Good morning, friendo. It’s very nice to see you. I hope you had a great week.
I hate saying it, but I’m still fighting the sick I’ve been dealing with the last three weeks. The working theory right now: I started with COVID, which turned into pneumonia, which finished off with a touch of influenza. A good friend last week advised me to rest and take whatever pills the doctor prescribes, so I’ve been doing just that.
Grab a mug. Pour some fresh tea from the pot. Let’s do this.
Reading
All of my adventures this past week are those that can be experienced on the couch, so strap in for some real excitement.
As I told the members of my Patreon last week in my weekly postscript, I’m back into reading in a big way. It has honestly been years since I’ve had this good a relationship with the books on my bedside table. It is just a wonderful gift to pick up a book and know I’ll be able to read and enjoy it without it lingering at the edge of my attention for six months or more.
Last week, this wonderful little middle-grade fiction book came to me by way of Erin. Ignore the age on this book, it’s for everyone. It’s The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. It is really a magical book that feels both old and new at the same time. Set in medieval France, it features a young boy (named Boy) who finds himself on an adventure with an unlikely pilgrim. There are so many delightful surprises in it, I hardly want to give anything away. All I can say is: read it. You won’t regret it.
Refried beans
My friend Martin and I have been trading bean recipes the last few months. We are bean brothers, through and through. A few weeks back, he sent me this recipe for refried beans. I don’t have much of a relationship with refried beans, so I put it on the shelf in my mind as something I could make on a rainy day.
I was feeling up to a bit of cooking last weekend and was able to whip up a batch. They really are quite simple. The ingredients are as basic can be, so I was not prepared for the results. This is one recipe where the sum is greater than the whole. I slopped some beans fresh from the pan into a corn tortilla with a bit of white onion and cheddar. I’m telling you. This is simply the nicest taco I’ve ever eaten. I cannot wait to eat this identical thing again. The lime and garlic and cilantro just really sang together beautifully.
A 10/10 bean experience. Thank you, bean bro Martin.
I’m really sorry, pals. I’m going to turn it in early this week. I hate to cut our Sunday mornings short, but I’m just pooped. I’m sure I’ll be back to fighting form next Sunday.
Thanks, as always, to the members of my Patreon. I promise to always keep this weekly newsletter free for everyone to enjoy, and you’re what help me keep the lights on. To sign up to support, visit patreon.com/the_quack. I send a bit of bonus newsletter to my patrons every week.
I hope you have a great week. If you see my mum, give her a birthday squeeze for me.