While prepping food, I enjoy listening to books. My recent choice was Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen and narrated by Juliet Stevenson (you might remember her in her acting role as Mrs. Elton from the movie adaptation, Emma?). It has been a while since I enjoyed Northanger Abbey so it was a delight to listen as naive, but good-hearted Catherine excitedly set off to Bath, mourned not knowing anyone, and then encountered the people that would shape her whole adventure – the Thorpes and the Tilneys. I found new appreciation for this story and chuckled over the decided tongue in cheek moments and marveled at the author’s keen wit and observations on human nature.
All the while, I prepped a variation on my sister in law’s Crockpot Lemon Chicken and Rice. I switched limes in for the lemons.
Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts cubed, 1 pt heavy whipping cream, 2 cans cream of chicken, 2 lemons, 2 tbsp butter, 2 glubs white wine, 1/4 c sugar, and seasons of choice (I used rosemary, thyme, sage, and garlic).
Instructions: Juice the lemons and include one peel for flavor in the pot. Add all ingredients in the crockpot with the exception of the wine. Cook on high for one hour and then cook on low for an hour to hour and a half depending on time needed to cook chicken thoroughly. Add in wine in last hour of cooking. I made up six cups of rice and blended that in toward the end so the rice absorbed the flavors.
Take a look. Boy is this hearty fare and not too distracting while listening to Jane Austen’s classic story.
Are you one who gives audio stories a chance? I can heartily recommend this as a way of appreciating the classics while getting chores done around the house.
Social Links:
Twitter
GoodReads
Associate Reviewer for Delighted Reader blog
Steph from fangswandsandfairydust.com
And, oh my is that Alan Cumming as whoever he was?
I will admit that NA is my least favorite Jane Austen. But, I cannot remember why….
Meryton Press
Alan Cumming makes anything even better.
Sophia Rose
It certainly is he. 😉 I thought this pair was a great Mr. and Mrs. Elton. She is even better as a narrator.
I wasn’t as fond of NA when I read it years ago b/c Catherine’s naivete about Isabella Thorpe playing her, but this time around, I was struck by the tongue in cheek humor.
Abigail
How did the dish turn out with lime instead of lemon?
So many people have recommended audiobooks that I should probably give them another try. But it’s hard for me to give up my rock-n-roll moments in the car, bawling away with Van Morrison or Nirvana or the Gap Band! (Eclectic tastes.)
Sophia Rose
I think lime is more my thing. I’ve had it with lemon and liked it, but the lime is the favorite.
Haha, I still haven’t listened to books in the car yet. That’s still safe for my music. I listen while doing chores.