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My last Samoan dish: Tina and Amazing's Green Island Salad
It is a salad that combines fruit, vegetable (watercress, cucumber) & starch (green banana). I, however, kept all the ingredients separate so that fussy people could mix and match as they wished in their plates. I used mango and pineapple instead of vi (which I'd never heard of) and guava (which I didn't have). Very nice, as I knew it would be!
#Samoa #FoodandLit @Catsandbooks @Texreader

#FoodandLit Finally finished SEPTEMBER‘S book. It was a fine read but nothing spectacular or all that memorable about three generations of women from Nicaragua. The food was devoured in September, so there‘s that. Now on to October‘s Samoan book, ‘Where We Belonged‘

The book centers on a 17 year old girl who loses her virginity to her teacher. I was really hesitant, but I wanted a Samoan author. The blurb was worse. Incest. But, it turned out that they were not genetically related but from the same community, which explains some Samoan culture. They don't marry within the same "family". It turned out to be quite lovely. During pauses of sex, the teacher continued to enlighten her by discussing the history.

Parks spent the entire book comparing the ups and downs of train travel to meditation. And, it worked. I wouldn't mind reading my book on a train and observing people, humanity at its worst (hustling/body odors) and its best (sharing food and stories).

#Italy #FoodandLit @Catsandbooks @Texreader

Tonight we had food for October‘s #FoodAndLit #Samoa
It‘s Samoan Chicken (Moa Fa‘Asaina) with Coconut Rice.

It was pretty tasty. The sauce should have been thicker, but I had trouble thickening with the recipe I used. So much liquid 🤣

Good morning, everyone! The moment you have all been waiting for!! Our official #BookSpin number is EIGHTEEN! Our official #DoubleSpin number is ONE!! I have thoroughly enjoyed looking at everyone‘s lists & am really looking forward to seeing your reviews!!

My next post will be the #BookSpinBingo card. I am NOT tagging anyone on that post!! If you want to bingo, please just check my profile for the card. This saves me having to double tag ⬇

If you ever have a desire to read this book, be aware there is a lot of this.

The author is thorough, and 80% into it, I‘m getting a ton of detail about every possible island in Oceania. I‘m not fond of his constant criticisms (Wikipedia calls it a strong stream of irony, that‘s not what I‘d call it) of pretty much every single person he meets, and judgments of swaths of people based on those he encounters. But as usual I enjoy reading about ⬇️

I think I have my November #bookspinbingo list together, but I probably will still be working on October for the next couple of weeks. The month was just too quick! I‘ll tag my November books in the comments.

#FoodandLit November 2025 Algeria
To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

#FoodandLit November 2025 Algeria 🇩🇿

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.