"Avocado Caesar Green Beans," enhanced by a creamy avocado Caesar dressing, makes an ideal literary pairing with "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus, a novel that artfully combines wit and brilliance similar to the dish’s innovative flavors. Complete this enjoyable experience with an "Avocado Margarita," which complements the dish’s avocado elements and adds a splash of fun to your culinary exploration.
Ingredients
- 1 lb green beans, trimmed
- 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Croutons and extra Parmesan for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Blanch the Green Beans: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp. Drain and immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking. Drain again and set aside.
- Make the Avocado Caesar Dressing: In a blender or food processor, combine the avocado, garlic, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Toss the Green Beans: In a large bowl, toss the blanched green beans with the avocado Caesar dressing until evenly coated.
- Serve: Garnish with croutons and extra Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately.
Lessons in Chemistry
A witty and delightful novel set in the 1960s about a brilliant female scientist who finds herself hosting a cooking show. Her unconventional approach to cooking, life, and science captures the public imagination in a profound way.
#1 GLOBAL BESTSELLER WITH MORE THAN 8 MILLION COPIES SOLD • Meet Elizabeth Zott: “a gifted research chemist, absurdly self-assured and immune to social convention” (The Washington Post) in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show. • STREAM ON APPLE TV+ This novel is “irresistible, satisfying and full of fuel” (The New York Times Book Review) and “witty, sometimes hilarious…the Catch-22 of early feminism” (Stephen King, via Twitter). A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results. But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo. Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist.
Discussion Questions
- Discuss the role of Elizabeth Zott’s scientific background in her approach to cooking. How does it influence her decisions?
- How does "Lessons in Chemistry" reflect the gender expectations of the time period?
- What are some pivotal moments in the book that contribute to Elizabeth’s personal development?
- How does the novel balance humor and deeper themes of discrimination in academia and beyond?
- In what ways do secondary characters support or challenge Elizabeth?
- How does the depiction of television culture in the 1960s contribute to the novel’s narrative?
- What does Elizabeth’s relationship with her dog, Six-Thirty, symbolize?
- How does the book portray the relationship between food and human connection?
- Compare and contrast Elizabeth’s view on cooking with the audience's perception in the novel.
- How does the narrative use Elizabeth’s chemistry knowledge as a metaphor for life trials and relationships?
Authors:
Bonnie Garmus
ISBN: 038554734X
Publisher: Vintage
Published Date: 2022-04-05
Avocado Margarita
A refreshing twist on the classic margarita, the Avocado Margarita blends the rich creaminess of avocado with the tangy zest of lime and tequila, providing a smooth, luscious cocktail experience.
Ingredients
- 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1 oz triple sec
- 1 oz agave syrup
- Ice
- Salt for rimming (optional)
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the glass by running a lime wedge around the rim and then dipping it in salt if desired.
- In a blender, combine the avocado, tequila, lime juice, triple sec, agave syrup, and a handful of ice.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into the prepared glass and garnish with a lime wedge.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.