Our Love Could Light the World + Onion and Black Olive Naan Pizza {book tour}

Our Love Could Light the World
author: Anne Leigh Parrish
publisher: She Writes Press
source: TLC Book Tours
paperback: 192 pages

"foodie" elements: Though I wouldn't consider this a foodie novel, food references run rampant throughout the book. While some authors tend to overlook the amount of food in everyday life, Parrish represents it well.

And as I'm wont to do, I'll list some of the food (and drink) that pops up in the book: spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, tuna casserole, beef stew, chili and beer, soup with a slice of buttered bread, steak 'n potatoes, key lime pie, green salads with goat cheese and roasted red peppers, pot roast, hard-boiled eggs and sandwiches, cookies and milk, whiskey, chicken soup, Chinese food, cold pizza, homemade tomato sauce, pear & brie tartlets, roasted vegetables with tomato basil dipping sauce, lamb sliders with caramelized onions, and leg of lamb.

See?  Foodie elements.

random excerpt:  The girl gave Lavinia her receipt. Lavinia noticed that she'd written down the wrong telephone number. She asked her to correct it. The girl crossed it out, which left no room on the form to fill in the right one, so she had to start the paperwork all over again. Lavinia waited, awash in the scent of fresh flowers, something that used to bring her joy and now only made her sad. (p.174)

teaser (from the back cover): You know the Dugans.  They’re that scrappy family down the street.  Their five children run free, they never clean up after their dog, and the husband hasn’t earned a cent in years.  You wouldn’t want them for neighbors, but from a distance, they’re quite entertaining.

my thoughts/review or things you might want to know, that I want to share about this book:  It's a collection of stories, but since they all center on the same family, they read like a story. A story with gaps, but a story nonetheless.

Each character is relatable, but none is necessary loveable. Their faults are highlighted, as well as their good points. This book doesn't bite its tongue.

No rose-colored glasses, instead more like the cheap gas station pair with slightly distorted vision and a harsh yellow tint. You know, the kind that makes your head hurt if you wear them for too long.

Groundbreaking? No. A quick and easy read with well-developed characters and story lines? Yes.

about the author: Anne Leigh Parrish’s debut novel, What is Found, What is Lost, is forthcoming in late 2014 from She Writes Press.  Her first story collection, All The Roads That Lead From Home, (Press 53, 2011) won a silver medal in the 2012 Independent Publisher Book Awards.

further info on Anne Leigh Parrish: website | twitter

recipe inspired by the book: I actually went back and forth on what I wanted to make to represent this book all the way through to the end. I'd narrowed it down to several choices, but when a pile of naan landed in my lap, I decided to go the pizza route. A simple one topped with red onions and black olives to represent one of Angie's favorite comfort foods, "cold pizza with a topping of onion and black olives" (p.118).

Onion and Black Olive Naan Pizza

by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 12-15 minutes

Keywords: bake entree vegetarian nut-free soy-free sugar-free cheese onions olives

Ingredients (serves 1)

• 1 Naan flatbread (any variety, I used garlic)

all amounts to taste:

• pizza sauce
• mozzarella cheese
• jumbo black olives, sliced
• red onion, sliced

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425° F, placing a pizza stone on the center rack.

Spread as much pizza sauce as you like on the naan. Scatter with mozzarella, then olive and onion slices.

Set on stone in preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Cut into 4 wedges.

Enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions stated in this post are my own. This post contains Amazon affiliate links