Saturday, December 24, 2011
Digital Break December 24-31
We do hope you have a very Merry Christmas and/or some Happy Holidays regardless of your religious persuasion. Beginning today,( December 24th), we will be on a digital break until December 31st.
We have some exciting plans for the new year, including a series of posts on goal setting, plotting, author interviews, and getting that book going. Please come back soon.
Thanks again, for being loyal to our blog.
Ruby
Friday, December 23, 2011
Kimberly Packard Walton: I Saw Santa Claus
No matter what kind of stress I’m under at the holidays there is something magical that transports me back to my childhood when my only stress was over which Barbie Santa would bring me.
What’s one thing you’d like to get rid of during the holiday season?
The stress people place on themselves to give the perfect gift. Sometimes, the perfect gift is something small that means so much to the recipient.
What are your favorite childhood memories of Christmas?
I swear on a stack of Christmas Story DVDs that I saw Santa once in my family room when I was 6 or 7. I snuck in to see what was under the tree, saw his shadow and ran back to my room. Needless to say that sorta freaked my parents out by how emphatic I was that it really happened.
What’s your idea of a perfect Christmas meal?
One I don’t have to cook (two years ago my husband came down with the flu on Christmas Eve and I was stuck cooking dinner for his family and mine. Thank goodness for Bloody Marys on Christmas morning).
Do you have a dish that has become a tradition with your family?
I’ve adopted my husband’s family tradition of baked oysters for Christmas Eve.
What’s the best Christmas present you ever received?
I’m going to sound nerdy and domesticated, but curtains for the family room. The ones that came with the house were too short, terry-cloth and faded red, but we have so many windows that it was going to cost and arm and a leg to replace them. Our parents came together to get us curtains that I love.
What’s the best Christmas present you ever gave?
I love to give books at Christmas. Selfish, I know.
What are your favorite Christmas movies?
A Christmas Story and A Charlie Brown Christmas
What’s your favorite Christmas carol?
I always crank up the radio when The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping” comes on. It must be me growing up in the MTV generation.
What’s your idea of a perfect holiday season?
No stress, the tree and decorations put up with minimal bickering, a fire, snow, no one coming down with the flu and a glass of frangelico in one hand.
Recipe:
Kimberly says she doesn't have the recipe for baked oysters, so we've offered some.
Scalloped Oysters
1/2 cup melted butter
3/4 C. half and half
1/4 tsp salt, mace or nutmeg
Pinch of pepper
Dash of tobasco (just a few drops)
1/4 tsp of Worcestershire sauce
Drain oysters but keep 1/4 c liquor. Mix all crumbs with melted butter. Spread 1/2 of this mix in a 8 x 1/2" pan or casserole. Cover with half of the oysters. Sprinkle with a dash of pepper, mace, or nutmeg. Combine half and half with remaining oysters, liquor, salt, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over first layer of oysters and top with cracker crumbs. Bake 40 min in 375 degree oven. Serves 4-6.
1 clove garlic, minced
salt and ground black pepper
6 slices lean bacon, halved
Marinate oysters in garlic, wine, salt and pepper for about 15 minutes. Heat up your grill or turn on your oven to broil.Wrap each oyster with a piece of bacon and secure with a tooth pick. Grill about 6" from heat source. Turn once and cook until bacon is crispy.
~~~~~
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Chrissy Szarek: A Time For Hope and Family
Chrissy Szarek |
What are your favorite childhood memories of Christmas?
Do you have a dish that has become a tradition with your family?
Chrissy's recipe is top-secret but we found a similar one and adapted it from Menus4Moms.
1 1/4 pound fresh green beans or frozen,
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2-3 teaspoons Good Seasonings Italian Dressing Mix
Blanche the green beans by plunging them into boiling water for about 5 minutes or steam fresh or frozen beans til tender crisp..
Remove the beans, immediately run under very cold water, or dip them into very cold water and drain.
Heat olive oil and butter over medium heat.
Add cooled green beans and sprinkle 2 or 3 teaspoons of seasoning over the beans and toss.
Heat through and serve. These will burn, so watch them carefully!!
If you like this post, tell us by leaving a comment.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Claire Hickey-You Don't Need A Lot To Make Christmas Special
Contact her published column: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/feed-mind-nourish-soul/
personal blog: http://clairesblog64.blogspot.com/ and professional blog: http://sustenanceforthemind.blogspot.com/
If you love Christmas, can you say why?
The birth of Jesus is celebrated as a sign of God’s love for humanity. I tell my kids that Jesus is so nice that on His birthday we get presents to teach them about that love. I also love the magic of Christmas. From the decorations, expectations, watching my children’s excitement and anticipation, Christmas cards, friends, family gatherings, food, fun and celebrating.
What’s one thing you’d like to get rid of during the holiday season?
Commercialism. Greed. All the holidays are about giving, faith and becoming a better person - not getting.
What are your favorite childhood memories of Christmas?
We didn’t have much since there were five kids in my family but my parents always made it special. They were as excited as we kids were.
Also, after coming home from my paternal grandma’s house one Christmas Eve my parents, not surprisingly, had a hard time getting us to go to bed and sleep. At that moment, my dad happened to look out our bedroom window and saw a red light blinking as it flew across the sky. The rest of the airplane wasn’t visible so my dad said, “Look! There’s Rudolph! Santa’s coming! You know he won’t stop here if you are not asleep!” We were asleep in no time after that.
What’s your idea of a perfect Christmas meal?
Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, browned potatoes, gravy, homemade crescent rolls, dessert; or
Homemade ravioli, homemade Italian sausage and meatballs, homemade Italian bread, arancini (fried Italian rice balls), cannoli.
Do you have a dish that has become a tradition with your family?
See above. Birthday cake for Jesus – we sing Happy Birthday. Also, Christmas cookies that my mom made when I was growing up. I now make them for my family.
What’s the best Christmas present you ever received?
Barbie stuff and a doll house I had wanted when I was little.
What’s the best Christmas present you ever gave?
I couldn’t say. You’d have to ask those I’ve given presents to. I do make a point to give something that will touch someone’s heart. Otherwise what’s the point?
What are your favorite Christmas movies?
It’s a Wonderful Life, Meet John Doe, A Christmas Story, all the old black and white Christmas movies.
What’s your favorite Christmas carol?
Oh Holy Night, The Little Drummer Boy, The Christmas Song
What’s your idea of a perfect holiday season?
Sea Horses
(Cookie press Christmas Trees)
1# butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 TBSP. almond extract
4 cups flour
green food coloring
Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl. Add coloring last, a bit at a time until you get the shade of green you want. Blend thoroughly. Fill cookie press and press out on to cookie sheets. This recipe works best if you do NOT refrigerate dough first. Bake @ 375 degrees for 10 minutes. My oven bakes fast so I start checking them at about 8 minutes.
My mom also made cookie press flower shaped cookies for Christmas using this recipe. For those do the same except do not add food coloring. When flowers are pressed out on cookie sheet put half of a candied cherry in the middle. I use red and green cherries. I'm not a big fan of candied fruit but these are very addicting along with the Christmas trees.
Enjoy!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Steve Sanders: The Miracle Of Now
Steve Sanders is an Attorney for the United States Department of Defense, and Past Judge Advocate for the US Army. He recently spent 6 months working in Iraq. When not working as a lawyer, he spends time in his side business Blackbead's Treasure Chest making and selling beaded jewelry, writing, publishing, as well as participating in Rennaissance Festivals as a Pirate.
He is the author of"Characters: The Buffalo Soldier and Other Solders", Editor of and Contributor to "Raising Black Flags: Original Poetry By and About Pirates", editor and contributor to "Echoes From Other Worlds", performer at The Texas Pirate Festival; Middlefaire; and The Magical, Medieval, Fantasy Faire. He has been an invited guest at both The Texas Renaissance Festival and Scarborough Faire for book signings and poetry readings. He is the winner of the Grand Prize in the Poetry Division of the "Canis Latran" Writing Competition at Weatherford College, Texas, 2009. "Dad, You're My Favorite Cowboy", was selected for publication in the 2009 "Voices Along the River", San Antonio Poetry Festival publication.
If you love Christmas, can you say why?
Watching “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol” and realizing that Christmas can be more “glorious than grand”, that there really is a “miracle of now”, and that a Christmas where a family shares their love is much more magical than a Christmas where they share their pocketbooks.
And Christmas music that made my mom cry.
What’s your idea of a perfect Christmas meal?
My mom’s paella or one of her chalupa “production lines” where you make your own plate of chalupas with guacamole and chips on the side!
What’s the best Christmas present you ever received?
When I was ten years old, my grandfather gave me a copy of a wargame entitled “Midway.” As a result of that present, and the countless hours I spent reliving history and imagining the different ways things might have turned out, I have enjoyed a very rich and meaningful relationship with the past and my imagination that shares my life to this day. No other present has ever had that kind of life-shaping effect on me and I still have that game tucked away in a box in storage.
What’s the best Christmas present you ever gave?
A book – I had a friend who was also an avid reader. She had read a book and loved it; loved the character, the world it was set in, the premise and the plot. One day, quite by accident, I found a copy of a sequel to the book that she didn’t even know existed. I still remember the look on her face when I gave it to her.
What are your favorite Christmas movies?
“Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol”, “Scrooged”, “Ben Hur”, “White Christmas”, and “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
What’s your favorite Christmas carol?
Either “Silent Night”, “Joy to the World” or “The Lord’s Bright Blessing”.
What’s your idea of a perfect holiday season?
Being surrounded by family and friends; sharing the miracle of the season with total strangers; refreshing my relationship with God; giving at least one present that takes the recipient by surprise and fills them with joy; seeing the faces of the grandchildren in the light of the Christmas tree; having some quiet moments around the tree with my beloved wife; watching my favorite Christmas movies and TV shows; and making my list and FINISHING it!
Big Smile Chalupas from Pillsbury.com |
Chalupas
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Chalupa shells are like flat bread not crisp as taco shells or thin like tortillas.
Place Chalupa shells on cookie sheet and put in oven for 3-4 minutes til heated through.
The production line (adjust the recipe for a crowd)
8 chalupa shells
2 c. refried beans
2 c. shredded chicken
2c. pulled pork
2 c. cooked ground beef
2 c. shredded lettuce
2 tomatoes
1/4 c. carrot peeled and shredded
Monday, December 19, 2011
Writer's Reflection of the Year by Susie Sheehey
Susie Sheehey is the President of Greater Fort Worth Writers. She is a former Medical Distribution Sales Representative and now is a stay at home mom who writes contemporary romantic fiction full time. Please leave a comment.
Christmas lights are up both inside and outside my house, decorations surround me as I type, and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is playing the in background on iTunes. My son is asleep in his crib while my husband studies in his office. For once in our household, it’s quiet. And since it’s been so long since I’ve blogged (for several reasons), I thought this was the most opportune and rare moment to reflect.
It’s been a whirlwind year, to say the very least.
Great highs as we watch our son grow, a billion little challenges and a few big ones thrown in there. Same as my writing ‘career.’ Great highs as I improve my skills and learn new techniques, a billion little challenges (mostly just to find the time to write), and a few big road-bumps. Most of my writing goals I set at the beginning of the year I achieved, which I’m very proud with. I set a few stretch goals (NaNoWriMo), and didn’t quite complete those, but I was so close. Again, I’m proud I got that far.
I’ve helped my writers group expand its membership (nearly doubling in size) and learned so much from everyone, I’m so thankful for their help and support. I couldn’t have gotten through my writing goals this year without them. Well, maybe I could have, but it wouldn’t have been nearly as fun or interesting.
I’m hoping to pick my manuscripts back up in the next coming weeks, after I finish my Christmas shopping and overcome consistent sickness, and finally be in a position to query my 2nd one, and revise the 3rd. Along the way, I greatly hope not to stress out the loved ones around me.
I’ll post my goals for 2012 as soon as I have them created. I strongly advise every writer to have goals for the year, and non-writers as well. Gives you something to strive for every day, week, month.
In the meantime, keep writing forward. And reflecting in the rare quiet moments in between.
Contact Susie at http://susansheehey.wordpress.com
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Ruby Johnson: Driving Home For Christmas
If you're traveling with children, it's important to remember that they can't handle sandwiches if the ingredients have a tendency to slide out or if it is thick. Forget things that are going to stain the seats and floors of the car/van. Drinks with a cherry color just seem to gravitate to the carpet. Juice boxes which don't leak are perfect.
When planning snacks and meals for adults and children, think of things that don't need refrigeration:
bananas
cherry tomatoes
fruit cups
canned fruit salad
tuna snacks
In ziplock bags: cheerios, granola, nuts, dried fruits, trail mix, oatmeal cookies.
peanut butter sandwich
salt, pepper
To a cooler add:
boiled eggs
chicken wings
pimento cheese sandwiches
luncheon meat sandwiches
tortilla-cream cheese sandwich. (Mix cream cheese with nuts and dried fruit like pineapple and roll up like an enchilada.)
cheese sticks
salads in containers
carrot sticks
celery sticks
ranch dressing
cream cheese dressing (add honey and cinnamon)
If you forget to get those little individual servings of mayo and ketchup. Add them.
Don't forget:
hand sanitizer
baby wipes
disposable plates, bowls, forks, spoons
napkins, paper towels
Toilet paper
Of course you may not need all of these things, but it will give you some ideas for food. What do you take on a road trip?
If you travel a lot, you may find the following video meaningful as I do.
I hope you enjoy it. Happy Holidays!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Mary Morgan: Older Brothers Teach You How To Find Things
.
If you love Christmas, can you say why?
I love Christmas for the spiritual meaning it represents.
What’s one thing you’d like to get rid of during the holiday season?
I despise the obsessive commercialization of it.
What are your favorite childhood memories of Christmas?
I remember how fascinated I was by the idea of a jolly man magically visiting homes at midnight to deliver gifts. But as I grew older my brother taught me how to find all the hidden spots my parents would hide presents.
What’s your idea of a perfect Christmas meal?
It varies per year because I don't believe in traditional meals. Mostly they include corn, soft rolls, salad, pecan pie
Do you have a dish that has become a tradition with your family?
My mother always makes a "pink stuff" pudding. I don't like it much because of the fruit chunks. I like my pudding creamy and smooth.
What’s the best Christmas present you ever received?
This is almost impossible to answer due to the fact that my parents go all out for Christmas with gifts. I don't ask for much anymore since the economy is a wreck and I'd much rather pay attention to the holiday as a private, spiritual time with the family. I will say that one of the best presents I ever received was financial support for a year spent in New Zealand during my early 20s.
What’s the best Christmas present you ever gave?
This is even more difficult than the question above. In fact, I really can't answer. I've never been good at selecting gifts. Being in my 30s I'm super, super selective about Hallmark cards as the message alone means a lot. When I first started giving gifts at Christmas I had no idea how to shop for presents. And they were ridiculous, cheap items. But because I wrapped them up and gave them to my family the act itself meant so much to them.
What are your favorite Christmas movies?
I've always enjoyed The Nutcracker Motion Picture from the 80s. The Nightmare Before Christmas is another. And an all-time favorite is The Grinch Who Christmas (cartoon version narrated by Boris Karloff. I like pretending the live-action adaptation with Jim Carrey doesn't exist). I adore the story of A Christmas Carol but few film versions have pleased me. I will say that the movie with George C. Scott playing Scrooge is one of the best.
What’s your favorite Christmas carol?
The upbeat songs drive me crazy. I like the ballads that are not so well known such as Breath of Heaven.
What’s your idea of a perfect holiday season?
Time with my parents, who are responsible for giving me the life I have now. I yearn to take them on some long vacation across the Pacific so they can experience the wonders that I've been fortunate to experience.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Grammar Etiquette from Bryan Grubbs: Similes
Bryan Grubbs is our in-house professor of the new Grammar Etiquette blog series, posted once a month. He is an English teacher in Denton, TX.
Anybody who has survived the public school system has been bombarded with these terms enough to know them by heart. The mere mention of any of them should have Webster’s dictionary definition scrolling through your head verbatim like an electronic ticker. So why should you keep reading this? I’ll tell you why: because like a box of Legos, just because you know what they are doesn’t mean you really know how to use them.
Beauty and the Gimp
Similes and metaphors are pretty similar by definition. The best way to compare to two is to say that similes are like the uglier of two siblings. You know the one – not as smart, athletic or charming. While both serve a purpose, similes hit with less impact. Does this make them less important? Not at all, there’s a time and place for everything.
The whole concept behind these literary devices is the realization that not everybody will experience the same things in life. Quite the contrary, most people will have exceptionally different experiences throughout life. The only thing that truly links humans to each other are their morals, beliefs and needs. Similes come into play when the author is looking to express a foreign activity or concept. This is also where most literary work and dialogue is loaded down with cliches. To say something is ‘like riding a bike’ suggests that, once learned, it is never forgotten. This concept is lost on anybody under the age of 6 who has never learned to ride a bicycle, but still manages to apply to a vast majority.
The Amateur Approach
On the other hand, saying that something is ‘like snorkeling in a bathtub filled with molasses’, will more than likely leave your audience more confused than they started out with. Which brings up an excellent point, know your audience. If you’re talking to an elderly community, it may be fun to compare things to wearing adult diapers, false teeth, losing hair or impotence, but these probably aren’t your most tactful options. There’s a time and place to be silly, but sometimes you need a more professional approach. Discussing a merger of two companies can be like a melting pot, but most people will just roll their eyes because it’s not true. Merging two companies is like combining families through marriage. Those getting married will be happy with the deal, but the others involved won’t be as willing to jump into it. There will be hard feelings, disappointment, resentment and the feeling of being overlooked.
That Lovin’ Feeling
Metaphors are a bit more powerful in my opinion. They’re also more intertwined with emotions, stream of conscious and poetry. These bad boys compare two unlike things by stating one is the other.
Example: “I am the sun. Freeze in my shadow or burn in my glory.”
With metaphors, you’re not so much comparing similar experiences as blatantly stating that a person, object, feeling or expression is something else based upon features. For instance, a porcupine is notorious for being a prick, a habanero pepper is known for being hot, and brown eyes are known for being “delicious.” Utilizing these features and some clever plays on words is the best way to use metaphors to spice up any dull Tupperware party or public address.
This finally brings us to our last entry.
What is a butphor?
For pooping, silly…
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bryan Grubbs is an English and Art teacher. He is also a member of Greater Ft Worth Writers and is an active member of the GFW Writers critique group. Members of the group will tell you he can pick out redundant words at forty feet and is quite willing to show what paragraphs or sentences are not compelling. He is a husband and father of three beautiful girls, enjoys writing science fiction/ urban fantasy/ horror, sketching, or playing video games in his free time.Have a question or comment? Let Bryan know by clicking on comments and leaving your question or comments.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Jeff Turner-My Grand Dad's Unexpected Present
What are your favorite childhood memories of Christmas?
Oh more than one. Silent Night, Winter Wonderland, O Christmas Tree, Little Town of Bethlehem, and more as well.
Ingredients
For prime rib beef (5-8 lbs), French trimmed, on the bone
olive oil
salt
freshly cracked black pepper
Preheat the oven to its highest setting.
Rub the beef with the olive oil, salt and pepper all over.
Put a heavy-based roasting pan on the stove and when hot, add the beef.
Transfer the beef immediately to the oven and leave the oven on 450 F for 20 minutes.
Reduce the heat to 375F and roast for 15 minutes per lb. for rare, adding another ten minutes per lb. for medium rare, 20 minutes per lb. for medium, and 30 minutes per lb. for well done (though this is not ideal).
Remove the beef from the oven, transfer it to a carving board and cover with foil. Allow it to rest in a warm place for 30 minutes.
Serve with Yorkshire pudding, green peas, and potatoes.~~
Stuffed Cuttlefish In Wine Sauce
This is one of my very favorite things to cook. Very tasty. Do not think the cuttlefish taste weird. They are very mild and good.
• Two packs of frozen small cuttlefish thawed (some oriental or seafood markets have these), or use fresh small cuttlefish
• Italian style bread crumbs, one and one half cup.
• One can of diced tomatoes, Italian style.
• One cup dry white wine
• One cup of red onion finely diced.
• Olive oil
• Green and black olives chopped, one cup.
• Capers, two tablespoons chopped very finely.
• Salt
• Pepper
• Dill weed,one tablespoon
• Red pepper flakes 1/8 tsp
• Garlic 2 tsp
• One lemon
1. Mix bread crumbs, onion, tomatoes, capers, spices (to taste), olives in a mixing bowl.
2. Stuff cuttlefish with mixture.
3. Heat olive oil over medium heat, one half cup.
4. Put cuttlefish in skillet seam side down, brown for three minutes.
5. Turn over.
6. Add wine, red pepper flakes (to taste) and lemon juice.
7. Adjust heat to simmer.
8. Add onions.
9. Simmer for 30 minutes or until tender..
Serve over white rice or couscous.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contact Jeff at http://ilypants.net/
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Vannetta Chapman: A Christmas Memory of Timothy
Vannetta Chapman |
Her books may be purchased at:
RECIPE:
This isn't really a recipe. I'm always in charge of the vegetable tray at holiday dinners. Maybe because no one trusts me to cook.
But truthfully, with all that heavy food, I love fresh veggies. I make sure to add radishes, black olives, and fresh cheese. Plus some celery, different colors of sweet peppers, broccoli, cucumber, and cauliflower ... it makes for a beautiful addition to the table!
~~~~~~~~
Thank you for stopping by. Please share your comments here.