Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Success With Quiche

Ever since I visited Tartine Bakery in San Francisco the other weekend and got a slice of their quiche, I have wanted to make a quiche of my own, better than any quiche I have made before. I wanted to make a really good quiche, so I turned to Deb at Smitten Kitchen because her recipes are excellent. For the custard filling and an idea of measurements to make the size of quiche I wanted, I took the example of a mushroom quiche she recently made, but added in less mushrooms and some of my own vegetables, and using pre-made crust.


Spring Quiche

Ingredients:

2 refrigerated pie crusts
10 ozs mushrooms (you can use a variety of kinds)
4 spears of asparagus
Half a zucchini
2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp dried thyme
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (shred by hand, it'll melt in better that way)
6 eggs
2 cups milk (I used soy milk)
2 cups heavy whipping cream
Freshly grated nutmeg
Salt

Instructions:
 0. Preheat oven to 325.
1. In a 9 inch Springform pan, place the pre-made pie dough. You might want to coat the pan with a little olive oil before you put the crust in but I didn't and it didn't stick. Refrigerate for later.
2. Chop up vegetables and cook for 5 minutes in a frying pan with the olive oil. Add the butter, garlic and thyme and cook on medium for 10 more minutes.
3. Whip three eggs in a bowl. Then add 1 cup milk and 1 cup heavy whipping cream, plus some salt and a few grates of the nutmeg, and beat vigorously with a whisk until frothy, 5-10 minutes. This would be a lot easier with a kitchen aid but you don't need one.
4. Take out the pan from the fridge,  add 1/4 cup of the cheese, half the vegetable mixture, and the custard mixture. Repeat the custard mixture with remaining eggs/milk/salt/nutmeg, sprinkle another 1/4 cup cheese ontop of the first custard mixture, add in the rest of vegetables, and pour in the second batch of your custard mixture to fill the pan. Then sprinkle the last 1/4 cup of the cheese ontop of that and bake in the oven for an hour and a half or until a toothpick comes out clean.
5. Let cool on a wire rack or away from the stove for 15 minutes. Place on a baking sheet, unhinge the pan and remove the outer part of the pan to cut the first piece. It's easier to cut after you cut the first piece and you can put the pan back together after that.

I've really enjoyed this quiche throughout the week. The filling is easily adaptable to other ingredients, for variety. One slice left, I think that'll be breakfast or lunch tomorrow. :)

45 comments:

  1. Hi Jen,
    Yummy! I love quiche, yours looks fabulous! When you say refrigerator pastry, it's not puff pastry right? I noticed you use soya milk rather than whole or 2% milk, is this just your preference, soya over cow's milk?

    I like your recipe packed with veggies, mushrooms, asparagus (which I love) and zucchini, the garlic with a definite zing to the mix. I will certainly try the above recipe!

    I have used a couple of recipes from epicurious, they are made with puff pastry, and turned out very nicely too. Now if you're not a fan of spinach. I'm not Popeye, but I love spinach, always have.... here's the recipe, it's quite simple actually, I lightly greased the pan, for the pastry did stick:


    http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Spinach-Puff-Pastry-Quiche-2551

    Another recipe from epicurious, this is their version of Quiche Lorraine... ham & cheese made with puff pastry too... I tweaked it a bit, I used shallots rather than green onions if I serve it for friends....some people are terrified of onions the green onion is a dead give-away. At first I never had the knack with puff pasty it frightened me for some reason. Here it is...

    http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Ham-and-Swiss-Puff-Pastry-Quiche-236565

    Now I plan to definitely try yours, it looks much bigger (thicker than mine) Thanks for sharing and also your visual aid!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, Meesh, that's exactly what I wanted-- a heartier, thicker quiche than the ones I've made in the past. Using a bigger pan was definitely a start. I just used regular refrigerated pie crust, the kind you'd use if you were making a fruit pie. It wasn't sweet at all though, which was good for the quiche. From other recipes I've read, I know that making a crust can be very complex, and I don't even have a food processor, so I thought I'd make things a little easier on myself with the crusts.

      Thanks for the recipes! I definitely want to make Quiche Lorraine soon, or some kind of quiche with ham and maybe some other vegetables.

      Soy milk is just what I happened to have on hand, because cooking all my own food I'm the only one who would use milk that I buy, and milk expires really quickly compared to soy milk which can last a month or more because it's not made from dairy. So, when I buy soy milk I have the choice of when I want to use it, without worrying it will go bad before I use it all. I do like the taste of soy milk, though.

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    2. Hey Jen!
      When I saw the visual presentation had me convinced "I HAVE TO TRY THIS" thanks for your reasoning why you substituted Soy milk to dairy milk, living on my own I buy dairy milk (not too much) as you say the expiration date is shorter. Too many times when the spirit captures me to bake, where milk is needed I think hmmmm do I have drive out to get extra? I have never actually tasted Soy milk, but I will...

      Yes, I am a farmer's daughter raised on a farm with cows and chickens...My Dad also had many field, one of the main cash crop was soya beans, thus SOY milk derivative. The soya bean paid my way in life... Thanks to you I will buy some Soy Milk, and try it too and store it for future use for baking and also drinking! I love reading what you have to post.

      As for Quiche Lorraine, ham is nice but there's "crispy bacon" too, not so pretty looking, imo tastier. You know before quiche became a national trend...I was raised on this, for special occasions it was called "une tarte pour déjeuner" a breakfast pie.... I love quiche 'cause it freezes well... Thanks for this post and sparking my memories.

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    3. I would assume soy milk is fine to use for anything that requires just regular milk. I'd just get the plain flavored and not vanilla so you can use it for both baking sweets and more savory things.

      It must have been really interesting to live on a farm! Plenty of good food, I am sure. With such a lovely French name, I am sure your breakfast pie was a treat indeed.

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    4. Thanks Jen!

      I have never realized how great it was being raised on a farm, until I got away from the rural life. Thanks for the tips for soy milk!

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  2. Mmm, mmm good @ these pics and recipes (guess the park hotdog vendor and I are heading for a break up--who knew there were healthy alternatives that look so good and are much better for you). Have a safe and wonderful weekend you, Jen. Back next week to see what's next on tap here at Epic Treats--am off to run a quick errand before getting a message out to a bright and beautiful Canadian. Peace and blessings in your path, Jen.

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    1. LOL Al, yoou and your hotdog vendor, a break-up? Oh noes, what comes next AppleBees??? Dial 911, Al's going to starve to death! Yoou make me laugh...

      Seriously, if you haven't had the pleasure to have Quiche, yoou will... because yoou prefer scrambled eggs and with Jen's recipe with the great veggies.... Pssst notice Jen doesn't add broccoli,hahahaha couldn't resist....

      This recipe should be right up your alley and as yoou often say a definite: Mmm Mmmm good!

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    2. Yes, quiche is somewhat more healthy than hot dogs, haha. I mean, if I lived in New York, I'd totally get hot dogs sometimes, especially if they were authentic New York style, but I do like quiche because it's not overly salty, and it's still filling and satisfying.

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    3. Hahaha @ Meesh's winsome sense of humour...as if I could go a week without craving a hotdog w/Pepsi, ha.

      Yes, absolutely agree with your assessment that of the two choices, Jen, Quiche is so much more healthy than hotdogs. Have to wonder how many other people simply don't have time--given the rapid pace/challenge of lifestyle management--to even consider wholesome dishes like your Ouiche recipe. Meesh is pretty sharp to notice that as good as your dish is, it's broccoli-free (Woohoo!--no sense in enjoying a dish that may lead to nightmares later--imagine giant broccoli stems with beady eyes and tattooed muscles saying repeatedly you are going to eat me or ELSE--yikes)

      Hope everyone's week is off to a great start. Meesh has shared a food that I didn't especially like while growing up...soooo, Jen, care to share something you didn't care for (please don't say stewed-tomatoes)which ran runner-up to broccoli for me. Enjoy your day : )

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    4. OMG my asparagus man is so cute! But skinny too! Al you need to eat too..Jen I love this recipe!

      Breakfast Casserole
      Recipe Courtesy of Emeril Lagasse
      Prep Time:
      12 hr 0 min
      Inactive Prep Time:
      --
      Cook Time:
      30 min
      Level:
      --
      Serves:
      --
      Ingredients
      • 6 eggs
      • 1 cup half and half
      • 2 tablespoons green onions, chopped
      • Salt and pepper
      • Butter to grease pan
      • 6 slices of Texas Toast (thick cut, crusty white bread)
      • 1 pound spicy pork sausage, cooked and drained of fat
      • 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
      Directions
      In a small bowl, beat the eggs until they loosen up. Add the half and half, and green onions. Mix well, highly season with salt and pepper and set aside.
      Butter a 12 by 10-inch baking pan. Line the pan with the bread, cutting and rearranging, if needed. Sprinkle the bread with the cooked sausage and cheese. Pour the egg mixture over the entire pan. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
      Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook covered for 25 to 30 minutes or until the egg mixture is set.
      Printed from FoodNetwork.com on Thu Apr 28 2011
      © 2011 Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserve

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    5. Ooh, that does sound quite good! One of these mornings I need to be ready early enough to make myself a nice, filling breakfast... or maybe sometime on the weekend when I have the luxury of sleeping in. I'd enjoy a good omelette.

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    6. Agree with you, Jen, so double thumbs up to the scrumptious recipe Meesh shared, sounds mmm, mmm good. Speaking of an omelette, Denny's offers a California version, mmm, mmm good...

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    7. Jen,

      For one person, it's quite a bit to eat, however like quiche it keeps. I omit the green onions in Emeril's recipe...just easier to please others. There's several breakfast casseroles here http://www.chewonthatblog.com/2010/12/20/10-yummy-christmas-breakfast-casserole-recipes/
      The nice thing is that many of these can be made the night before, pop it of the fridge and bake on Sunday morning.

      Ahhh my Al loves Denny's too!I am relieved that you eat out, at least you're eating. Tell me... do you find it expensive, eating in restaurants? I know you kid about your cooking, I betcha you would rock in barbecuing!

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  3. As for a food I've never cared for... I'd have to say, onions. Cooked they're ok, but raw and crunchy, or even undercooked, I jut can't handle them.

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    1. Hmm...
      May I ask a follow up, Jen? Is it more because of the texture, the sound or does it make your eyes tear up?

      Enjoy your day.

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    2. Hi Jen,
      You're not alone, lots of people that I know, would rather not have them in dishes. This is why if I am cooking for others, I rarely add them. I resort to adding onion powder, because for a lot it's the texture.

      I, on the other hand, love onions on burgers, hot dogs, submarines... I am not overly fond of cooked onions, they're too mushy.

      But you know what? This is what makes life interesting... I had a French teacher who would always say: "Les goûts ne se discutent pas" and the meaning is that each one is different and that you don't have to judge others' tastes.

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    3. Come to think of it... I love sauteed onions in butter, onion rings too...so I guess I love all kinds of onions. A friend of mine, when I bake a roast insists that I add two whole onions with the roast. He likes them this way, me, not soo much.

      And you Al, what are your thoughts about onions? Love em or leave em?

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    4. With all due respect to Jen and her personal tastes/choices, cannot think of eating a hotdog without onions...hold on there, please don't run away--always carry breath mints/mentos for moments like that.

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  4. I think it's a combination of the taste and the texture. They just have this really bitter taste to me. I love cooking with garlic, but I mince it up so much that I really just get the resulting flavor and don't even feel like I am literally eating garlic.

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    1. YES! Garlic many often claim that garlic has medicinal properties. Some peeps say it lowers blood pressure, others swear it helps cholesterol and reduces clotting, and some even think it protects against cancer. I’ve also heard that garlic is “healthier” 10-15 minutes after it has been crushed or minced. Is any of this true? Check it out...http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/health/garlic.html Kudos to you Jen by substituting onions to the healthy alternative!

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    2. Smart cooking, Jen! and I second Meesh's "YES!" @ the benefits of garlic. Back next week to find out what's next on tap here at your Epic Treats. Why do I always seem to leave here hungry...Safe and wonderful weekend wishes you guys.

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    3. Psst Jen, my librarian friend, you didn't tag this post...perhaps quiche, pie, breakfast or eggs

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    4. Yes, I suppose it should have some sort of tag. Even just "breakfast." I'll get right on that. :)

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  5. Safe travels Al! You are too cute for words, pack those TIC TACS and Mentos.... chewing gun too remember, it also keeps you alert!?

    I have to tell you guys this I worked in pharmacy for years. This woman would come into the store, she barely spoke English, so therefore (we had to listen/close intently) her breath reeked of garlic..

    Hind sight, a fellow pharmacist advised me on my first day of work to assist this elderly woman (as a joke) OMG, her breath was terrible, I thought she chewed garlic on her way. This woman was riddened with cancer, she had a colostomy, and other issues..ten years on the job, I made a point to closely listen to her. I wonder about Maria, she would be way over 100 years old today. Garlic breath/onion breath...who cares..if it keeps you healthy!

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    1. Bonjour Meesh!

      Merci Beaucoupe @ safe travels wishes...you raise a good point about the pros and cons of garlic(good for you, but comes with a small price @ smell). Raising a toast to you and our Jen's health--cheers!

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    2. I am definitely trying to eat a bit healthier lately. Tonight I had some spaghetti squash which was very nice, fried up with some olive oil and sprinkled with a little salt. I also snack on pistachios at work, which I've heard are quite healthy.

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    3. Good morning, Jen!

      Pretty interesting dish @ spaghetti squash...my sense of smell is tingling while thinking about the blending aroma of such a dish...sounds mmm, mmm good. Thanks for sharing the healthy benefits of pistachios--duly noted for future reference.

      What are your feelings about Trail Mix (a snacking combination of peanuts, M & M's, raisins and almonds)?

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    4. I used to eat trail mix all the time at work, actually. Not a big fan of almonds but I did like the peanuts, cashews and m&ms. I also like other variations of trail mix which have peanuts, dried cranberries, and white chocolate chips... or the same but with dried blueberries.

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    5. Hey Jen!

      Mmm... @ dried cranberries, blueberries and white chocolate chip versions...sounds like a yummy variation all around.

      Whatwith your lukewarm rating for almonds, am sitting here thinking your sister must have been happy to take Almond Joys off your hands when you guys were younger around Halloween's Trick or Treat time.

      Remind me to tell you a funny and rather interesting story about Junior Mints. Hope your week is winding down nicely. Back next week to see what's next on tap here at your Epic Treats. Enjoy your day/safe weekend wishes too.

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    6. Until I met Al, I truly did not know or eat "trail Mix" I must admit it's great! I got hooked as a snack as opposed to chips or whatever. I have never been much a fan of donuts at Timmy's, so this was great as a pick me up.

      My workplace ban "peanuts" or related products on the site, due to "severe allergies"... You know I do not get this, if I choose to eat a peanut, almond, pistachio ...who cares... it's not like we're a bunch of kids eating from each other's lunches.

      Yes, trail-mix if there's nuts included is contraband....Stupid Canucks at times are CaNUTS LOL!

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    7. I have been puzzled in the past about the huge deal people make over peanut allergies, too. I mean, you can be allergic to a lot of things. Also you are at work, and everyone has their own space, and would not knowingly share peanut products with an allergic person.

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  6. Hey Jen!

    Meesh's reference above "Psst Jen, my librarian friend," reminds me to ask if I dare how your mid-term is shaping up? Just curious, and because Meesh has great taste hopefully she'll share an answer here as well, What do librarians generally like as graduation gifts? As I think of the annual cherry blossom festival in Washington, DC I'm sitting here thinking how wonderful it would be if you actually worked at the Library of Congress someday.

    Hope all is well. Have a great week! Enjoy your day :)

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    1. Oh, midterms are long past, but thank you Al... I am working on final project now. They are going ok, I have about 15 days to finish everything. Might just finish up my major paper tonight. If I were a librarian, I think I'd like a special edition of some classic novel as a graduation gift, or maybe an authentic quill and ink set, which my wonderful Friend already got me as a present a few years ago. Next time I am in DC maybe I will visit the Library of Congress, I've heard it's amazing. My Friend will be living there soon, you know. Hope you're having a great week too Al!

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    2. Talk about being a day late and a dollar short, had no idea that you had already successfully passed the midway point--Woohoo! Meesh and I like dem apples--way to go, Jen!!!

      Hat tip to your amazing Friend's exquisite taste @ the authentic quill and ink set--brilliant idea! and something you'll cherish for the ages. Happy to hear that DC will be adding another winner to their population, and am looking forward to your next trip to visit him.

      Speaking of the Library of Congress, when I initially meet our Meesh, use to tell her--given her uncanny knack for sharing info relevant to anything we were discussing--that the Library of Congress and an IBM super computer didn't have much on her.

      Hope you are having a good week too, Jen, and thanks for wishing me the same--much appreciated. Just curious, when you mentioned "special edition of some classic novel" were you thinking 18th, 19th or early 20th Century?

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    3. OK I have to express my gift idea... 'cause I was very busy yesterday, I didn't check in.

      Well Jen's good Friend knew what to give, what a great idea! I would never had thought of that, I do love pens, all types, calligraphy, etc. I love going into stationary shops, ask any of my friends.

      But you know what? I did think of the first REAL classic novel that was read page from page to page and over /over again.

      Jen. do you recall your first classic novel that you were not "forced" to read at school but you did on your own, and thoroughly enjoyed? How about you AL?

      OK, mine was my oldest sister's book. I would go into her bedroom (without being accused of snooping, I was LOL) I read her copy of Charlotte Brontë's JANE EYRE that sat on her bedstand. I read it in record time, just so she would not discover that I had been in her room! Till this day, there's fond memories attached to reading this book.

      And yes eventually, I fessed up and asked my sister if I could read it once again... I did admit I rushed through it on the first read, without her knowledge! She gladly obliged and lent me her copy....but you know what the sneaking around made it more adventurous. LOL

      The first "book" that was the "hook" would be a special gift!

      Along with Al, special "congrats Jen!" yes, we love 'dem apples....LOL

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    4. Good question, Meesh! Probably the first classic novel I read for leisure was Little Women. My grandmother bought me a very nice, pretty hard copy of it for Christmas one year, and I loved reading from a young age. I also used to read the Anne of Green Gables series. :)

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    5. Impressive reading, ladies...proving you guys are the classy people I think you are. Not sure if you guys are aware of "To Kill a Mockingbird" written by Harper Lee, but to my surprise, once I overcame my initial resistance to read it in class--absolutely enjoyed it.


      Do you ladies dare share what makes for an ideal beverage and snack combination when you find yourselves absorbed in a good book?

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    6. Jen,
      Ah Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, what a wonderful gift and book! I could relate with that story in a sense ... the Marsh sisters were four girls, my family, were six girls growing up under the same roof. Jo's character makes me think of one of my older sisters as we grew up! She would write little plays many were based on the book...where we would act the parts.

      Now oddly enough, this brings me to Al's question (favourite snack or drink when reading) till this day Al, I rarely drink or eat anything while reading. I think the reason for this Al, is that as one of the younger girls, we had hand me downs (in clothing) and yes, that meant to borrow, their books, if they hadn't grown out of them. Their books were always better than the baby stuff in the toy room.

      My sister who I shared a bedroom collected Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, and boy was she ever strict....she was two whole years older than me LOL. She allowed me to read her books, with strict rules, no finger smudges, no crumbs, and no dog ears on the corner of the pages as a bookmark.

      She grounded me from reading her books for a solid week because she found a couple of cookie crumbs on a page. It was the end of the world! Yeh she was sort of a drama queen at times. LOL Well anyway, after that I made sure never to let that happen again.

      It's funny how you condition yourself to make sure not to let things happen again, or I did.... I think I was seven when this occurred, we shared bedrooms till my teens, when she finally went off to college!

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    7. ok ok ok...my conscience is bothering me, there were two smudges (milk) too...just in case my sister happens to read this LOL
      As a gag birthday gift, once we had all moved on our own. years later after the fact... My sister had a birthday I bought her a brand new book ---> http://www.nancydrewsleuth.com/oldclockaudiotape.jpg With a simple inscription... "sorry L, here's a new book, M" When she looked at it, she "claimed" she had forgotten all about that... (eye roll) yeh right!

      OK to comment on Al's book Harper Lee's "Too Kill A Mockingbird" a fascinating book, unfortunately I did not take this in school, I was taught Shakespeare who I learnt to appreciate within my teachings. But WOW! it must have been a great literary piece to take apart. I would have loved to attend your class!

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    8. I read To Kill A Mockingbird in high school, it was an interesting book. I also saw the classic film version with Gregory Peck. He's one of my favorites. He played the role of Atticus (that's the father's name, right?) very well.

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  7. I enjoy classic novels from a variety of eras, even some medeival novels. Whichever novel it might be, it would probably be written before the 1980s. My Friend gave me a bunch of his novels that were written a lot more recently than the classics I usually read, but these novels were still classics, just written in the 1900s. Among them: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Farenheight 451, Catch-22, The Fall, and The Plague.

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  8. Talk about a match made in heaven...you guys have soooo MUCH in common...what a keeper!

    Of those good reads you mentioned above, can remember our teacher, following the completion of "To Kill a Mockingbird", giving us a choice of reading "Catch-22" or reading "Brian's Song" aloud in class. There are times when I wish we had chosen "Catch-22" because, interestingly enough, I've often seen it on the shelf in the library, and a few bookstores.

    May I trouble you for a brief synop', Jen? Thanks in advance...am scrambling out--back next week--safe travels.

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    1. Catch-22 is basically just about a group of soldiers and their adventures/ memories from one of the World Wars, and how their experiences effected them after the war. It's a really interesting book. It's very psychological, almost like you can see into the characters' heads. Different characters narrate different chapters, so it's a really interesting writing style.

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  9. The comments wouldn't let me reply directly to the other comment, but as for my favorite snack/drink while reading... I'd have to say hot tea, but I'm not sure about a food, because like Meesh I'd be concerned about getting crumbs/smudges on the pages. I do a lot of reading at my computer though, and sometimes I eat while I'm at my computer... usually dinner, which is often some sort of pasta dish, or maybe soup, which isn't really to say that in general I eat pasta and soup while reading, but that I sometimes multitask eating meals while reading for my classes.

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