Tools I Use While Reading and New Words

This weekend I grabbed a warm throw, tossed a pillow in the corner of the couch, and sat down with Jane Green's book Family Pictures.

While this certainly is not the great American novel, at least in my humble opinion, I found the storyline interesting, although predictable, and a pleasant read. I give this book three stars.

Family Pictures synopsis from Amazon:

" Family Pictures, the gripping story of two women who live on opposite coasts but whose lives are connected in ways they never could have imagined.  Both women are wives and mothers to children who are about to leave the nest for school.  They're both in their forties and have husbands who travel more than either of them would like.  They are both feeling an emptiness neither had expected.  But when a shocking secret is exposed, their lives are blown apart." 

While reading I always have my iPad near me, because often times I come across words, I don't know how to pronounce and/or the meaning of the word. When this happens I will go inline and use,
The Free Dictionary, by Farlex. Type in the word and a definition appears along with phonetic  spelling, and an icon of of horn, which when pressed pronounces the word for you.
Source: The Free Dictionary,

I often use google images so I can have a visual of what something looks like.

While reading Family Pictures I used both of these sources when I happened across the word 'fiddleheads.' While I certainly knew how to pronounce the word I had no idea what they were or looked like.

Photo Source: Biz  Size Wellness

Source: Biz  Size Wellness

"Fiddlehead Ferns are one of spring’s most prized vegetables as they come and go in the blink of an eye.   Fiddleheads are actually young fern fronds that haven’t been opened yet and they must be picked within a two or three week window before the fern unfurls.

The flavor of the little nibbles is compared to asparagus or okra with the delightful crunch of a green bean.  While strange looking, the green vegetable has some amazing nutritional benefits. Fiddlehead ferns are rich in vitamins A and C while also being chock full of other vitamins, minerals andmacronutrients. The young ostrich fern is also fat-free and low in cholesterol." 

I have been on this earth for sixty years, and I am constantly amazed by the things/knowledge that I don't have.

So my question to you is had you heard of Fiddleheads's and/or have you eaten them? If you have do tell, how to cook them and what you think they taste like?