Pairings: A Hearty Nibble

The Scarlet Pimpernel is one of those classic novels that everyone seems to forget about. It's full of action and romance, war and drama... but it is also incredibly light with humor and joie de vivre. This book reads more like a modern novel than something written at the turn of the twentieth century. The main character, Sir Percy Blakeney, is the darling of British society, but he feigns foppishness and dimwittery to keep his cover as a spy. This leads to daring rescues of souls at the mercy of The Reign of Terror and confusion and angst for Sir Percy's wife. This book offers a perfect mix of fun adventure and serious drama.

From Budget Bytes

Earlier this week, The Husband and I made this wonderful dish of white beans with tomato and sausage. The dish is rich without leaving you feel stuffed. It offers hearty flavors without going overboard on the meat. (Heck, this might work fantastically with tofu or other vegetarian/vegan option.) What I like most about this dish, however, is that there are several ways you could have fun with add-ons. We ate our meal with a whole wheat baguette, but it would be great topped with a fried egg or served over pasta, polenta, or rice. This dish, like The Scarlet Pimpernel, is hearty and filling without being too much in one sitting.