Monthly Review: May 2024
- r.m. allen
- Jun 4, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 3, 2024
I’m just a little black rain cloud
a listless, leaking, leftover balloon tangled in a tree
a crumpled tissue
a tornado siren
a lonely mailbox and an angry inbox
a flat round of applause for someone else’s joy
a soaking, squishing pair of shoes with too far yet to go
a voice crying in the wilderness
a damper on things
a puddle in a hole.
But you have flashed a lightning glory before my tired eyes
lit my darkness
searched me
seen me
captured my tears in your bottle.
For you are beautiful when I am ugly
good when I am wicked
right here when I am yet afar off
showering me with goodness all my days (yes, even these).
Here's what I read, cooked, and created in the month of May.
What I Read
Ferris, Kate DiCamillo (★★★★★)
The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster (★★★★★)––reread
Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God, Tim Challies (★★★★★)
UnSouled, Neal Shusterman (★★★★)
UnDivided, Neal Shusterman (★★★★)
As Long as You Need: Permission to Grieve, J. S. Park (★★★★)
Odder, Katherine Applegate (★★★)
Elatsoe, Darcy Little Badger (★★)
The Falling Between Us, Ash Parsons (★)
If you want to hear the rationale behind my rating, head to my Goodreads for full reviews.
What I Cooked
Difficulty: ★★
Flavor: ★★★★★
Keeper: Yes
Comments: This is a riff on the chicken tinga tacos in the HBH Super Simple cookbook, which I have been making for 4 years now. I liked the sheet pan cooking method and the addition of the cumin and oregano. What really made these next level for me was the little avocado and jalapeño situation, which I have already remade twice.
Difficulty: ★★
Flavor: ★★★
Keeper: Eh
Comments: HBH tacos are among my favorite meals, but I'm just not sure we needed to make pot roast into tacos.
Difficulty: ★★
Flavor: ★★★★
Keeper: Yes
Comments: Definitely best hot and fresh and not rewarmed a couple of days later. But very good.
Difficulty: ★★
Flavor: ★★★
Keeper: Not sure
Comments: I don't think I had enough peaches or the right size of cake pan, so that's on me. This cake, however, did not hold up very well––it was a little soupy in the middle but then cracking apart as well, so it looked terrible, although it was reasonably well-received. The hot honey flavor with the peaches was lovely and certainly may have other applications.
Difficulty: ★★
Flavor: ★★★
Keeper: Probably not, but I may reuse the concept
Comments: I love a large cookie covered in chocolate chips as much as the next gal, but this particular cookie base was just a little dry and bitter for my taste. With a different batter, though, these would be next level.
What I Created
A cool little project to use as an example for my students
May your days be filled with beauty, and may your heart be filled with the willingness to see and give thanks for it.
Comments