• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • The Reading Nook
  • The Happy Place
  • Recipe Index

Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

February 14, 2016

Spicy Crab Bisque for Two {Weekly Reads}

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly

A review of the cookbook Dinner for Two as well as the books The Bell Jar and The Good Neighbor. Plus an amazing Spicy Crab Bisque for 2 recipe!

Spicy Crab Bisque for 2 recipe on dineanddish.net

I really struggled fitting in reading time this past week…it may have had a little something to do with the fact that I introduced my son to the Friday Night Lights series and we may have spent 2 days straight binge watching the first 2 seasons. Oooops! I know this much about reading, if you want to be a voracious reader and consume lots of books, TV is something you can’t get sucked into. I like to multi-task when I watch TV but I can’t multi-task when I read. Reading requires pretty much my full, undivided attention!

With that said, I did get two books read this week plus I’m sharing a review of my favorite “Date Night” cookbook with you! Let’s get started…

Dinner for 2 by Julie Wampler review on dineanddish.net

My friend, Julie, wrote a cookbook that has been our favorite book to turn to for at home date nights. As a family of 6 I wasn’t sure if I’d have much use for a Dinner for Two cookbook, but the truth is, I’ve used this cookbook probably more than most cookbooks in our house! I have cooking for a crowd down… what I’m not good at is cooking for just Nick and I.

Julie’s cookbook, Dinner For Two, is a beautifully photographed cookbook full of simple recipes for 1-2 people. Julie has simplified small batch cooking with mouth watering recipes – the kind you almost wish made enough for leftovers. My favorite recipes from Dinner for Two so far are 20-Minute Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli, Creamy Spinach Artichoke Pasta Bake and Smoked Sausage and Spinach Tater Tot Breakfast Bake. I’ve been using Julie’s cookbook for quick and tasty lunches as well (since I’m a party of one here during the day). I especially love the Grilled Chicken and Kale Salad with Almond Honey Dijon Dressing. It’s the perfect filling weekday lunch!

My absolute favorite recipe from Dinner For Two is the Spicy Crab Bisque recipe I’m sharing below. This crab bisque recipe and this cookbook need to be a part of your next date night in. You’ll nix restaurant dates once you realize how delicious at home dates can be with Dinner For Two. Purchase Dinner For Two here on Amazon or add it to your Want to Read shelf on Goodreads.

The Good Neighbor book review on dineanddish.net

The Good Neighbor by AJ Banner was an impulse read when I saw it was free on Kindle Unlimited for Amazon Prime users. The promise of a fast pace psychological thriller did not disappoint. I can’t really tell much without giving too much away, but this book is about two houses burning down because of arson, a weave of lies and a crazy exploration into who could have possibly done it. Affairs, lies, deceit, suspense and more… this quick read will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I rated The Good Neighbor 3 stars on Goodreads, which in my rating system equals good. I would have rated it it 4 stars (great) but I wasn’t crazy about the way it ended. With that being said, I definitely think this is a great book if you want a fast paced thriller that is quick to read. You can purchase The Good Neighbor on Amazon here or add it to your Want to Read shelf on Goodreads, here.

(OK – I just read a comment on Goodreads about why it ended the way it did. The author has indicated that it leaves it open to continue the story. Sounds like there may be a sequel!)

The Bell Jar Book review from dineanddish.net

I finished this book today and honestly feel like I need a day or two to really process what I read. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a dark, twisty modern classic that focuses on Esther, a person suffering from severe mental illness. It was a haunting book to read, in the sense that Esther seemed in the beginning to be a person who was constantly suffering from a distorted view of how the world was…everything was inherently bad. She suffered inside her head, through harrowing experiences and continuous suicidal thoughts/attempts. I was desperate for Esther to find hope, but with each turn of the page, hope seemed further away.

After reading The Bell Jar I was sad to discover author Sylvia Plath had committed suicide in her 30’s from carbon monoxide poisoning after sticking her head in a gas oven. Apparently, The Bell Jar, was a semi-autobiographical book, chronicling Plath’s own demons. I ended up giving this book 4 stars on Goodreads. You can purchase The Bell Jar on Amazon, or add it to your Want to Read shelf on Goodreads.  (I may come back and write more about this book once I’ve let it digest and settle for a bit.)

Up next for me is:

When You Were Older

When You Were Older by Catherine Ryan Hyde (currently free for Amazon Primer users through Kindle Unlimited)

Everything Everything

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Have you read any great books lately? Let me know in the comments section below! Happy reading!

For more book review posts, check out my Books category on Dine & Dish and follow me on Goodreads!

Crab Bisque for Two from Dinner for Two Cookbook

Now on to the Spicy Crab Bisque recipe from the Dinner for Two Cookbook!

Spicy Crab Bisque for 2 recipe on dineanddish.net
Print

Spicy Crab Bisque for Two

A simple yet amazing Spicy Crab Bisque for Two recipe, very slightly adapted from the cookbook, Dinner for Two by Julie Wampler.
Course Main
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 2
Author Dine & Dish

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 2 green onions finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cupp heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 8 ounces lump crabmeat
  • 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour

Instructions

  1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, add olive oil. When oil is hot, add the shallot and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 3 minutes.
  2. Reduce heat to medium. Add broth, heavy cream, Sriracha, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Whisk to break up the tomato paste.
  3. Add the crabmeat to the mixture, and then whisk in the flour. Turn the heat down to medium-low, and let mixture simmer and thicken for 15 minutes.
  4. Serve in bread bowls or in a large soup bowl with a side of crust bread and side salad.

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly

Filed Under: Book Review, Seafood, soup Tagged With: book review, Cookbook, crab bisque, date night, dinner for 2, food, reading, recipe, Seafood

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Julie @ Table for Two says

    February 14, 2016 at 3:13 pm

    Thank you so much for the sweet review! I’m so glad that you’re able to use the cookbook so much – whether it be cooking for your family or yourself! Yay! 🙂 also – The Bell Jar was my FAVORITE book in high school and our English teacher told us how Sylvia Plath died and I was so shocked. It has forever been stuck in my head for some reason. Anyway – I literally found my physical copy of this book the other day while packing up our guest room (ahh we’re moving soon!) and I am going to read it again. Thanks for reminding me 🙂 I can’t wait to check out the other books you reviewed too! I’ve heard such good things about The Good Neighbor – I’m curious how I’ll rate it!

    Reply
  2. Nancy Long says

    February 14, 2016 at 4:19 pm

    I read The Bell Jar about 40 years ago and it’s a tough read! Haven’t read the others yet, but will check them out. the recipe sounds yummy!

    Reply
  3. Starla B says

    February 17, 2016 at 11:32 pm

    So happy for the Julie- I can’t wait to get my hands on this book. Also, that bisque looks amazing. Crab is my favorite so this is a must try!

    Reply
  4. Rebecca says

    March 18, 2016 at 2:24 pm

    Hi,

    The ingredients call for green onions, but the instructions mention a shallot? Which one of these should go in the meal? Was planning on preparing this tonight. Thanks!!

    Reply
  5. Monalisa Matache says

    August 3, 2017 at 11:06 am

    looks astonishing! So glad for the Julie-I can hardly wait to get my hands on this book. Likewise, that bisque looks astounding. Crab is my most loved so this is an absolute necessity attempt!

    Reply
  6. Sophie says

    November 20, 2020 at 7:08 pm

    I’m confused. The directions say to add a shallot, but I don’t see a shallot in the ingredients list.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About Your Hostess

Kristen-125Hi friends, I'm Kristen! Mom of 4, Ambassador of Happiness, Coffee Lover and Connection Seeker. Come say hi! Read More…
Facebook    Twitter    Pinterest    RSS    Email Updates
seks yaparken fantezi dünyasının kapıları açılan sikiş kadın büyük penisli adamlarla seks yaparken acı çektiği porno resim anların çok zevkli olduğunu düşününce daha ileri bir boyutta sikiş yapmak mobil sikiş istediğini düşünür özellikle çevresindeki kadınlardan sikiş izle birisinin ona bağlanarak sikilmenin çok haz veren bir şey olduğunu sikiş izle söylemesi üzerine eskilerden büyük penisli olarak türk porno hatırladığı bir adamı arayarak fantezi yaşamak istediğini mobil porno söyler bağamalı sert sikiş yaşama üzere adamın evine sikiş gelir bağlanarak sikilmek isteyen ateşli kadını türk porno yıllarını spor yapmaya adamış

Don’t Miss This!

Southwest Avocado Chicken Panini Recipe

Southwest Avocado Chicken Panini Sandwich Recipe from dineanddish.net

My Book Recommendations

Twice Baked Breakfast Potatoes Recipe

Twice Baked Breakfast Potatoes with eggs, bacon and spinach served on a white plate with white brick background

Footer

food  FOOD

My love of how food connects people together runs deep. Explore a decade worth of Dine & Dish recipes, from sweets to savory as well as classic family favorites. Food lovers will want to check this out. Bon Appétit!
Clear Glass Bowl with Instant Pot Ristotto, Shrimp and Veggies

EXPLORE FOOD

travel  TRAVEL

"I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list." I've always had a serious case of wanderlust, and traveling and exploring new places continues to be one of my favorite things. Come explore my favorite places with me!
5 Great Ways to Maximize Your Time at Walt Disney World Parks

EXPLORE TRAVEL

life  LIFE

More than just a food blog, Dine & Dish has always been a place where I've shared what's happening in our life. These life posts tend to be my absolute favorite blog posts. Come get a taste of life as it happens in our house!
broken plant pot on the floor with dirt

EXPLORE LIFE

happiness  HAPPINESS

I believe that in order to live a happy life, you have to make happiness happen through implementing simple things that make you happy into every day. Here are a few of the things that bring me happiness - I hope they do you too.

EXPLORE HAPPINESS

Open
Have you ever been creatively stuck?
.
December 2019 my absolute favorite camera lens fell out of the cabinet I keep it in and shattered in a million pieces. I cried for days and days. I barely picked up my DSLR in 2020 because I just felt so uninspired. I couldn’t get the shots I was visualizing in my head with the lenses I had. 
.
Nick and the kids replaced my favorite lens as a Christmas gift and I’m ecstatic to be shooting again! I joined my incredibly talented friend @kimklassen creative photography Inner Circle for extra inspiration this year. Assignment 1 out of the gate and I already feel eager and excited about photography again! (You can see my “tell a story through multiples” in my Instagram story.)
.
Three cheers for bursting with inspiration again, after all this time.
.
.
@kimklassen_innercircle #monthofmultiples #meyerlemon #foodphotography #photoinspiration #createeveryday #thesmallthings #everydaybeauty
Open
Last year I couldn’t believe I was old enough to have an 18 year old. This year I look in the mirror and see someone old enough to have a 19 year old. This past year has been a lot and man, it has physically aged me! But one things solid and firm...I love my kids and am so proud of them! The resilience Jacob has shown this past year has impressed me...”graduating” high school, starting college, all when things have been so up in the air and unsure. And never once complaining about it. My kids haven’t lost a thing this year...instead they’ve gained so much they wouldn’t have gained without this experience. I’m so proud to be their mom. Happy 19th birthday @jacobdoyle02 We are fiercely proud of you and love you so much!
.
.
#happybirthday #thisis19 #gotchaday
Open
I always read so much in the last couple weeks of the year, I could never have my “best of” choices finalized. Christmas break is my favorite time to read read read!
.
I’m finishing up All About Us and The Prettiest Star, and then have this awesome stack to tackle! What should I read next? So many good ones to choose from! Will any of these make my 2020 top ten? 
.
.
.
#bookstack #librarybooks #christmasbreak #whatshouldireadnext #bookstoread #booksbooksbooks #readingbooks #favoritetimeoftheyear #favoritebooks #booksandchristmas
Open
Feeling festive with @ella.r.doyle & @kelly_k_doyle ! 🌲 
.
This is the recipe my sister-in-law uses and it is the BEST tasting, no fail sugar cookie recipe. It’s from a really old issue of @tasteofhome magazine with a frosting recipe she wrote down in the margin. I could eat so many of these and never get tired of them! If you want the recipe let me know and I’ll dm you the picture! Is making decorated cut out cookies one of your Christmas traditions?
.
.
#sugarcookies #sugarcookiesofinstagram #cookiedecorating #festivevibes #feelingfestive #christmasaesthetic #christmasvibes🎄 #cookiesforsanta #cutoutcookies #christmascookiesfordays #holidaytreats #christmastraditions
Open
It’s a book giveaway! I often get people asking me for book recommendations. Talking books is one of my favorite things to do! So when @librofm gave me the opportunity to give away three audio copies of any audiobook I wanted to, I knew immediately which book I wanted to share.
.
@roblowe book, Stories I Only Tell My Friends is the audiobook I recommend to EVERYONE. It is a book I listened to years ago, not expecting to love it, but I absolutely did. First of all, Rob Lowe narrates...so there’s that lovely bonus. But Stories I Only Tell My Friends is a funny, raw, emotional, informative, peek inside of the life of a really fascinating celebrity.
.
I wasn’t a Rob Lowe super fan before. I haven’t watched West Wing (I know, I know), Brothers & Sisters, Parks & Rec, or any of his TV shows, but I have always been a HUGE Brat Pack fan. Well, after listening to this audiobook I am a big fan (and his other audiobook, Love Life, is great too).
.
Long story short, I have three codes through @librofm to give to 3 people. To enter, leave a comment on this post by midnight CST on 12/16 telling me what your favorite audiobook is and why! Also, definitely check out Libro.fm - the best audiobook platform that also gives back to local bookstores!
.
.
.
#bookphotography #audiobooks #bookgiveaway #roblowe #fortheloveofbooks #whattoreadnext #favoritebook #librofmlisteningsquad #librolisteningsquad #librofm #storiesionlytellmyfriends #celebritymemoir #memoir #bookpics #bookstagramcommunity
Open
“I can’t wait for my seasonal depression to meet my year 2020 depression.” 😩
.
If S.A.D is something you worry about each year, but especially this year, let me introduce you to my seasonal affective disorder game changer, the @sunrisesensations light therapy lamp. I ordered one of these lamps last year at the recommendation of my friend @leslieradams and it is the best (& most stylish) light therapy lamp I’ve ever used. I absolutely love it and highly recommend it...it’s well worth the money.
.
@sunrisesensations has a new, smaller lamp called Bright Box. The size snd functionality is perfect for a nightstand or office desk. Let me know if you have any questions about how these lamps continue to help me fight those pesky winter blues! Check out Sunrise Sensations to find the right UV free light therapy box for you!
.
.
.
#seasonalaffectivedisorder #sad #lighttherapy #winterblues #winterbluesbegone #winterdepression #sadlight
Open
Ella did a thing today!
.
.
@ella.r.doyle #shorthairstyle #shorthair #haircutsforwomen #teenstyle @naughtyouraveragecurl @thewarehouzsalonshawnee  @tijneyewear
Open
Alright, alright, alright! It’s time to talk about how we can support our local bookstore during the holidays and beyond! As you consider buying gifts this year, make sure you shop local for all the book people on your list! One unique and super easy way you can support your favorite local bookstores is with an audiobook subscription to @librofm Yes! Audiobooks! With Libro.fm you can financially support your local bookstore AND buy audiobooks all at the same time. Each audiobook purchase supports the independent book store of your choice! Do it for yourself and buy some audiobooks for friends too!
.

If you need audiobook ideas, hit me up. I’ve listened to so many great books this year that will make it on my top favorites list, including Greenlights by @officiallymcconaughey It’s narrated by the author and is so worth the listen! Your ears will thank you!
.
PS my favorite #localbookstore @rainydaybooks is under renovation which makes it even better that I can still safely support them from the comfort of my own home! 
.
.

#ShopLocalBookstores #librofm #LibrofmListeningSquad, #shopsmallbusinesses #bookpeople #greenlightsbook #matthewmcconaughey #bookstores #bookstoresofinstagram #audiobookstagram #goodreadschallenge
Follow on Instagram
For our site policies, click here.

Copyright © 2006-2021 Dine and Dish | design by Feast Design Co | Wordpress VPS