The Book of the Week: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
In a Nutshell:
For as long as Josie Moraine can remember, her life has been tumultuous as the daughter of a prostitute in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Tired of the the seedy men and selfish choices of her mother, Josie creates a plan to escape the big easy. However, a mysterious death in the Quarter lures her into a quest for the truth, entangling her relationships with her mother, friends, and Willie Woodley the sharp-tongued, hard-edged madam on Conti Street. Caught between her dream world of elite colleges and the complicated people and places of her reality, Josie is forced to make difficult choices that could determine the course of her future. Amongst the secrets, lies and complications she learns that her decisions, not her past, will determine who she becomes.
Cast of Characters:
Much like her novel Between Shade of Gray, Ruta Sepetys creates a world of vivid, yet not always relatable characters. I did find myself connecting with the main protagonist, Josie, especially for her love of books. She came across as a hardworking, intelligent young woman who was quiet yet strong-willed. She did make a few really stupid decisions that made me want to shake her a few times. Her mother was almost the least believable character and came off as practically cartoonish in her mannerisms and "evil" ways. The real prize goes to her mother's mobster boyfriend/sugar daddy who plays out like one big stereotype. The book does redeem itself through the fascinatingly complex Willie who runs the prostitution house. She's acidic in tone and very rarely gives compliments but the beauty of her person is slowly revealed throughout the novel. I also adored Cokie, Willie's chauffeur whose tokens of love for Josie melted my heart as well as Sweety, a kind-hearted prostitute. Jesse, the motorcycle wielding, leather wearing car mechanic is also a likable guy though he felt a bit like a stock character at times.Novel Seller or Storyteller?:
Sepetys rich descriptions of her characters and their surroundings kept me drawn to the story until the very end.
I saw her hand first, veiny and pale, draped over the arm of an upholstered wingback. Her nails, glossy red like pomegranate seeds, could pop a balloon with a quick flick. Clusters of gold and diamonds adorned nearly every finger.
Willie's rolltop desk sat on an antique Aubusson rug next to a buttercream marble fireplace. An ornate birdcage hung empty from the ceiling in the corner. As usual, Willie sat in the center of her high bed, propped against the pillows in her black silk kimono, platinum hair combed, red lipstick freshly applied.
A trickle of perspiration slide between my shoulder blades in a single stream and landed at the base of my spine.
I found the dialogue to be inconsistent. Sometimes it boiled with tension.
"Oh, no?" He took a swig of his martini. "Well, where is he?"
"I believe you know what I mean."
"I know what you mean," he said, leaning back over the desk toward me, "but I don't believe you. You're trying to hustle me, kid. You're slick witted."
Other times, especially when Josie interacted with her new friend Charlotte, everything came off cheesy and unnatural. I have never overheard a conversation between two eighteen-year-olds that sounded like this.
"Oh Josephine, do consider Smith. It has a wonderful literary legacy. In addition to Margaret Mitchell, there's a promising talent named Madeline L'Engle who graduated from Smith."
"Smith? Oh, I don't know," I said.
"Why not? You're obviously an accomplished woman, practically running a publishing business and living on your own in a unique and decadent city like New Orleans. So many eccentric characters, I can't imagine what you've experience here," she said with a wink.
Theme Song:
While searching for music that would fit the location and tone of this book I came across the song House of the Rising Sun. Rumored to be about either a prison or house of prostitution, I thought the somber chords and lyrics suited the events of the story.
The Verdict:
There were times while I was reading that I felt transported into the colorful streets of New Orleans; I could smell, see and taste everything. I felt the unforgiving heat and the mild chill. Sepetys built a world I felt as though I could literally step into. Adventurous, exciting and intriguing, it was a book that was a challenge to put down. Upon reflection though, there was a subtle sense of authenticity missing in the story. I felt as though certain stereotypes of the south were played up which made it difficult to see certain characters as truly fleshed out. I couldn't see them existing outside this particular story. Part of the problem could be that I'm not the intended demographic for this story (it's in the Young Adult category). While I found it to be an entertaining and engaging read, I would say this is better suited for high school students.
Tasty Eats of the Week:
Granola with Coconut Milk (or Homemade Yogurt)
I posted the recipe for the granola in a previous blog post. I actually soaked most of the nuts for several hours this time before baking them because they are easier to digest. I decided to skip drying them out properly and they never quite baked correctly so I recommend putting them in the oven for about an hour first after soaking them. Pure coconut milk can be found at both Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. At Trader Joe's it is only 99 cents per can and half the fat, so I would only buy the milk from Whole Foods if I wanted to make coconut whipped cream. I actually preferred eating the granola with homemade yogurt because I personally think coconut milk is too strong. Almond milk may work better.
SCD Pizza with Tomatoes, Mushrooms and Bacon
I was really excited about this recipe because I have been craving pizza since I've started the SCD diet. The crust turned out a bit dry so I may try putting in a dab of yogurt in it next time. It's much heavier than regular pizza which I didn't anticipate. I overate on my first tasting and gave myself a bit of a stomach ache. Here is the recipe:
Crust Ingredients:
2 cups of blanched almond flour
1/4 teaspoon each dried basil, dried oregano, and garlic powder (one or more are optional)
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
2 eggs
1 cup shredded cheese (Cheddar, Parmesan, or a mix of soft and hard cheeses)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Topping Ingredients: (amounts may vary depending on personal preference)
6 strips of bacon
1/2 cup of mushrooms
1/3 cup of tomatoes (chopped)
Sauce:
Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro (Arrabbiatta)
Topping Directions:
1. Fry the strips of bacon in a pan until done (set aside)
2. Add the mushrooms and tomatoes in the pan with olive oil and cook for about 2-3 minutes
Crust Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/ 175 degrees Celsius
Nutella Bites
These Nutella bites are actually illegal on the SCD diet because they contain chocolate. However, I couldn't find a good argument against chocolate from any of the experts on the SCD diet. I am an avid chocolate lover, so I decided to give this recipe a whirl. They were absolutely delicious! Unfortunately after consuming the bites, hot chocolate, and putting cocoa nibs in my yogurt I started experiencing stomach pain and a small rash outbreak on my arms. I hope someone can enjoy this eggless, sugarless and yet very delightful treat!
Sweet Birthday Moments and Treats
A few days before my birthday, Oregon was hit with some very wintery weather. The duck pond in my neighborhood (which is always a source of entertainment) became quite the spectacle when half of it froze over and all the critters were forced to share a small part of the water. My mom and I saw numerous fights amongst the ducks and several geese tentatively trying out the thin ice. A pair of ducks tried to scramble of the snowy bank but they were sadly unsuccessful.
By the time my birthday rolled around, we were basically snowed in. While I had planned to go out for the occasion I really enjoyed the cozy alternative. My mom made the sweetest slideshow of pictures displaying chronological moments in my life. We got to enjoy a few movies and watched the Olympics, but most importantly my step-dad made a big run to the grocery store before the roads became too dangerous.
Here are all the delicious items I devoured:
Breakfast: Eggs Benedict 
Inspired by the scene in Runaway Bride where Julia Roberts tries all different types of eggs, I requested Eggs Benedict since I had never eaten it before. I have to say I'm not a fan of the runny quality of the egg so for now I still enjoy scrambled eggs the best.
Lunch: SCD Tuna, Mashed Cauliflower and Steamed Carrots 
My step-dad found a mayonnaise that is SCD legal (which I used to eat before I went on the diet, ha!). Spectrum Canola Mayonnaise is good for anyone on a gluten free, clean eating diet. Here is the mashed cauliflower recipe:
Ingredients
1 head of cauliflower
1/2 cup of SCD yogurt (for non-SCD people sour cream works as well)
4 tablespoons of butter
Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese to top
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Steam cauliflower until soft
3. Drain and put in large glass bowl
4. Add softened butter, yogurt/sour cream, salt and pepper
5. Mash together until it looks like lumpy mashed potatoes (ha!)
6. Place in an oven-safe baking dish and top with cheese of choice (for SCD use cheddar or harvarti)
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden
Warm Snack: Hot Chocolate 
This was obviously before I came to grips with the fact that I could no longer do a "chocolate cheat" on the diet. This basically consists of 3 Tablespoons of pure, unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 Tablespoons of honey, and 1 Tablespoon of coconut milk. It was bitter compared to typical hot chocolate but I really liked it. I pretended I was a high ranking Mayan official as I gracefully sipped my drink.
Dessert: SCD Strawberry Cake with SCD Cream Cheese Frosting 
The whole cake before it was devoured in two days!
Blowing out the candles for the big 2-7!
I may or may not have had three more slices after inhaling this piece. This cake was delicate, light and very moist. Most baked goods on this diet are very heavy and sometimes dry so this was a true joy to eat! This was originally supposed to be just a plain yellow cake but I thought it would be tastier to jazz it up with strawberries.
Strawberry Cake
Ingredients
1/2 cup blanched almond flour
1/4 cup of coconut flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 eggs
1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted) or cooking oil
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup coconut milk (or other dairy-free milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla extra
1/2 cup of strawberries
Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit/ 185 degrees Celsius. Line the bottom of an 8-inch round cake pan with a parchment paper circle or other nonstick covering, or grease the pan well.
2. Blend all ingredients together in an electric mixer.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
4. Let the cake cool on a wire rack for about 15 minutes, or an hour if you plan to frost the cake. Gently run a knife around the outside edge of the cake to make it easy to remove.
5. Once completely cooled, store covered at room temperature for a few days, or store in the refrigerator for about a week.
Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
8 oz of butter (2 sticks)
1 cup of yogurt
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/4 cup of honey
Directions
1. Mix butter until smooth
2. Mix in honey
3. Mix in yogurt and vanilla
Enjoy! :)
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