe:

Vinaigrette
MAKES ABOUT 1 CUP

2 tablespoons Grey Poupon mustard
2 good red wine vinegar
6 tablespoons olive oil
Mix mustard with vinegar.
Then, whisking constantly with a fork, slowly add 6 tablespoons olive oil until the vinaigrette is thick and creamy.
This makes a very strong vinaigrette that’s perfect for salad greens like arugola, watercress and endive.
(From Heartburn by Nora Ephron)

That's it for me. Please check out Cook The Books and sample the goodies from other reviewers and chefs in our blogosphere.

The announcement for the upcoming book schedule may be found HERE so be sure to check that out.

The next book up is The Hunger Games hosted at Girlichef's site. This event will be combined with Food 'n Flix so you may review the book and the movie. Sweet!
Looking forward to some delicious dishes inspired from The Hunger Games. Join in if you can!

“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart.”
― Erma Bombeck