Honorary Blogger The Tipsy Bibliophile – Cooks Us The Italian Wonderpot for Acrobat by Mary Calmes

TBG: When we first decided that Mary Calmes would be the focus of our first Author Week, we immediately thought of Laura from The Tipsy Bibliophile. Like Nikyta, she has an obsession with anything that Mary Calmes happens to write. So, when we asked Laura to be our Honorary Blogger Girl for the day and write a recipe review for one of her favorite MC books, she thankfully agreed! Her reviews have a unique flare that mixes a review with a recipe, and wine, specific to the story. We enjoy her creations as much for the review as for the tasty recipes she offers and we hope you enjoy them as much as we have! Take it away, Laura!

Hello There One and All! I am so excited to be here for a visit with The Blogger Girls. I’ve known these ladies for a looooonggg time, and they are some of my most favorite people on this planet. So, when the lovely Heather C asked me if I’d make them, AND Dreo and Nate from Acrobat some food, I said “Hell Yeah! I’ll bring some wine too!” Those of you that have been to my blog The Tipsy Bibliophile, know that with my reviews I include a wine pairing and/or a recipe which I think goes well with the story.  When the girls suggested I do this for a Guest Post Review of Acrobat by Mary Calmes at their place, I was incredibly excited. This book is one of my all-time favorites. I’ve read it numerous times, and Mary herself has been on the receiving end of my love (obsession!) for this book.

Oh but the pressure to be awesome!!!! This book is so special to me. These ladies are such awesome friends…What to cook? What to drink?! Immediately I knew Italian was clearly the cuisine and wine route I needed to go with. I decided to make a recipe that I prepare at home often. The Italian Wonderpot.  It’s quick, incredibly easy to make (for the non-cooks in the house…N and H ;)), tasty and very affordable, and I paired it with a delicious Chianti.

The wine I chose is the 2007 Tomaiolo Reserva Chianti. Its nice smooth wine to pair with a nutty parmigianno reggiano cheese, and ideal for tomato based sauces. It’s got nice hints of vanilla and mocha, which blends well with the buttery taste of cheese, and the spicy tomato and garlic in the dish. It’s about $10-$11 a bottle which is good value for a nice bottle of Chianti. I KNOW Nate would approve!

But back to the story…Like I said this book is a long standing favorite of mine. I read it when it was first released in 2012, and almost two years later my love for the characters, and the story remains the same. This is Mary Calmes at her very best. Outstanding erotica, characters that feel like old friends, and SO MUCH passion and love in every page. Below is my original review for Acrobat, every word is still true after many many re-reads…

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DREO DREO DREO DREO DREO!!!! OMG DREO I FUCKING LOVE YOU!!!

I don’t even know where to start about how fine Dreo’s character was. I loved the whole book, but Dreo YIKES! Made me BLUSH!! Swoon, shiver, shudder (maybe pant a few times)!

Nate Quells is a professor of literature at the University of Chicago. He’s 45 and has a 28 year old son with his best friend.

His life is a good life, he loves his son, his family, and his son’s mom is his best friend. He loves his job and is very good at it.

Love life is a bit stuck right now, mostly because he wants a bit more than casual, and he just has not found anyone that like him wants forever. His last relationship with a deeply closeted man let him feeling like he could not compromise anymore.

One really good thing in his life is his neighbors, Michael and his uncle Dreo. Michael is 16 and four years ago lost his mom, who gave guardianship to Dreo. Dreo does his best to raise him, but it’s hard doing it alone. Somehow through the years Nate became the other parent for Michael, he loves the kid, and cares for him when Dreo is working.

Dreo’s job as a bodyguard for a local mafia boss is a distant thing for Nate. He never thinks about it. Until a night where things go wrong and Dreo comes home in shock, and full of blood. Suddenly Nate is caring not just for Michael anymore but for Dreo as well. Very quickly it becomes clear that Dreo these last for years has thought about Nate as a LOT more than just a neighbor, and when he turns all of that on Nate…Well Nates falls HARD like flat on his ass in love for the first time in his life and it’s so awesome!

Dreo is so intense and so passionate, with the possessive, dominating thing and Nate just wants to submit to him and GOOD LAWD the ITALIAN!!! OMG It’s so hot. Dreo I love him forever. Nate is such a great guy you want him to be happy…Michael is amazing. All the characters are, but Dreo…He’s just so present and willing to be open, he loves Nate and he’s going to show him and the whole frigging world that he’s Nate’s man. End of story.

There was a little twisty at the end, that was ummm a bit crazyish, but at that point she could have brought out aliens, and I would have been on board as long as Dreo was around. Nate felt the same way I’m sure.

LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

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Now the food!

I found this recipe originally in one of my favorite food blogs Budget Bytes and since the first try, I’ve added my own spin to it. It is delicious and ANYONE can make it!

Italian Wonderpot (makes 4-5 servings)

Ingredients:

4 cups vegetable broth

12 oz. fettuccine

8 oz. frozen chopped spinach

1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes

1 medium onion $

1 cup of sliced mushrooms (I used Baby Bellas)

2 cloves garlic

½ Tbsp dried basil

½ Tbsp dried oregano

1 teaspoon of dried parsley

¼ tsp red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper to taste

Grated parmiggiano reggiano (optional)

Directions

Add four cups of vegetable broth to a large pot. Break the fettuccine in half to make stirring easier later, and then add it to the pot. Also add the canned tomatoes (undrained), frozen spinach, onion , garlic, mushrooms, basil, oregano, red pepper, parsley and some freshly cracked black pepper.

Make sure the ingredients are submerged under the liquid, place a lid on top of the pot, and then turn the heat on to high. Allow the pot to come up to a full, rolling boil over high heat then remove the lid and turn the heat down to medium.

Allow the pot to continue to boil over medium heat, without a lid, for 10-15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir the pot every few minutes as it cooks to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom, but avoid over stirring which can cause the pasta to become sticky and mushy. The pot must be boiling the entire time.

When the liquid has been absorbed and the pasta is cooked serve in a bowl and top with the grated cheese.

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I hope that you enjoy the review and give the food and wine a try.

Thanks again to The Blogger Girls for their invitation!

Cheers and Happy Reading.

Laura

What to see more recipes and reviews from Laura?  Follow her at The Tipsy Bibliophile.