Future Imperfect Book One - Crucifying Angel - P. I. Barrington, Author

Sophisticated Stir Fry Rice - One of
P. I. Barrington's Favorite Recipes and
Payce's speciality

"Why don't you stay for dinner?" Payce said before she had a chance to reconsider. She'd bitten his head off, the least she could do was feed him. "We can order pizza — or I can cook something — your choice." She smiled at him.

"All right. What's your specialty?" He smiled back, folding his arms over his chest as he leaned on the counter.

Payce hesitated. She wanted something impressive but nothing she'd shared with Ethaniel. She inwardly shook herself. Don't think about him, Payce. You're making dinner, not cheating on him.

"Hmmm," she said. "That depends on what I have in the fridge." She turned and pulled open the refrigerator door. After inspecting the contents for a minute, she called over her shoulder,

"You're in luck, McAllister. One of my specialties is Sophisticated Stir Fry Rice."


This version of fried rice owes its unique nutty flavor to sesame oil. The flavors combine to enhance each other while making it filling and tasty!


Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
2 1/2 tablespoons of vegetable oil (corn oil is best)
4 eggs beaten to blend
2 carrots thinly sliced, diagonally optional
3 cups thinly sliced bok choy (stems and leaves)
4 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms (optional) stems removed, cap sliced
1/4 lb. snow peas, trimmed (slivered and stringed optional)
1 1/2 tablespoons asian sesame oil
3-6 green onions sliced

Preparation:

For rice:

Bring water to boil in medium saucepan (or steamed if you have a steamer), add rice and bring to boil again. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until water is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Fluff with fork, transfer to bowl and cool completely (Personally, I leave it hot). This can be prepared a day ahead--cover and refrigerate.

Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in wok or large, heavy skillet over high heat until hot buy not smoking. Add eggs until puffed around the edges--this is done by using a spatula to push the cooked part of eggs toward the back of the pan while tipping pan forward, allowing uncooked eggs to flow forward. (Note: You are not scrambling or making an omelette--keep reading) Continue to cook like this until eggs are no longer runny but still soft and fluffy. Cut the eggs with the edge of the spatula until they have a crumbled-like appearance and then transfer eggs to a platter or large plate..

Heat remaining tablespoon of oil in wok or skillet over high heat. Add carrots and stir fry for a minute. Add bok choy, mushrooms, and snow peas. Sprinkle with salt and pepper (I use plain salt and pepper) and stir fry until vegetables begin to soften, approximately 4-5 minutes. Add the sesame oil and heat vegetables again and then add the rice and stir fry until mixture is cooked through. Stir in eggs and green onions. Serve.

Serves 4.

Crucifying Angel - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat

'The heat sent mirage waves up from the ground, making the air in the distance wiggly and unfocused. Payce eyed the endless highway that ran through the desert toward the city the cops liked to call The Adult Disneyland and sped the unmarked car toward the first homicide scene of the day. Gavin sat silently in the passenger seat taking in the long highway and the endless desert around them. As they headed into town, a handful of cars passed them by, some filled to the brim with would-be partiers; others having one lone driver heading away from the one-armed bandits that ate up wages like candy.'

The year is 2032. The place is Las Vegas. The crime is crucifixion. Payce Halligan and her new partner Gavin McAllister are in route to their first crime together. After the death of her last partner, Payce became a loner and resented her boss coupling her with someone new, especially a foreigner. Gavin left Scotland Yard, after loosing his wife and son, to start life over. He was impressed with what he saw in his new partner but had a feeling that she might end up being a real problem for him. But Payce and Gavin pushed their baggage from the past aside and jumped into their first crime together.. the death of a woman hanging from an inverted cross.

As I read Crucifying Angel I had one author and book come to mind.. Stephen King and The Stand. P. I. Barrington has picked up where King left off with his story about Vegas. Reading Crucifying Angel was like riding a roller coaster that went up and up and when you thought it was time for it to come down it simply dropped a few feet and continued to climb. It's story, characters and time setting are all very realistic and believable. And the ending? There is no ending and I'm looking forward to Barrington's Future Imperfect Book Two - Miraculous Deception which comes out in June, 2010 and will continue the story.

ISBN #978-1-936000-19-7
Published by Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc.
111 Pages
E-Book