I first heard of Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation when it was featured in a list of books that would be becoming movies in 2018. The title promised a scary intensity, something I normally steer clear of, but the description piqued my interest. While it was sitting in my stack of library books, I saw the movie preview (which recently came out and stars Natalie Portman) for the first time and it freaked me out so much, I considered returning it to the library without even reading it. But, I put my big girl pants on and ventured into Area X after all.
Annihilation takes readers along on the twelfth expedition into Area X, an unruly and mysterious landscape cut off from the rest of the world. The female-only expedition includes an anthropologist, a surveyor, their leader the psychologist, and our narrator the biologist. The fifth member, a linguist, didn’t even make it through the entry point. VanderMeer creates a world that is both eerie and unknown. It is slightly creepy - in the way that the popular TV show LOST was creepy - but I was never terrified. In fact, I couldn’t put the book down; I finished it in a day.
As the biologist documents her experience in her journal, exploring dark deserted tunnels, traveling to a beckoning lighthouse and trying to make sense of it all, she also reveals how she got there. Before she signed up to be a part of the twelfth expedition into Area X, she was a research biologist who spent a significant amount of her time working with mussels.
I was excited at the mention of mussels, because I absolutely love them but also because I wasn’t excited about the dehydrated, shelf-stable food they subsisted on in Area X. Still, I wanted to combine the abundant green overgrowth the biologist encountered everyday with them, so I searched out a recipe for mussels that included green pesto.
Thanks to Epicurious, I found exactly what I was looking for. The recipe calls for fresh mussels, but I have easier access to frozen mussels, so that’s what I went with. Depending where you live in the country, it’s not always easy to find them fresh, but if you have an Aldi nearby, you can likely find them frozen there. You’ll need to make sure to buy mussels that are in their natural juices (not in tomato sauce).
Once you’ve got all the ingredients - about 2 pounds of mussels, some pesto (I really like Trader Joe's Pesto Alla Genovese), and a bit of white wine - you’re good to go. Add the white wine to a large pot or high-sided skillet and bring it to a boil. Then, add the mussels and cover. Return to a boil before reducing to a simmer, cooking for about 3-4 minutes until the mussels open.
Finally, stir in the pesto and season with salt and pepper. Using a slotted spoon, dish out the mussels into bowls and cover generously with the green sauce. Serve with crusty bread or over pasta.
Sometimes I like to make mussels for a quick no-fuss lunch on weekends. They are more often served as an appetizer and this recipe is so simple it won’t add any undue stress before a dinner party. 🙂 This amount is perfect for four before a larger meal. Enjoy!
Mussels with White Wine and Pesto
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 2 pounds mussels debearded and scrubbed (see notes)
- ½ cup fresh store-bought pesto
- Kosher salt & freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Bring wine to a boil in a large pot or high-sided skillet. Add mussels, cover, return to a boil, then reduce heat and bring to a simmer. Cook mussels until they open, approximately 3–4 minutes. Stir in pesto; season with salt and pepper.
- Using a slotted spoon, divide mussels among bowls. Top evenly with broth and serve immediately.
Notes
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Yum! Mussels have to be one of my favorite things to eat, and so simple to cook. I used to be very intimidated about making them until - hah! - one day, I found a mussels reference in a book and made them. Never looked back. Both your recipe and the book look great, as usual.
I know, right?! They seem so intimidating - I only used to order them at restaurants - and then one day I decided to try it, and I'm hooked. Thank you, Vanessa!
This book also piques my interest, but a lot of people I trust have given it bad reviews. Maybe I should give it a chance!
I'd also read a few bad reviews beforehand. It definitely won't be for everyone, but I thought it was intriguing throughout and it's such a quick read, that even if you don't love it, it's not what I would consider to be a "waste of time."
I really like your comparison to Lost! It's definitely more that type of mysterious and creepy, rather than terrifying. I adored the writing and I can't wait to see the movie 🙂
I've actually heard the movie is nothing like the book. BUT I've heard that the movie is really good in its own right. (And though the book is part of a trilogy, there are no plans to make a trilogy of the movie...at least at this point.)
I'd love to hear what you think of the movie - I still haven't gotten up the courage to see it. The preview still scares me. 😛
I've had this book sitting on my desk for nearly a month, and I love horror. I just haven't picked it up yet. After reading this, I'll have to get to it sooner than I planned (which was starting to seem like never)!
The mussels sound so easy to cook! I'm impressed and also a little sad I found this after we grocery shopped for the week. Will have to try this next week and surprise my hubby! Thank you for sharing! And for your lovely use of imagination. I would have never thought to do this.
Thanks, Christina! Hope you enjoy the book and the mussels 🙂