I Love Magazines

I love magazines! When one comes in the mail I have to hold myself back from sitting down right there and reading it cover to cover. I try to spread out the reading so that I can enjoy it as many days as possible. But, it is hard what with its enticing front cover trailers, bright colors and tempting pictures of food. Don’t get me wrong, I read books too. Just last week I read Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean about the siege on Leningrad by the Germans and about Marina who works as a tour guide in the Hermitage Museum with all the masters paintings of the Madonnas. It is my book club’s selection for this month. It was interesting and quite historical. But not one picture! And very meager food mentioned as they are in a famine and all, unless you can call eating pine needles, food, which they did.

I have been trying to eliminate my stacks of magazines, what with it being the new year and articles on organization in every January issue and all. So, I’ve been giving each one a quick look- through before saying farewell to my comfy friends. But, have you seen the tantalizing recipes in them lately? I have to admit that next to magazines, I love cookbooks and recipes. So, I have been holding myself down trying not to tear out half the magazine that I am throwing out in a few minutes. But it is hard. Just listen to this recipe: Olive Medley Pinwheels that uses black, green and kalamata olives mixed with cream cheese, lemon peel and garlic, spread on warm tortillas, rolled up with sweet pepper strips. Refrigerate, then cut into ½” slices. Doesn’t that just sound like the best little hors d'oeuvres or mini side dish? I could take that to my next cocktail party or pot luck. Except that I never get invited to cocktail parties! and any pot luck dishes need to have more substance to them. But I’ve torn it out just in case.

(This is my cookbook shelves--overflowing and much used.)

But, listen to this one: Orange-cranberry cake (and the color picture looks delicious in its bundt cake shape with the exposed cranberries in perfect placement and the orange glaze sliding down the sides of it. I know that we’ve just gone through plenty of sweets during the holidays and I am now trying to lose the pounds from over-indulging myself on all manor of baked goods containing enough butter to deep-fry a turkey but, I can tell from the picture that it would taste soo good. And maybe I might need this recipe in March when I have given up all hope of losing the 3” around my waist and that particular day might just need a little snack of fresh cranberry with infused orange cake. I’ll save it just in case. But, I must keep going, I have only gotten through my December Better Homes and Garden magazine. And Martha, Oprah, Mary and my Country magazines are calling!