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science fiction

The Midnight Library + Broccoli and Ricotta Toast

March 23, 2021 by Megan 2 Comments

Like so many hyped books before it, The Midnight Library excited me and gave me pause. I was immediately drawn to it from the description — a story about multiple lives lived and making right on past regrets — but the over-enthusiasm I saw everywhere pushed me away. I was, of course, afraid it wouldn’t live up to the hype. Ultimately, though, I knew I would regret not picking it up, and so I did. It was amazing.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Available on Bookshop.org and Amazon

Matt Haig created a novel about a library in which every book contains another life Nora Seed could’ve lived. She is free to explore as many lives as she chooses, until she finds one that suits her, where she’s fulfilled, and then she will stay. In one life, Nora is famous; in another, a scientist; and in another, she just eats toast. In some lives, she is married or single, a mother or not. Family and friends who have died are now alive, and sometimes those who were living have passed on. When picking a regret to correct, Nora never quite knows what will happen in the new story of her life — she must open the book and live it. 

I loved the concept. I loved the execution. Of course, I also loved that inside every book was a different life to live. And that Nora had a wonderful librarian to guide her in her journey. I was absolutely riveted and finished the entire novel within 24 hours. It made me think and feel… lots and lots of emotions. 

“Librarians have knowledge. They guide you to the right books. The right worlds. They find the best places. Like soul-enhanced search engines.” 

The Midnight Library, Matt Haig

The life where Nora eats toast is literally one line in the novel — "In one life she only ate toast." — but it stood out to me in a story where food wasn’t paid much attention. 

The other exception being a life in which Nora has a husband who "tended to put a whole bulb of garlic in every meal he created." (Sounds like an excellent husband to me!) In that same life, she enjoys "a great garlicky pasta-and-broccoli meal." Together, these things brought me to my recipe: Broccoli and Garlic-Ricotta Toasts.

If you love roasted garlic and roasted broccoli and snackables, you will love this recipe. I couldn’t get enough and was really sad when they were gone. Thankfully, making them was easy; I fully plan to make them again.

First, I toasted the baguette slices and roasted the broccoli and garlic. I sliced the baguette into thin (half inch) cuts on the bias and made sure the broccoli was cut into smallish florets so they would fit on the toasts later. 

Broccoli and garlic for roasting

Once the bread was golden, I took it out of the oven and let the broccoli continue roasting.

Toasted baguette slices

When the broccoli and garlic were done — a little brown on the edges — I pulled the pan out and let it cool enough to handle the garlic. While it cooled, I quickly mixed together the drizzle, which was just honey, white wine vinegar and red pepper flakes. Then, when it was cool enough, I squished the garlic out of the peel and into a bowl. 

Roasted garlic and hot-honey sauce

I mixed the garlic with ricotta cheese to make the spread for the toast.

Roasted garlic and ricotta spread

Then, I assembled the toasts. I spread each piece generously with the garlic-ricotta mixture, placed 2-3 pieces of broccoli on each, and then arranged them on a tray, drizzling them with the hot honey sauce before serving.

Broccoli and ricotta toasts

I know if I ever lived a life where all I ate was toast, this would be the one I want. I could eat this forever and ever. 

Broccoli toasts inspired by The Midnight Library
Broccoli and ricotta toasts
Print Recipe

Broccoli and Ricotta Toasts

Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time40 mins
Course: Appetizer
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 1 baguette sliced ½" thick on a diagonal (about 12 slices)
  • 6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil divided
  • 1 head of broccoli florets chopped into ½" pieces
  • 1 head of garlic cloves separated
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp. honey
  • 1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
  • ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1½ cups fresh ricotta
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 400°. Arrange bread slices in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with 2 Tbsp. oil. Toss on baking sheet to coat, then arrange again in a single layer. Place broccoli and garlic on another rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with remaining 4 Tbsp. oil. Season generously with salt and toss to combine.
  • Place broccoli on top rack and bread on bottom rack and roast until bread is golden brown and crisp, 10–12 minutes. Remove bread from oven and continue to roast broccoli and garlic, tossing once, until broccoli is browned all over and garlic is tender, another 15–20 minutes. Let cool slightly.
  • Meanwhile, whisk honey, vinegar, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
  • As soon as garlic is cool enough to handle, squeeze cloves out of their skins and mash in another small bowl to form a paste. Add ricotta and mix well; season with salt and black pepper.
  • Spread ricotta over toasts and top with roasted broccoli. Arrange on a platter and drizzle with honey mixture.

Notes

From: Bon Appetit

This post contains affiliate links. This does not increase the price you pay, but I may receive a small commission for any products you choose to buy. Purchases made through affiliate links help to cover my blogging costs. Thank you for helping to support The Hungry Bookworm! Full disclosure here.

Filed Under: book review, recipe Tagged With: appetizer, dinner party, easy prep, fantasy, favorites, fiction, science fiction, vegetarian, veggies

Show Us Your Books Reading Recap — What I Read in February

March 9, 2021 by Megan 6 Comments

I’m shocked to report that I’ve already read 20 books this year! At this rate, I should probably up my 2021 reading goal, but I’m kind of loving that it can give me the luxury of finally checking out some of those reallllllly long books that have been sitting on my TBR forever — so for now I’m leaving it. This last month also gave me my first AND second 5-star reads of the year, which is awesome. Let’s dive into what I read and see if there’s any you’d like to check out.

[Read more...] about Show Us Your Books Reading Recap — What I Read in February

Filed Under: book review, of interest Tagged With: book club, book list, fiction, historical fiction, memoir, mini review, science fiction, short story, show us your books

Kindred + Upside-Down Peach Cake

August 18, 2020 by Megan 1 Comment

Octavia Butler’s Kindred is a book I’ve always wanted to read, and thankfully, finally got around to thanks to my book club. In the 1970s, this was the first science fiction novel written by a black woman. It became Butler’s best-selling novel, and she went on to win multiple Hugo and Nebula awards. 

Kindred by Octavia E Butler

In Kindred, Dana is a 26-year-old black woman living in California with her husband, a white man named Kevin. Inexplicably, on her birthday, she is pulled back in time to the antebellum South, where she rescues a young boy named Rufus. She is only there long enough to save him and just as suddenly as she appeared, disappears back in the present. As the story goes on, Dana continues to be drawn back into Rufus’ life to save him. Until she is pulled back to her time, she must learn to blend in, which means, in that time and place, becoming a slave.

[Read more...] about Kindred + Upside-Down Peach Cake

Filed Under: book review, recipe Tagged With: baking, book club, dessert, easy prep, fruit, historical fiction, science fiction

The Martian + Garlic-Herb Roasted Potatoes

May 26, 2020 by Megan 4 Comments

I’m sure many of you have read Andy Weir’s popular novel The Martian. For me, it was a rare re-read. I figured re-reading a book I loved would be a perfect way to guide me gently back into my regular reading life, and I was right. I knew exactly what to expect from Mark Watney and his time on Mars. It was just what I needed.

The Martian by Andy Weir

For those of you who haven’t read The Martian (or seen the movie, which is basically just as good, though a touch different, particularly at the end), I’ll give you a brief synopsis. A crew of astronauts is hanging out on Mars when an unexpected storm arrives, causing them to evacuate. During the evacuation, a man named Mark Watney is separated from the rest of the crew and left on Mars alone. He has to do what he can to survive until help can arrive… hopefully. 

[Read more...] about The Martian + Garlic-Herb Roasted Potatoes

Filed Under: book review, recipe Tagged With: fiction, quick read, science fiction, side dish

Recursion + Huevos Rancheros

July 14, 2019 by Megan 2 Comments

As you may recall, Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter was one of my favorite books the year I read it. So, naturally, when I heard he was releasing a new similarly thrilling sci-fi novel, I was looking forward to it. I was lucky enough to get a copy of Recursion through NetGalley before its release (though it’s available now; it came out June 11th). And, most importantly, I am so happy to report it lived up to my high expectations! 

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Just like with Dark Matter, it’s hard to describe Recursion without giving too much away. But here’s what I can tell you: Barry Sutton is a New York City cop who stumbles into an investigation on something called False Memory Syndrome, in which those affected suddenly have a whole set of real, vivid memories from another lifetime; one they haven’t actually lived. Helena Smith is a researcher obsessed with memory. She has dedicated her life to trying to preserve those memories most precious to us, so they never get lost. 

[Read more...] about Recursion + Huevos Rancheros

Filed Under: book review, recipe Tagged With: breakfast, brunch, eggs, quick read, science fiction, thriller

The One + Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

January 19, 2019 by Megan 7 Comments

I recently heard about John Marrs’ novel The One on the Currently Reading podcast, in an episode about “Books to Blow Your Socks Off.” (The episode was also amazing because it included an interview with Delia Owens, who wrote a wonderful recent favorite of mine, Where the Crawdads Sing.) The description was brief but intriguing, and I immediately rushed to get a copy from the library.

The One by John Marrs

It takes place in a “near future,” one in which it has been discovered that people can be matched to their soulmates through their DNA. It’s 10 years after that discovery, and those who have been lucky enough to find “the one” are considered Matched and those who are still waiting are Unmatched. Because you can be matched to literally anyone, racism, homophobia, and religious and other prejudices no longer exist.

[Read more...] about The One + Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

Filed Under: book review, recipe Tagged With: dinner, easy prep, favorites, fiction, pasta, science fiction, thriller

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