A book cover that shows a city under a dome

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Science fiction challenges our assumptions about the world and gets us to think about the world and our place in it in a new way. That’s what good science fiction should do. Invisible Things does exactly that. The […]
A two-crust apple pie with one slice removed

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This recipe uses the basic flaky crust recipe. Pay attention to chilling the dough! The twist here is to precook the apples, which gives the filling a satisfying texture. Brushing the top of the crust with egg white […]
Two chocolate tarts on a plate

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If you like truffles, this is the tart for you. As part of the Dessert Project, we made 3-inch tartlets with two different crusts (almond and chocolate), but this recipe also makes a 9-inch tart; recipes for the […]
Five pictures of small tart shells in various stages of preparation

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As part of the Dessert Project, we tried two variations on tart dough. These are softer doughs, more like cookies than pastry, and require careful handling. The recipes make one 9-inch tart or six 3-inch tartlets. Almond Tart […]
Biscotti on a metal rack

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Another part of the Dessert Project. I thought biscotti were difficult, but this isn’t so, although it does take a few hours to make a batch. Once cooled, the biscotti can be dipped in a chocolate coating! Makes […]
Four photographs showing the steps to make a banana cream pie

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This is part of the Dessert Project. Techniques practiced in this recipe: Basic flaky pie crust, pre-baked Crème patisserie Whipped cream topping Servings: 8 (9-inch pie) 5 ripe bananas4 T unsalted butter, divided2 ½ c half-and-half½ c (3 […]
Six photos that illustrate the steps for making a pre-baked pie shell

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This is the start of the Dessert Project, a cooking exploration into techniques and tastes. It seems fitting that the first entry is the basic crust for pies and tarts. #1 – Pastry for a 9-inch pie shell […]
A book cover with an arrow in a circle against a background of a city

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The Magic Circle by Barry Ryerson takes the reader on a twisty, exciting ride through a post-apocalyptic world. I’d call this a techno-magic-thriller. Is that a genre? If not, I just made it up. The devastation wreaked by […]
Text for a book cover (red on orange): "The Dawn of Everything - A New History of Humanity"

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The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber and David Wengrow started out to write a book about the origins of social inequality, according to the authors (an anthropologist and an archeologist). However, they […]
A yellow starburst on a black background

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In the near future, a billionaire businessman aims to change the climate of the planet. What could go wrong? This is the Big Idea tackled in Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson. The novel is huge, featuring multiple intertwined […]