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This, That, and The Other Thing

Month

April 2021

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival

Food tasting at Knotts Berry Farm with all food options to include something boysenberry. Sounds weird, doesn’t it, but it works surprisingly well. I enjoyed a fun day with my daughter and granddaughter. For the 3 of us, the cost of our admission included 15 tastes. Without exception, all the tastes could easily be shared, so we were stuffed by the end of our “three-hour tour” (Only you old folks would get that reference).

We didn’t want to waste one of our tastes on the Boysenberry Basil Lemonade, so I purchased that separately – $25.85 for three. It’s a good thing they were tasty. First stop was Funnel Cake with Boysenberry Ice Cream, Lemon Drizzle and White Chocolate Sprinkles and Boysenberry, and the Lemon and Almond Loaf. That was breakfast.

Next was the Boysenberry BBQ Carne Asada Pizza and Beer Cheese Soup in Bread Bowl with Boysenberry Drizzle and Brown Butter Croutons. The pizza was extra good!!

All this took place inside the park where the rides and other attractions would normally be going on. It was beautifully laid out with lots of signage, a map of the tasting stations and all Covid protocols in place.

Now, on to the Apple and Chicken Sausage with Boysenberry Mustard on Boysenberry Bun, the BBQ Brisket Mac & Cheese (pretty yummy) and Beyond Meatballs with Boysenberry BBQ Sauce over Cauliflower Cilantro Rice (some more yumminess).

Boysenberry Meatloaf with Scalloped Potatoes, Pastrami Sandwich on Pretzel Bun with Provolone Cheese and Boysenberry Mustard (pastrami a little too thick and chewy), and Mac & Cheese Bites over French Fries with Boysenberry Siracha Ketchup.

We were getting to the point where we were wondering if our stomachs could hold much more – actually we were past that point! There was a coffin in Ghost Town with my name on it. Epitaph to read “The last bite was just too much!”.

We managed to taste the Mexican Street Corn Chowder with Boysenberry Tortilla Strips and a couple bites of the Boysenberry Balsamic Brussel Sprouts. Thank goodness for a heads up on taking to-go containers because we just could not eat one more bit of anything more. We took home –

Salmon and Orzo Salad with Boysenberry on Spinach with Cucumber and Pineapple Aqua Fresca, a Boysenberry Key Lime Tart, and the Turkey Sandwich on Hawaiian Bun, with Brie Cheese, Mixed Greens, Boysenberry Cranberry Relish.

We agreed that this is something that we might do again. Knott’s has several of these during the year. It would be interesting to see just how many foods can be combined with boysenberries. Alcohol is also served, but we were wise enough not to imbibe.

The Other Thing – Food Critique is called for here. Consensus was that our favorites were the Carne Asada Pizza, Meatballs with Cauliflower Cilantro Rice, and the BBQ Brisket Mac & Cheese. Mac and Cheese was probably from a box but tasted good with how it was presented. My daughter’s Brussel sprouts are far better than Knott’s. Hers are nicely charred and crisp with right amount of balsamic. The Salmon and Orzo salad was pretty good. I ate my share of that at home later when I wasn’t so full.

My Book Favs

I started a Reader’s Log in 1997 and as of March, 2021, I have read 1,040 books. I think all written word has a degree of relevance, but some are worth mentioning to my readers who share my love of books. If you’re not much a reader, you can can exit now and go on with your day. Reader Alert for those continuing out of curiosity, there are no photos in this blog.

In the early 90s, I joined my first book club – at Barnes & Noble at Marina Pacifica Mall in Long Beach. I was looking for a non-fiction group but it met on a night I was unavailable. That is how I became a fan of mysteries. First novel in my Log was “Daughter of Time” by Josephine Tey.

“The Poet” was the fifth mystery novel by Michael Connelly and probably my favorite in the crime/mystery genre. Plot is about the supposed suicide of the main character’s brother – it kept me guessing. I like not being able to figure out the ending. I don’t care for the obvious.

“We Were the Mulvaneys” by Joyce Carol Oates is a story of how one tragic event affects the lives of everyone in this small town family. You really care for these characters.

“Black Water” by Robert B. Parker is the last Spencer novel before the author’s death.

“The Stand” and “11-22-63” are my two favorite of Stephen King’s 85 novels. I have read them all. No gore and creepy stuff in these. Even if you don’t like King, you might actually like these.

I read Larry McMurphy’s Pulitzer prize winning “Lonesome Dove” in 1987. I was dating a cowboy at the time, and this was his favorite book. My friends called him the Marlboro Man, and he really was quite yummy – but I digress – on with the book recommendations.

“Hitchhiker’s Gide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams and “The 5 People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albon are interesting reads.

Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood has been made into a Hulu series

“The Good Earth” by Pearl Buck is a classic worth reading again.

“Black Dahlia” by James Elroy is based on the 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short in Los Angeles. Crime was never solved.

“1 for the Money” to “Tantalizing 27” by Janet Evanovich writes about bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, and are easy and fun reads when you are bored with nothing else to do. I have read them all so I must have been bored quite a lot!!

The 7 books in the “Outlander” series by Diana Galbaldon are favorites of mine. It involves time travel and the consequences of going back and forth in time. Very compelling and habit forming.

“Touch” by Elmore Leonard was rejected several times until published. Some consider it his best.

Author John Krakauer was actually on this Everest climb in “Into Thin Air”.

“I, The Jury” by Mickey Spillane is a classic gumshoe introducing PI Mike Hammer.

“Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tam

“The Four Agreements” by Don Manuel Ruiz

“The Ice House” first novel by Minette Walters

The Onion Field” the first and my favorite of Joseph Wambaugh’s 20+ novels

Burro Genius” is author Victor Villasenor’s story of going to school in the 1940s Orange County, and how his lack of English presented challenges. Teachers felt he was stupid and lazy – how he overcame racism to become a successful writer.

“Galadria Trilogy” by Miguel Lopez DeLeon is young adult fantasy. I am an old adult, and I love them. Read these first three, and you will want to read the rest. Number 8 will be out soon.

Repairman Jack is the main character in a series of novels by F. Paul Wilson.. To relate Jack’s adventures, he uses realistic thriller-like situations to tell a story with a supernatural theme.

The Other Thing – As a 1970s housewife, “The Flame and the Flower” by Kathleen Woodiwiss was a fun escape. Romance novels like this (aka bodice rippers) were improper in every sense, but oh such fun.

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