What I'm Reading | November 2013

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I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! November has been a breath of fresh air for me, allowing me to slow down, read, and breathe in a way I haven't been able to do since June. The getaway to one of my favorite places in the world also helped. Here are the links that have inspired me this month.

A blog after my own heart

A line of tea inspired by classic novels

A granola master spills all

What recipe testing looks like

How writing is like marathon running

New blogs I'm enjoying getting to know: Wit+Aroma, Top with Cinnamon, Wit & Vinegar, and The Tart Tart.

It's not November without an endless supply of new pumpkin recipes to try. Currently loving pumpkin spice snack bars, pumpkin bruschetta, and pumpkin salsa.

I haven't eaten one of these in about two years, but now I know why they're so addicting. Someone please tell me I can make these at home!

Luisa, Deb, and Amanda talk blogging, cooking, and writing

Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell's correspondence hits the stage.  

Exploring the world's greatest libraries

The death of letter-writing

How photography connects us

Do you have a long commute? My latest guest post for Positive Writer offers tips for staying creative on the road. 

Living With Poetry | The Kindness of Strangers + Pumpkin Hummus

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Living with Poetry is an occasional series where we explore how poetry infuses our everyday lives. Catch up with past features here.

The morning of October 18th, my alarm went off at 5:45 am. I washed my face and dressed in a rush, then started the car before the sun came up. I had an hour's drive ahead of me to the hospital where my mom was having surgery that morning.

When I saw her, she requested something healthy for lunch, so I strolled the farmer's market (conveniently located at the hospital) looking for a few things to pick up for her. A woman selling hummus gave me samples. I told her it was for my mom who was in surgery, and that I'd probably be back in a bit to choose something. 

When I returned, she asked how my mom was, and suggested tabbouleh because the parsley would be easy to digest. Also, a pumpkin hummus that would be healthy and comforting.  

A nurse standing at the hospital entrance asking if we'd gotten our flu shots yet. A volunteer reminding everyone in the waiting room that the market would close at 1 pm. And a woman selling more than 10 varieties of hummus on a typical Friday morning, sweet enough to ask how your mom is doing. 

There is poetry in kindness, don't you think?

PUMPKIN HUMMUS

You can make this taste more like pumpkin pie, but I prefer a lighter hand with the warm spices. Just a pinch is all you need. If you'd like to increase the spice, start small, taste, and add more until it tastes right to you.

2 cups garbanzo beans
1/3 cup tahini
1/3 cup pumpkin puree
1/3 cup water
1 garlic clove
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pinch cinnamon
Pinch nutmeg

Add everything to the food processor and let it run for several minutes, until very smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Serve with a drizzle of oil and a sprinkle of cinnamon.