I still LOVE paper books – 4 reasons why
It’s Valentine’s day weekend, and love is in the air. I tried really hard to choose a book to feature this weekend, but I just couldn’t pick one. So, I decided to write a post about why I still LOVE paper books! And I paired it with a dessert I absolutely LOVE as well, vanilla panna cotta with a berry coulis.
I have to confess, I’ve just never taken to e-readers and e-books. Yes, I get that they are practical, especially if you travel a lot. But I just don’t see the appeal of reading on a device. My life is already so full of ‘devices’, from my laptop to the TV and of course my smartphone. When I read, I want the whole experience – opening a paper book, paging through it, feeling the weight of it in my hands. Here are my four reasons why I still LOVE a good ol’ paper book:
1. The aroma
All bookworms will agree, books (especially older books), have very enticing aroma. To me it’s the smell of my primary school library, where I spent many happy hours browsing. It’s the smell of curling up under a feather duvet in the winter and getting lost in a story. It takes me back to when I would climb one of the big trees in our garden, and read The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton until it got too dark to see. I love burying my nose in a paper book, and inhaling deeply. Have you tried inhaling an e-reader? Not nearly as enticing!
2. The ritual
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I have ritual when I start a new book. I always read the back, and then I check how many pages there are. Then I read the author’s note or acknowledgements (weird, I know!). Finally, I check how long the chapters are. Then, and only then, am I ready to start reading.
I also have a very strange reading-rule: I never stop reading at a question, and I always read the first paragraph of a new page before putting in my bookmark. It’s impossible for me to stop in the middle of the page or, even worse, towards the end of the page. I think it would be difficult for me to check all these boxes when reading on an e-reader!
3. The sharing
I’ve never been part of a formal book club. Anyway, I don’t really like lending out my books (I’ve learnt the hard way that sometimes you never see that book again). But there are some people I lend to with a smile – my mom and sisters. If I really love a book, I can’t wait to lend it to my mom and to hear her opinion.
One of my sisters-in-law is also a very avid reader, she recently borrowed four of my books and read and returned them all within a week! As far as I know, you can’t share books on an e-reader, and this would diminish the joy of the process for me.
4. Bookshops!
One of my favourite things to do is to meander around a bookshop on a Sunday afternoon. I always check to see if there are any new releases by authors I love (like Lee Child, Philippa Gregory, Elisabeth Gifford, Lucinda Riley or Kate Morton). I also like ‘judging books by their covers’. I’ve found some real gems by trying a paper book based solely on what the cover looks like (I’ve had some misses as well, of course).
I often take pictures of books that interest me. When I have some spare cash, these are the books I will then buy. It’s just not the same as buying books for an e-reader…
A recipe to fall in love with…
I found a recipe for panna cotta with sour cream in December 2017 on a blog called Natasha’s Kitchen. I was working on a food feature about desserts for a ‘white’ Christmas (things like cheesecake, pavlova, and of course, panna cotta). I adapted the recipe to my own taste, and it was published in Beeld that year. It’s still a feature I’m very proud of.
I’ve always loved this Italian dessert – creamy, silky smooth, decadent, and so perfect paired with a slightly sour berry coulis. Panna cotta is something that can be very right but can also go very wrong if you’re not careful. The name means “cooked cream”, but it’s very important NOT to boil the cream, or the dessert won’t set.
So, make this dreamy dessert for the one you love this weekend. And spoil him or her with a good (paper) book – the perfect Valentine’s Day gift!
Vanilla panna cotta with berry coulis
6
servings15
minutes10
minutesIngredients
1 cup full cream milk
2,5 teaspoons gelatin
2 cups cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
a pinch of salt
1 cup sour cream
- For the berry coulis:
2 cups fresh berries of your choice (I used strawberries and raspberries)
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice
Directions
- Place the milk in a pot and sprinkle over the gelatin. Allow to stand for about 5 minutes or until the gelatin has softened. Place the pot on the stove and heat over moderate heat until the gelatin has dissolved and the milk is steaming (NOT boiling). This process shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes.
- Add the cream, sugar, vanilla and salt and keep stirring for another 5 minutes until the sugar has completely dissolved. Once again, be careful not to boil the mixture. Remove from the heat and allow to stand for about 5 minutes.
- Pour the sour cream into a big jug. Whilst whisking continuously, add the warm cream mixture to the sour cream. As soon as it’s completely smooth, divide the mixture into six ramekins. Place in the fridge until completely set (best if you can leave it overnight).
- To make the berry coulis, place 1 cup of the berries, the sugar and lemon juice in a small pot and bring to the boil. Turn down the heat and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes or until syrupy.
- Stir in the other cup of berries and remove from the heat. Allow to cool to room temperature and spoon over the ice cold panna cottas. Serve immediately.
