Don't You Forget About Me

This book appears, at first glance, to be a Rom-Com about second chances. And it is, kind of. What stood out for me is its ah-mazing banter, but I'll admit to being surprised by its lack of romance and focus on darker issues.

The banter was easily my favourite part of the book. It is awesome and had me laughing-out-loud a few times. But after the first third of the book, the banter wanes and I found myself struggling to stay interested. It's at this point that the book takes a darker turn and focuses on serious topics - abuse, obsession, infidelity and Georgina's slow road to self-discovery as she tries to overcome her toxic relationships (with pretty much every family member she has and then some).

While I respect the seriousness of the issues addressed, I went into this book expecting a light, fun, romantic read. Instead, I thought the plot dragged with unnecessary scenes and dialogue and didn't have nearly enough scenes that include the two main characters together. Honestly, the main premise - the fact that Lucas doesn't remember his first love Georgina - hardly even comes into play.

Conclusion: Good premise and amazing humour but it lacked in the romance department and needed a more concise plot. While it didn't quite live up to my expectations, based on her amazing humour alone, I would easily read another book by Mhairi McFarlane.

My Rating: 3 stars

Author: Mhairi McFarlane

Genre: Romance, Light Read

Source and Type: eBook from public library

Publisher: Harper Collins

First Published: January 10, 2019

Opening Lines: My most truculent fellow pupil, David Marsden, looked up and whiped his chin on his sleeve. He had given Emily Bronte's Gothic novel the emotion of reading from the menu at Pizza Hut.

Book Description from GoodReads: If there’s one thing worse than being fired from the grottiest restaurant in town, it’s coming home early to find your boyfriend in bed with someone else.

Reeling from the indignity of a double dumping on the same day, Georgina snatches at the next job that she’s offered – barmaid in a newly opened pub, which just so happens to run by the boy she fell in love with at school: Lucas McCarthy. And whereas Georgina (voted Most Likely to Succeed in her school yearbook) has done nothing but dead-end jobs in the last twelve years, Lucas has not only grown into a broodingly handsome man, but also has turned into an actual grown-up with a business and a dog along the way.

Meeting Lucas again not only throws Georgina’s rackety present into sharp relief, but also brings a dark secret from her past bubbling to the surface. Only she knows the truth about what happened on the last day of school, and why she’s allowed it to chase her all these years.

Long Bright River

Long Bright River is a dark and atmospheric novel and while it has a very slow burn murder/suspense thread running through it, this is a story about sisters, the opioid crisis and the toll of addiction on generations of a family in Philadelphia.

My feelings were all over the place with this book. I enjoyed the descriptions of the darker side of Philadelphia and the interesting dynamics between the sisters but was surprised that it took so long for the story to get going. It had enough going on to keep me turning the pages but I always felt just on the edge of becoming invested in the story. I was also a little let down that the serial killer plot stayed in the background and how often the plot veered off on small tangents. But after the halfway mark, things start to pick up, pieces start falling into place and I became quite riveted.

Part of the reason for my initial struggle to connect with the story that I didn't like Mickey, the main character and sole narrator. I liked that she's a complicated character who made mistakes and has this deep and complicated relationship with her younger sister, Kacey but she felt really wooden with her lack of emotion and I struggled to connect with her. Since the book is told only through her eyes, we're limited to her POV and I think the story would have benefited from Kacey or Gee's points of view to round things out. And lastly, can I just say I'm not a fan of books that don't use quotation marks to show dialogue? What is with this trend?

In the end, I liked but didn't love this book. It is a dark and gritty slow burn story that has well-drawn characters and realistically and ruthlessly portrays the seriousness, destruction, and the personal toll that the opioid crisis has on individuals, families and communities. This is much more of a character-driven story than the suspense read I had anticipated, but if readers are patient, the tension builds leaving readers with twists leading them to a gripping and satisfying ending.

My Rating: 3.5 stars
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
Type and Source: eBook from public library
Publisher: Riverhead Books
First Published: January 7, 2020

Opening Lines: There's a body on the Gurney Street tracks. 

Female, age unclear, probably overdose, says the dispatcher.

Book Description from GoodReads: Two sisters travel the same streets, though their lives couldn't be more different. Then one of them goes missing.

In a Philadelphia neighborhood rocked by the opioid crisis, two once-inseparable sisters find themselves at odds. One, Kacey, lives on the streets in the vise of addiction. The other, Mickey, walks those same blocks on her police beat. They don't speak anymore, but Mickey never stops worrying about her sibling.

Then Kacey disappears, suddenly, at the same time that a mysterious string of murders begins in Mickey's district, and Mickey becomes dangerously obsessed with finding the culprit--and her sister--before it's too late.

Alternating its present-day mystery with the story of the sisters' childhood and adolescence, Long Bright River is at once heart-pounding and heart-wrenching: a gripping suspense novel that is also a moving story of sisters, addiction, and the formidable ties that persist between place, family, and fate.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

This is a charming story with a healthy dose of wit that will connect with bookworms and people who struggle with the changes life throws at them.

Nina Hill is a character that many introverted, book loving, sometimes anxious readers will connect with. I know I did. She's a self-proclaimed bookworm with a great sense of humour that Waxman uses throughout to balance out the more serious aspects of the plot (anxiety, introversion, complicated family issues).

I really enjoyed Nina's witty dialogue, observations, and quips as well as the numerous pop culture references. There is a light nod to romance (although I wouldn't have been upset if it had been left out all together) but the story mainly focuses on Nina's struggles with the changes in her life - namely the new family she never knew she had and how that impacts her anxiety and well-planned life. I appreciated that Nina and her new family's initial connections aren't easy-breezy and their bumps and emotions felt believable and I think Waxman illustrates the complicated family dynamics and Nina's struggle with her anxiety well, making this book more than a simple, light romance novel.

Witty, cute and light-hearted (if a tad predictable and a wee cheesy at the end), this is a fun story with some depth that focuses on family and self-discovery with a book store setting, a book nerd at the helm and hilarious banter making this total bliss for introverted book nerds like myself.

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Abbi Waxman

Genre: Romance, Light Read

Type and Source: eBook from local public library

Publisher: Berkley

First Published: July 9, 2019

Opening Lines: Imagine you're a bird. You can be any 

kind of bird, but those of you who've chosen ostrich or 

chicken are going to struggle to keep up.

Book Description from GoodReads: The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.

When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They're all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She'll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It's a disaster! And as if that wasn't enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn't he realize what a terrible idea that is?

Nina considers her options.

1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.)
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee).
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)

It's time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn't convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It's going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.

A Murder in Time

A Murder in Time is a blend of time travel, mystery and history that I read as a buddy read with my friend and fellow blogger, Margaret from Just One More Chapter. 

The opening scenes introduce us to Kendra, an FBI agent who hails from brainy yet emotionally distant parents but is brilliant in her own right. The beginning is high energy which I loved but I was surprised that so much page time was devoted to her background when it really didn't impact the rest of the plot. But once she travels to the past (which happens rather quickly without much explanation) things go askew for me because Kendra suddenly lacks basic awareness and common sense. If you're trying to fit in with the locals in 1815, you don't swear, blaspheme or throw out words that haven't been invented yet - like "technology" or "unsub" (which was used ad nauseum). Instead, you mimic the locals and try to fit in. But not Kendra. She changes only minimally from her modern persona, but it was how the locals easily brushed off her repeated social faux pas, modern mannerisms and language that made for a frustrating read for me.

But if I were to base my rating just on just the mystery, it was well done. There are some red herrings, an interesting setting, and nice twists. But McElwain required me to suspend disbelief too far. I couldn't overlook how easily things fell into place for Kendra and found her errors distracting. And, on another note, the overuse of the word mayhap! Argh! If I never heard that word again, it'll be too soon.

Overall, this was a great premise with a beautiful cover and good mystery, but its weak development of the main character and bumpy execution decreased my enjoyment of this promising historical fiction mystery. I had hoped for more.

My Rating: 3 stars

Author: Julie McElwain

Genre: Historical Mystery, Time Travel

Series: #1 in the Kendra Donovan series

Type and Source: eBook from Library

Publisher: Pegausus Books

First Published: April 11,2016

Opening Line: He was in hell.

Book Description from GoodReads: Beautiful and brilliant, Kendra Donovan is a rising star at the FBI. Yet her path to professional success hits a speed bump during a disastrous raid where half her team is murdered, a mole in the FBI is uncovered and she herself is severely wounded. As soon as she recovers, she goes rogue and travels to England to assassinate the man responsible for the deaths of her teammates.

While fleeing from an unexpected assassin herself, Kendra escapes into a stairwell that promises sanctuary but when she stumbles out again, she is in the same place - Aldrich Castle - but in a different time: 1815, to be exact.

Mistaken for a lady's maid hired to help with weekend guests, Kendra is forced to quickly adapt to the time period until she can figure out how she got there; and, more importantly, how to get back home. However, after the body of a girl is found on the extensive grounds of the county estate, she starts to feel there's some purpose to her bizarre circumstances. Stripped of her twenty-first century tools, Kendra must use her wits alone in order to unmask a cunning madman.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (audiobook)

People who know me, know I adore Harry Potter. Like crazy love HP. I love the story, the writing, the characters, the magic, and the themes. From the wizards and students, to Buckbeak and house elves, to Polyjuice Potion and even Blast-Ended Skrewts, I love it all.

'Never insult Harry Potter in front of me!'

As a Potterhead (and proud Hufflepuff), I've read the entire series several times and listened to them now at least twice (but sadly have yet to visit Harry Potter World. A travesty if ever there was one!). In this edition, the story is narrated by the incomparable Jim Dale (who also narrates the first six books) and brings the story and characters to life with his accents, nuance, and energy. 

This seventh and last book in the series brings Harry's story and his fight against the dark powers of Lord Voldemort to a very satisfying end. Even though I knew how things would pan out, I was still riveted - I laughed, I cried, and I was on the edge of my seat as the powers of good and evil battle for supremacy. 

If you haven't read Harry Potter yet, and you're between the ages of 8 and 108, I highly recommend that you do. While kids adore the series, this isn't just a series for kids and its darker themes and elements will appeal to adults.

My Rating: 5+++ stars

Author: JK Rowling

Genre: Fantasy, Re-Read

Type & Source: e-Audiobook from Audible.ca

Publisher: Pottermore Publishing

First Published in Print: July 21, 2007

Opening Lines: The two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards 

apart in the narrow, moonlit lane. For a second they stood quite still, 

wands directed at each other's chests; then, recognizing 

each other, they stowed their wands beneath their cloaks and started 

walking briskly in the same direction.

Book Description from GoodReads: "'Give me Harry Potter,' said Voldemort's voice, 'and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded.'"

As he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid's motorbike and takes to the skies, leaving Privet Drive for the last time, Harry Potter knows that Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters are not far behind. The protective charm that has kept Harry safe until now is broken, but he cannot keep hiding. The Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything Harry loves and to stop him Harry will have to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. The final battle must begin - Harry must stand and face his enemy.

Easy Crusty Artisan Loaf

The Baking Bookworm family loves bread. In all its different flavours, shapes, sizes and textures. We love eating it plain or slathered with butter. We love crunchy tops and squishy, pillowy insides. White, brown, rye or sour … we love it all!

Typically I use one of my bread machines to do the kneading and first rise but this time I used a new-to-me recipe that doesn't need kneading and was so easy! A little too easy! This recipe is from the very talented Nagi at Recipe Tin Eats. It makes a delicious loaf and was so yummy there was nary a crumb left after I served it last night with homemade tomato bisque and green salad. Not … one … crumb.

The magic of this recipe is that it only takes a few minutes to mix the four (yup, only 4!) ingredients, then you can sit back and read for 2 to 3 hours as the yeast works its magic. It's called multitasking!! You can bake it that day or pop the dough in the fridge and make it anytime over the next three days. It bakes in a cast iron Dutch Oven which leaves the crust crunchy while the inside is delightfully chewy with holes a la sour dough and a slightly tangy taste. It .. is .. sublime! My taste buds are thrilled (but my thighs and Grinch Belly are not so happy with this discovery).

Nagi provides more details about ingredients and method so please use the link above to stop by her blog! If you're a Carb Addict like me, and if you've been hesitant to try baking your own bread, this is the time! Nagi's recipe will help satisfy the carb beastie that dwells within you. Enjoy!

Easy Crusty Artisan Loaf

Yield: 1 loaf

3 cups bread flour
2 tsp instant (or rapid rise) yeast
2 tsp salt
1.5 cups + 2 tbsp very warm water (120F or so)

1.5 tbsp flour (for dusting surface)

In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast and salt. Mix until combined then add the very warm water. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, mix until the flour has been incorporated (I had to use an extra 2 tbsp of water to make this happen). Dough will look wet and mucky but still keep its shape-ish.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and leave it on the counter, in a warm place, for 2-3 hours or until it doubles in volume. The top will have some bubbles in it and kind of look like pancake batter.  

My dough was slow to rise so I ended up heating my oven to 200F, then I turned it off and put my bowl in the oven (make sure you're using a glass or metal bowl if you do this!) for the last hour.

At this point, you can bake it right away or opt to refrigerate your dough for up to three days and bake it later. 

If you refrigerate your dough, make sure you take your dough out of the fridge about an hour before you want to bake it to allow the dough to come to room temperature then follow the instructions below.

If you're baking right away, preheat oven to 450F. Place your Dutch Oven into the oven and preheat it for 30 minutes before you're ready to bake your bread.

Lightly flour your work surface (I used a roll up baking mat) with 1 tbsp of flour.  Scrape the dough from the bowl onto this surface. It's going to be sticky so top the dough with 1/2 tbsp of flour to make it more manageable. Using a flat edge - a cake spatula would work well but I used my Pampered Chef Classic Handy Scraper ... 

… scrape the sides up and fold them inward, going around the dough in a circle. It's probably not going to look pretty but you're trying to pop the bubbles in the dough and get the dough ready to move to the parchment paper.

Cut off a large slice of parchment paper and move the dough over to the middle of the paper. Flip the dough to the seam side is down. Reshape it as best you can into a round shape. We're not looking for perfection! It's bread, not Ryan Reynold's. 

Carefully remove your VERY HOT Dutch oven from your oven. Place parchment paper/dough into the pot and cover with the lid. Bake for 30 minutes covered, then remove lid and bake for another 12 minutes uncovered. This will take your bread from looking anemic to gloriously browned and crunchy.

Cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing. Stand back because your family is going to rush you for this bread.

Note: For more details about ingredients, methods of cooking this loaf etc, please visit Nagi at Recipe Tin Eats 

Truths I Never Told You

I dove into this book with only the briefest look at its blurb. All I knew was that many of my fellow book bloggers were heaping accolades on this story and I wanted to see if this high praise was warranted. 

Yes. Yes, it is … and then some.

I don't give out five star reviews easily but this book blew me away. Told using two time lines (1950's and 1990's) and several POVs, this is a riveting and intensely emotional story that pulls readers into the ups and downs, the secrets and omissions and the tight bonds of a family dealing with multi-generational mental illness, declining health in an elderly parent and loss.

I'm from a large, close-knit family and Rimmer's characterization of the Walsh family, particularly the four siblings, resonated with me - their bonds, their issues and their banter. As the story progresses, this foursome unearths secrets that have been kept hidden from them for decades. But it was how Rimmer addressed certain issues that solidified this book as a five star read for me. Particularly her sensitive but informative handling of postpartum depression - the disconnect, debilitating feelings of inadequacy and the social stigma. While these scenes felt quite intense at times, I appreciate that Rimmer doesn't hold back but always writes with understanding and compassion.

Wonderfully insightful, poignant and tenderly told, Truths I Never Told You is a book that helped me sympathize with women whose experience with motherhood is affected by mental illness, makes me thankful for my own family and for a society that has evolved (and continues to evolve) in regards to the rights of women. 

---

My Rating: 5 stars

Author: Kelly Rimmer
Genre: Historical Fiction (WWII)
Type and Source: eBook from Library
Publisher: Graydon House
First Published: March 24, 2020

Opening Lines: Grace - September 14, 1957 -- I am alone in a crowded family these days, and that's the worst feeling I've ever experienced. Until these past few years, I had no idea that loneliness is worse than sadness.  I've come to realize that's because loneliness, by its very definition, cannot be shared.

---

Book Description from GoodReads: From the bestselling author of The Things We Cannot Say comes a poignant novel about the fault in memories and the lies that can bond a family together—or tear it apart.

With her father recently moved to a care facility for his worsening dementia, Beth Walsh volunteers to clear out the family home and is surprised to discover the door to her childhood playroom padlocked. She’s even more shocked at what’s behind it—a hoarder’s mess of her father’s paintings, mounds of discarded papers and miscellaneous junk in the otherwise fastidiously tidy house.

As she picks through the clutter, she finds a loose journal entry in what appears to be her late mother’s handwriting. Beth and her siblings grew up believing their mother died in a car accident when they were little more than toddlers, but this note suggests something much darker. Beth soon pieces together a disturbing portrait of a woman suffering from postpartum depression and a husband who bears little resemblance to the loving father Beth and her siblings know. With a newborn of her own and struggling with motherhood, Beth finds there may be more tying her and her mother together than she ever suspected.

Exploring the expectations society places on women of every generation, Kelly Rimmer explores the profound struggles two women unwittingly share across the decades set within an engrossing family mystery that may unravel everything they believed to be true.

Evvie Drake Starts Over

After reading several heavier reads lately, I wanted something lighter to cleanse my palate. Nothing too frilly or silly but something lighter. 

Enter: Evvie Drake Starts Over.

This is a cute story with a plot and characters that have more depth than you'd expect in a light romance. Dean and Evvie (rhymes with Chevy) are perfectly imperfect with their flaws, insecurities and emotional baggage and I appreciate that there was no insta-love or quick fixes (particularly Evvie's complicated feelings about her husband). Evvie and Dean were an easy couple to root for, but it was Evvie's enduring and platonic friendship with Andy (and the witty banter) that were my favourite parts of the book.

While issues of self discovery, mental health and friendship are at the heart of this book, this is a lighter, fairly predictable read with an enjoyable small-town vibe. Its snippets of humour, insights into complicated emotions and the power of friendship, make this heartwarming romance stand out from the rest.

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Linda Holmes

Genre: Romance, Light Read

Type: eBook

Source: Public Library

Publisher: Ballantine Books

First Published in Print: June 25, 2019

Opening Lines: Go now, or you'll never go, Evvie warned herself.

Book Description from GoodReads: In a small town in Maine, recently widowed Eveleth "Evvie" Drake rarely leaves her house. Everyone in town, including her best friend, Andy, thinks grief keeps her locked inside, and she doesn't correct them.

In New York, Dean Tenney, former major-league pitcher and Andy's childhood friend, is struggling with a case of the "yips": he can't throw straight anymore, and he can't figure out why. An invitation from Andy to stay in Maine for a few months seems like the perfect chance to hit the reset button.

When Dean moves into an apartment at the back of Evvie's house, the two make a deal: Dean won't ask about Evvie's late husband, and Evvie won't ask about Dean's baseball career. Rules, though, have a funny way of being broken—and what starts as an unexpected friendship soon turns into something more.

But before they can find out what might lie ahead, they'll have to wrestle a few demons: the bonds they've broken, the plans they've changed, and the secrets they've kept. They'll need a lot of help, but in life, as in baseball, there's always a chance—right up until the last out.

Code Name Helene

Code Name Helene is a fictionalized story about the real-life spy and war hero, Nancy Wake, an Australian free-lance writer who plays an essential role in the French Resistance during WWII. 

It is clear that this is a well-researched novel and Lawhon gives readers a vivid look at life in France during the war. She admits to taking a few liberties with Wake's story. but I found the format she used to be an interesting choice. Her plot doesn't follow chronological order but jumps back and forth from Nancy's past (showing how she meets her husband and her increasing involvement with the Resistant effort) to years later when she plays a pivotal role leading teams to feed and arm Resistant fighters. The earlier time frame has a strong romance feel with the latter focusing on the strategies of Wake's group in the field and the horrors of war (Caution: one very graphic scene). 

I loved the first quarter of the book as we witness Nancy's spunky, take no guff humour on the field. She was an interesting woman who not only had to conspire against Nazis and Vichy groups but also had to fight against the patriarchy and blatant chauvinism. That's no small feat and I wanted to learn more about her.

But after the first quarter I struggled with this book. It has good elements (story, writing, characters) but they didn't come together well. A lot of my feelings stem from the scattered feel of the story, the choppy jumps between time frames and a plot that got bogged down in the middle with excessive, almost rambling, details of strategies. I liked many of the characters but found it hard to remember who was who due to the different real vs spy names they used.  

This is a story about the bond between a husband and wife set within the backdrop of war. It's a well-researched story about war that focuses on friendships and tragedy and while I enjoyed learning about Nancy Wake, the format used, and its choppy delivery influenced my enjoyment of this novel. 

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Ariel Lawhon

Genre: Historical Fiction (WWII)

Type: eBook

Source: Public Library

Publisher: DoubleDay

First Published: Marcy 31, 2020

Opening Lines: I have gone by many names. 

Some of them are real - I was given four at birth 

alone - but most are carefully constructed personas to 

get me through checkpoints and across borders.

Book Description from GoodReads: Based on the thrilling real-life story of socialite spy Nancy Wake, comes the newest feat of historical fiction from the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia, featuring the astonishing woman who killed a Nazi with her bare hands and went on to become one of the most decorated women in WWII.

Told in interweaving timelines organized around the four code names Nancy used during the war, Code Name Hélène is a spellbinding and moving story of enduring love, remarkable sacrifice and unfaltering resolve that chronicles the true exploits of a woman who deserves to be a household name.

It is 1936 and Nancy Wake is an intrepid New Zealand expat living in Paris who has bluffed her way into a reporting job for Hearst newspaper. She is fighting to cover the disturbing reports of violence coming out of Vienna and Berlin when she meets the wealthy French industrialist Henri Fiocca. No sooner does Henri sweep Nancy off her feet and convince her to become Mrs. Fiocca than the Germans invade France and she takes yet another name: a code name.

As LUCIENNE CARLIER she smuggles people and documents across borders under the guise of an oblivious mistress. Soon enough the Gestapo hears of a female operative with a remarkable ability to evade capture, and Nancy earns a new nickname: THE WHITE MOUSE. But this one carries with it a five million franc bounty on her head. Forced to escape France and leave Henri behind for the safety of both of them, Nancy enters training with the Special Operations Executives, who transform her into HÉLÈNE. Finally, with mission in hand, Nancy is airdropped back into France as the deadly MADAM ANDRÉE. She soon becomes one of the most powerful leaders in the French Resistance, known for her ferocious wit, her signature red lipstick, and her ability to summon weapons straight from the Allied Forces. But no one can protect Nancy if the enemy finds out these four women are one and the same, and the closer to liberation France gets, the more exposed she--and the people she loves--will become.

Cajun Seafood Pasta

   

This is a recipe I've made about five times in the past several months. I've modified it each time I've made it and now feel like I finally have it to suit our family's tastes! I make this dish particularly for my oldest son when he's home from University. Man-Child loves seafood and spice! 

But he didn't get his love of spicy foods from me. Admittedly, I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to heat. I enjoy good flavour but I'm a chicken when it comes to intense heat or super spicy foods. See, big 'ol wuss.

Fortunately, this is a recipe you can adapt to where you fit on the spiciness scale. You can scale back on the Cajun spice mix (see recipe below) or just tinker with the red pepper flakes and cayenne until it suits your family's palate. Or add more spice if you're a spice lover!! The amount of Cajun spice I used in this recipe gave my mouth a nice heat without feeling uncomfortable.

Feel free to add in sliced sweet peppers, onions and mushrooms too!

Cajun Seafood Pasta

750g fresh tortellini pasta (+ a bit of oil)

2 tbsp. oil

1lb raw shrimp - tails removed, deveined and peeled

1-1/2 to 2-1/2 tbsp. Cajun seasoning (see recipe below)
2 tbsp. butter
2 tsp garlic - minced
1/4 cup + 1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 cup half-and-half coffee creamer
2 cups milk (I used 1%)
1 cup Marble cheese (or Mozzarella or Cheddar) - grated
1 cup fresh Parmesan cheese - grated
1lb imitation crab meat

Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, drizzle with some oil to prevent sticking and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp. oil and heat. In a medium bowl, toss shrimp with Cajun seasoning. Add shrimp to the skillet and cook until no longer pink, turning as you go - it only takes a few minutes.

Remove cooked shrimp from skillet, cover and set aside.

Increase heat to medium-high and add butter to the skillet, making sure you scrape all the Cajun-y goodness from the bottom. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add flour to butter/garlic mixture and whisk well. Slowly add creamer and milk, whisking as you go. Stir often as the mixture thickens (you may have to increase the heat a bit).

Add the grated Marble and Parmesan cheeses and mix well. Add cooked pasta and shrimp back into the skillet. Add imitation crab meat and gently mix until combined. Once imitation crab has heated through, serve immediately with extra fresh Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy!

Cajun Seasoning Mix

Yield: approx. 1/4 cup

1 tbsp. smoked paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cayenne powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4-1/2 tsp dried sriracha

Mix all of the spices together. Keep extra spice in an air-tight container. It's a great mix to add to freshly popped popcorn!