Nick, of Time - J. A. Carlton, Author
2:52 PM Posted by MAC
Butternut Squash Soup *Vegetarian friendly*
(A J. A. Carlton Favorite)
1 medium sized butternut squash peeled and cubed
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 good sized yellow or sweet onion finely chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper
Saute chopped onion for approximately 4 minutes in olive oil, until onion is transparent.
Add Chicken or Vegetable broth.
Add butternut squash cubes, salt and pepper
Boil until soft.
Puree butternut squash until smooth, return to broth and stir in until well blended.
If
your diet permits serve with a garnish of fresh parsley and Romano or
Parmesan cheese. Makes 4-5 servings can be served hot or cold. If diet
permits, can be thickened with 1 8 oz tub of whipped cream cheese for
those really cold winter nights.
Nick, of Time - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds
“…please, won’t somebody help me?” his voice barely touched the darkened space while he did his very best to hold back the fear that always came when he was alone. Frank Emerson didn’t want to cry, he didn’t like to cry; and even if Nick said it was okay sometimes, he never cried without good reason – and there was nothing more that Frankie wanted than to be like his big brother. But Nick never got thrown into a smelly, old dumpster either. It wouldn’t have been so
bad if it’d been the one by the main doors of the Robert Townsend Elementary School. That was where they threw out the papers and dittos and stuff, so it wasn’t so bad in there. But for some reason, Tommy Haywood and Bruce Evans always made sure to toss him into the one behind the lunch room, into stinky old piles of half-rotted food and gross stuff from snotty pasta to curdled milk. And sometimes there was stuff he really didn’t want to think about, stuff that was mixed in with the saw dust Harry used to clean up when someone got sick.’
Nick, of Time introduces the reader to two young brothers who, when we first meet them, are deep into the task of navigating life with an absentee parent while surrounded by playground bullies and their mom's creepy boyfriend. There's nothing Nick wouldn't do to care for and protect his little brother, including running interference to keep that creepy boyfriend away from Frank.
As if tending their daily trials and needs weren't enough, one day a friend, in the guise of the school janitor threatens to expose the shame Nick keeps buried from his brother all while revealing a destiny that any adult would find more than a little daunting. Nick and Frank were born from an ancient line of heroes who once saved the world of light and all its inhabitants from the clutches of the malevolent Living Dark and its sinister minions, the Schades. Once again,
the world of light is in danger, and these two young boys must embrace their destinies as one, to save it and all they hold dear.
Throughout the series the recurring theme is family, friendship, and the power of love to heal and overcome any hurt. There are also occasional glimpses into how even a small window of abusive behavior can leave scars and pains that echo forward in unfathomable ways. I also want to make you aware that 30% of all the author'sroyalties from Nick, of Time go to the prevention of child abuse through the “Heroes of the Line” campaign.
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Book Reviews, child abuse, J A Carlton, Martha A Cheves, Nick of Time, Stir Laugh Repeat, super heroes, Think With Your Taste Buds
An Uncommon Family - Christa Polkinhorn, Author
12:22 PM Posted by MAC
Tiramisu à l‘orange
(A Christa favorite)
Ingredients:
1 package of lady fingers
juice
of 4 to 5 oranges (4 is usually enough)
a shot
of Grand Marnier or Cointreau (optional)
250
grams mascarpone
500
grams sour cream
grated
skin of two oranges
120
grams of sugar
1
package of vanilla sugar or a shot of vanilla extract
Cover
the bottom of a bowl with a layer of lady fingers.
Pour
the orange juice and the Grand Marnier or Cointreau over the lady fingers, so
that the lady fingers are just covered.
Mix the
mascarpone, sour cream, sugar, vanilla sugar, grated orange skin and pour
the mixture over the lady fingers.
Keep in the refrigerator for a few hours, preferably
overnight.
Dust with chocolate powder
(optional).
An Uncommon Family – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of
Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds – Desserts
“Mama?” she whispered. She saw the woman only from
behind, but the bounce in her step, the long, reddish-blond hair flowing down
her back, swaying left and right, the tall, slender figure – it must be her
mother. She tossed the rest of the ice cream into the trash can, got up,
and ran after the woman. “Mama!” she called as the woman got ready to
cross the street. The light turned from blinking red to solid red, just
as the woman reached the other side. Karla rushed after her, barely
aware of the honking around her or of the shrill warning bell of the
blue-and-white streetcar. She heard someone yell at her but by then she
had arrived at the other side. The woman was walking along the river
toward the Lake of Zurich. “Mama, wait!” Karla bumped into
someone. “Watch it, kiddo.” A man stepped aside. “Mama…” The
woman finally turned around and looked back, scanning the people behind her,
then walked on. Karla stopped dumbfounded. It as the face of a
stranger.
Six year old Karla is devastated when she realizes the
woman she followed wasn’t her mother. The disappointment she felt when
finding out she had been mistaken brought her to her tears causing her to fall
and skin her knees. Jonas Bergman was walking by at that time and helped
the little girl up and tried to ease her pain until her Aunt Anna made it to
her side. When Karla explained that she thought the lady was her mother,
Anna had to explain to not just her but Jonas as well that her mother wouldn’t
be coming back. Karla’s mother and grandmother had both been killed in a
car accident. This was something that Karla knew but wasn’t ready to
accept.
After her sister and mother were killed, Anna took custody
of Anna. She was a single woman with memories of a happier, yet
devastating time when she was younger. Twenty years ago she was married
to a wonderful man and living in New York. Live couldn’t be
better. But it could be worse and that’s exactly what it became.
Jonas was a widower. The love of his life had died of
cancer leaving him with an emptiness that no one would ever fill again.
His life now consisted of his art work and teaching. And after seeing
some of Karla’s work, he knew she would be a master student.
Now, can you take 3 very lonely people and make them into
one happy family? Can you take the lack of trust from a woman that has
been hurt so badly that she swore to never trust another man and turn her into
a loving companion? Can you take a man who spends his free time talking
to his deceased wife as if she is there and convenience him to take a step
toward healing and happiness? This is what Karla and her best friend
Maja plan to do.
An Uncommon Family was an extremely heart touching
book. When I read a book to review I normally make notes or post
stickies on pages marking events I want to remember. I didn’t do that
with this book. I didn’t have time. I became so engrossed that I
turned page after page and forgot the notes. This is a truly beautiful
story about love and the loss of love.
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: An Uncommon Family, Book Reviews, children, Christa Polkinhorn, Family, Martha A Cheves, Stir Laugh Repeat, Think With Your Taste Buds
How to Tell a Great Story - Aneeta Sundararaj, Author
5:02 PM Posted by MAC
Aneeta’s
Fried Rice.
Ingredients
2 ½ small bowls of cooked
rice
½ chicken breast cubed
(chicken meat can substituted with mutton or beef)
2 teaspoons of
ginger-garlic-chili paste (this is 1 inch of ginger, 3 pips of garlic and 1 red
chili pounded together)
Salt to taste
½ teaspoon of black
pepper
2 tablespoons of meat
curry powder
1 medium onion, diced.
1 small bowl of mixed
vegetables (peas, corn and carrots)
A handful of fried ikan bilis (anchovies)
2 tablespoons of oil
Method
1. Slice the meat into ½ inch
lengths and marinate with 1 teaspoon of meat curry powder, salt and pepper.
2.
Heat up
oil in a wok. Add the ginger-garlic-chili paste and onion and stir until brown.
3.
Add the
rest of the meat curry powder and stir until fragrant.
4.
Add mix vegetables
and cook for about three minutes.
5.
Add the
meat and stir until cooked.
6.
Lastly,
add the rice and stir until it is properly coated with all the ingredients.
7. Remove from the wok and garnish with fried ikan bilis.
How to Tell a Great Story – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds – Desserts
‘The
art of storytelling is not just about standing before a whole lot of
people and saying the first thing that pops into your head. It is about
communicating your thoughts, ideas and vision to people in an effective
manner. It is about sharing your opinion with someone else. It is
about recording your own history for future generations.’
When
I first started reading How to Tell A Great Story I thought to myself
“I write cookbooks so this book won’t pertain to me.” Wrong! This is
one of the most informative books I’ve ever read pertaining to writing
and that’s all forms of writing as well as speaking. By including
speaking I want to point out that no matter what your topic, when you
stand in front of someone you are a “story teller.” Whenever you start a
conversation you perform all of the steps of telling a story. You have
a theme or topic. There is a purpose in what you are saying and your
conversation will have at least one character. How well your
conversation, story or presentation is presented is determined by how
strongly you emit your theme, purpose and characters. And this is what
Aneeta Sundararaj will teach you in her book How to Tell a Great Story.
She shows how to effectively make the theme the essence of the story.
How to get the purpose of the story across to your audience. How to set
up your settings using smell, taste, feelings, hearing and sight. How
to build character within your characters. But most importantly she
will help you understand ‘why’ you wrote or want to write your story.
This
author takes it even further with her explanation of when, how and if
you should use slang, swearing and clichés. The use of punctuation –
what to use, when and where. And to wrap it all up she supplies the
forms that can be used for your research which is a vital part of your
writing. No one wants to hear someone talk about a subject that they
know nothing about. All-in-all, this is a book that should not only be
used by writers of all genres but also as a study book for corporate
presentations, teachers of all school ages and maybe a pastor now and
then. I write cookbooks but I will be referring back to this for my own
writings.
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Aneeta Sundararaj, Book Reviews, How to tell a Great Story, Martha A Cheves, Stir Laugh Repeat, story writing, Think With Your Taste Buds, writing tips
Cold Hearted Son of a Witch - The Dragoneers Saga II - M. R. Mathias, Author
3:18 PM Posted by MAC
Nacho Pie
A M. R. Mathias Special
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
1 tube (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent rolls
1-1/2 cups crushed nacho tortilla chips, divided
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Mexican cheese blend
- In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in tomato sauce and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, separate crescent dough into eight triangles; place in a greased 9-in. pie plate with points toward the center. Press onto the bottom and up the sides to form a crust; seal perforations.
- Sprinkle 1 cup chips over crust. Top with meat mixture. Carefully spread sour cream over meat mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and remaining chips. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting. Yield: 6-8 servings.
Cold
Hearted Son of a Witch – Dragoneers Saga Book II – Review by Martha A.
Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds –
Desserts
‘The Crown Prince lay peacefully, as if asleep,
inside the currently green-colored magical field. He was afflicted with
the Goblin King’s poison, a terrible stuff that had maddened and then
slowly corroded from the inside out anyone who’d breathed it. If the
stasis failed before an antidote was concocted, he would surely die.
Jenka knew Herald was right about what had to be done, but that didn’t
relieve the urge Jenka was feeling to just ignore common sense and keep
his word by saving his fellow Dragoneer.
The Dragoneer’s Lair, as the hall was now called,
was an intensely morbid place. Queen Alvazina was often found there
arguing with her husband or weeping over her son’s body. Like
Mysterian, she was a witch of the Hazeltine, and she fully understood
the magnitude of the situation. She knew Richard’s life hung in the
balance, and that there was no certainty about the antidotal potion
Mysterian hoped to brew. Her sorrow seemed to sap the hope out of some
of the others, thus the hall was sometimes the quietest place in Mainsted.’
In his first book, Mathias introduced us to Jenka
De Swasso, Rikky Camille and Zahrellion, along with their dragons Jade,
Silva and Crystal. He took us through the battle with the Gravelbone
and the poison that put Prince Richard into his state of suspended
animation. We saw King Blanchard and Linux change places for the
benefit of the war. We also learned the prophecy of what is called the
“Confliction” that will be fought by 10 – 5 Dragoneers and 5 dragons.
But what is the “confliction” and who are the other 2 Dragoneers? Where
will they come from? Where will the battle take place? Will the
antidote, once brewed and administered to Prince Richard, counteract the
poison and bring him back to help fight in the confliction? And will
Linux and the King finally make the switch back into their own bodies?
It didn’t take me long to read M. R. Mathias’
first book. It was packed with action, excitement, suspense and a
little humor now and then, making it a fast enjoyable read. When I read
his second book in this series Cold Hearted Son of a Witch, I expected
more of the same. Well, he didn’t disappoint me. It has everything
that the 1st book had and more.
I’ve never been a big fan of fantasy books but
this author is changing that. He could carry this book into a series of
10 and I’ll read, and am sure, enjoy every one. I love reading this
series.
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Book Reviews, Cold Hearted Son of a Witch, fantasy, M R Mathias, Martha A Cheves, Stir Laugh Repeat, Think With Your Taste Buds, witchcraft
Infinite Exposure - Roland Hughes, Author
3:43 PM Posted by MAC
Chicken and Rice Bake
(A Roland Hughes Favorite)
7 boneless skinless chicken tenders
1 pkg. Lipton Onion Soup Mix
2 can cream of mushroom soup
2 c. uncooked rice
4 c. water
Use a big dish and stir everything except the chicken until mixed.
Place chicken on top and bake about 2 hours in 325 degree oven.
You should route or stir around the edges about half way through
to stop the rice from drying on the bottom.
Add water or Chardonnay if too much fluid evaporates.
You can make it 3 c water and 1 c Chardonnay for additional flavor.
1 pkg. Lipton Onion Soup Mix
2 can cream of mushroom soup
2 c. uncooked rice
4 c. water
Use a big dish and stir everything except the chicken until mixed.
Place chicken on top and bake about 2 hours in 325 degree oven.
You should route or stir around the edges about half way through
to stop the rice from drying on the bottom.
Add water or Chardonnay if too much fluid evaporates.
You can make it 3 c water and 1 c Chardonnay for additional flavor.
Infinite Exposure - Guest Review by Matthew Morrison
Roland Hughes creates an intriguing jambalaya with his latest offering: Infinite Exposure. He mixes the raw carnage of high finance and international banking with a murky broth of covert "ops." Spicing the mixture cleverly with the bitterness of a neo-Nazi plan to eradicate al-Qaeda Cyber terrorists. Served on a chilled plate of good old American corporate greed. This book will wake you up to the possibilities what this world may be coming to.
Matthew Morrison
Order your copy by going to
http://www.infiniteexposure.net/order.html
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: al-Qaeda, Book Reviews, high finance, Infinite Exposure, Martha A Cheves, neo-Nazi, Roland Hughes, Stir Laugh Repeat, Think With Your Taste Buds
Dead End - Leigh Russell, Author
3:26 PM Posted by MAC
Salmon Pasta Salad
(A Leigh Russell Special)
1 cup uncooked pasta (shells, noodles, etc.)
2 Tbsp. butter/margarine
1/2 - 3/4 cup shredded cheese
2 boiled eggs, peeled and cooled
sweet pickle relish (to taste)
1 can (6 oz.) boneless, skinless salmon drained
mayonnaise
salt and pepper (to taste)
Cook pasta according to package. Drain and while still hot, pour into a large bowl. Add butter and cheese allowing hot pasta to melt. Chop and add boiled eggs and relish (to taste). Add salmon and enough mayonnaise to slightly coat pasta. You can add chopped onions, black olives or substitute dill relish for sweet.
Dead End – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds – Desserts
Abigail’s
head hurt. She was afraid something was wrong with her eyes. She
couldn’t see anything. A heavy weight was pressing down on her chest.
She fought against a feeling of nausea, and tried to turn her head but
couldn’t. “Hello,” she croaked. No answer. She was alone in the
darkness… “Hello,” she called again. Her throat hurt and there was a
strange smell. By now Abigail had realized she was in hospital, coming
around from an operation. Nurses of all people should have known better
than to leave her lying on her back. There was a risk she might choke
to death if she were sick. She seemed to lie there for hours, drifting
in and out of consciousness. “Hello,” she called again. “Is anyone
there? Please?” The light dazzled her “Am I in hospital?” she asked.
Her voice sounded far away. “Are you a doctor?” “Hello, Mrs. Kirby.
Mrs. Abigail Kirby.” The man smiled. “How are you feeling?” He held
up a syringe. Clear liquid glistened on the tip of the needle. The man
leaned forward, his head framed by an aura of white light.
Those
would be some of Abigail Kirby’s last words. Her body would be found
later in the woody part of the park with her tongue missing. Abigail
left a daughter Lucy, a son Ben, a husband Matthew and a world of
questions for Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel and Detective Sergeant
Ian Peterson to sort through and find the answers. When another victim
is found later with his eyes missing, the two detectives are still
baffled and without answers. What they think might be their one and
only clue comes when Lucy disappears in what the family believes to be a
runaway but turns out to be a bit more. But still the clues are
bleak. Will they find Lucy before something really bad happens to her?
Will there be other murders with missing body parts before the killer
is found and stopped? Good questions and the answers won’t reveal
themselves until the end.
As
with Road Closed, Author Leigh Russell kept me guessing. She gave the
clues but I ignored them until the end finding myself not believing the
ending as the true killer was finally revealed. Just as Jeffery Deaver
said Leigh Russell has ‘A brilliant talent in the thriller field.’ A
very enjoyable book.
2011
376 pages
No Exit Press
ISBN# 978-1-84243-356-0
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Book Reviews, Dead End, Leigh Russell, Martha A Cheves, Murder, Mystery, Stir Laugh Repeat, Think With Your Taste Buds
For Every Action There Are Consequences - Gail Baugniet, Author
2:35 PM Posted by MAC
Pepper's Chili
(Its a favorite of the Author's too)
1 softball-sized sweet onion, chopped fine
1/4 cup walnut oil
3 lbs. 85% lean Ground Round
3 cans chili beans in medium sauce
2 pkgs. chili seasoning mix
2 29oz. cans of tomato sauce
1 14.5 oz. can of beef broth
3 cups dried macaroni noodles, cooked
Heat oil and add chopped onion, cook until tender.
Add Ground Round and brown the meat in the onion mix.
Shake chili seasoning onto the meat; add chili beans with sauce, tomato sauce, and the can of beef broth.
Let chili simmer while boiling the macaroni, then add the cooked macaroni to the chili. Continue to simmer for about 30 minutes.
Serve with freshly grated Wisconsin cheddar cheese and oyster crackers. (Salad and Wine optional.)
For
Every Action There Are Consequences – Review by Martha A. Cheves,
Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds – Desserts
‘Back in my office, I set Jed’s report aside and
turned my attention to the witness statements. Neighbors had reported
loud noises and shouts coming from the only bungalow in the cul-de-sac.
According to a neighbor two houses down, everyone knew about the
constant arguing. One statement quoted a woman at the top of the
cul-de-sac as saying, “Liticia Tuarence often accused her husband of
passing judgment on her. I saw the police arrive more than once when
things got out of hand. We went out of our way to ignore the
squabbles. This time was different, lots of banging and profanity.” I
reread the remark about “passing judgment” and wondered if the woman had
chosen the phrase herself or is she’d only repeated Liticia’s words.
According to Jed, Wes Tuarence admitted he’d stabbed his wife multiple
times though he offered no explanation for his actions and refused to
make any further comment. The snapshots stapled to the file told me far
more about the man than any written statement ever could. White
borders around the photos drew my attention to the gruesome details of
each knife wound, giving me a measure of the hatred this man must have
harbored.’
Pepper Bibeau is an insurance investigator for
Early Settlers Insurance Company. Her boss “Sully” Sullivan has just
assigned her to not one but two cases that will take her to Chicago
to hopefully solve. The first case is a claim filed by a Doctor Patel
who has filed claims for five members of the same family. Due to the
heredity of the children’s illness, sickle cell anemia, the probability
was that the claim was correct. But due to the lack of blood and other
lab work, it became Pepper’s job to check out the claim.
Her second assignment in Chicago came in the form of a favor to Sully.
There had been an insurance policy taken out on Liticia that listed her
husband as beneficiary and an orphanage as second in line. Sully’s
hopes were that Pepper could turn up something, anything, that would
help to convict Wes Tuarence of murder and not allow him to claim the
proceeds. Sully personally wanted to see it go to the orphanage.
What should have been two simple cases taking
just a few days to research ended up taking Pepper into the next week
and almost getting her killed. But which case was the real threat?
Were the insurance claims legitimate or was the doctor faking claims?
Were Liticia and Wes Tuarence in over their heads in something illegal
that caused them to flee Chicago or are they victims of the
circumstances?
As the number of deaths increased, my list of
suspects declined. At one point I really suspected it might be one of
the “good guys” gone bad. Actually, I had that suspicion until the
end. Was I right? You’ll have to read the book for yourself to find
out.
2011
346 pages
CreateSpace
ISBN# 9781456522155
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Book Reviews, For Every Action there are Consequences, Gail Baugniet, insurance investigator, Martha A Cheves, medical claims, Murder, Stir Laugh Repeat, Think With Your Taste Buds
The Attitude Girl - Mila Bernadkin
2:33 PM Posted by MAC
Chocolate Salami
Here is a recipe for a
very reach and scrumptious dessert – chocolate salami.
You
will need:
- 2 packs (7 oz. each) of Petite Beurre biscuits
- 20 oz. of finely chopped walnuts
- 4 eggs
- 2 ½ cups of sugar
- 6 tbsp of Hershey’s cocoa
- 1 lb of unsalted butter
- 1 large saucepan
- 5 sheets of aluminum foil (12 X 15 each).
Note: this recipe makes 5 salami rolls and is good as it is (no
substitutes, please).
Directions:
1.
Break biscuits into ¼-inch squares.
2. Add
walnuts and set aside.
3.
Beat eggs with sugar in a saucepan.
4.
Add butter.
5.
Put the saucepan on the stove and cook over
medium-low heat.
6.
When the butter is almost melted, add cocoa,
stirring constantly until thick.
7.
Remove from heat just before it starts
boiling.
8.
Cool slightly.
9.
Add walnuts and biscuit squares and mix well
all together.
10.
Divide the mixture into 5 equal piles.
11.
Put each pile on the aluminum foil sheet.
12.
Roll it tightly in a salami shape.
13.
Freeze immediately.
When it’s time to
serve your dessert, unwrap the chocolate salami and cut it into pieces. Take a nice plate, oval rather than round,
cover it with a pretty napkin and put the slices of your chocolate salami on it,
trying to keep the shape of a salami roll.
Tips:
-
Take your
chocolate salami out of the freezer an hour before serving and put it in the
refrigerator so it won’t be too hard to cut.
-
Make sure
not to slice the roll too thin—it may break or crumble.
Enjoy!
The Attitude Girl – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds
“Watch
where you’re going, you dork,” I hear suddenly from the right side.
It’s pretty-blond-but-really-dumb-and-mean Heather Stone, insulting a
quiet, brilliant nerd, Norman
Fixx, for accidently touching her shoulder with a food tray he’s
carrying to his table. “I’m sorry,” mumbles the always-so-polite
Norman, “I didn’t mean it, honestly. I’m so sorry.” His apology
apparently isn’t enough for Heather. She’s out for blood. “Listen,
Bates, you psycho!” she continues to torture the poor guy. “His name is
Norman Fixx, not Norman Bates,” I yell from my seat. “Leave him
alone. Didn’t he apologize? Didn’t he say he was sorry? What else do
you want from him, his blood?” “You shut up! Who asked you?” Heather
shouts back and then narrows her eyes and asks, “Who are you, his
mother?” “Norman Fix-me-up, come here. I want to talk to you,” calls
Ted “The Jaws” McAlly, Heather’s “bodyguard.” “No, Norman Put-me-down
sounds much better,” Heather declares and starts giggling. Does she
actually believe she’s being funny? They all laugh. All except for
Nick and Brianna, that is. Brianna Gold is the only one from that group
I can tolerate. And Nick…I look at him appreciatively. He smiles at
me and sends butterflies down my spine. He’s so sexy, I feel a warm
wave all over my body. God, he’s gorgeous! If looks could kill, I’d be
a corpse right this moment.
‘I,
Victoria Benson, a seventeen-year old high school senior, have an
attitude problem. Actually, I don’t have a problem with my attitude,
but other people apparently do.’ Does it mean you have an attitude just
because you want to defend one of the most nerdy boys in school? Does
it mean that you have an attitude just because you are mad at your
mother after she loses her job and decides to take a sabbatical before
even looking for another? After all, what will I use for money when my 4
best friends and I decide to go on our weekly shopping spree? Does it
mean that you have an attitude when you find that your mother has found a
‘lump’ and things could get even worse than they already are? Or when
your OWN father left you when you were little and never came back? Or
when your OWN grandmother offers you money and your mother feels you
shouldn’t take it? Now tell me, why would these problems plus cause
anyone to have an attitude?
While
reading The Attitude Girl, I found myself wanting to agree with Vicky’s
decisions as she tried to deal with her problems and disagreeing with
the attitudes her best friends seemed to have toward her. But then it
hit me. We are talking about 17 year old girls not an adults. Their
logic is totally different from mine. Some of the pressures that were
put on Vicky are some of the same pressures I can remember seeing and/or
hearing about when I myself was a teenager showing me that some things
never change.
The
Attitude Girl is a book that would be a beneficial read for all adults
with pre-teen to teen age children as well as a beneficial read for the
children themselves. We can all learn a lot from this book.
The Attitude Girl is an 8 time award-winning book and after reading it I can see why.
2009
321 pages
Five Star Publications
ISBN# 978-1-58985-155-9
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Book Reviews, cookbooks, growing up, Martha A Cheves, Mila Bernadkin, Stir Laugh Repeat, teen books, The Attitude Girl, Think With Your Taste Buds
Legends of Tsalagee - Phil Truman, Author
4:12 PM Posted by MAC
Jo Lynn’s Rhubarb Pie (at Arlene’s Café)
(Also a Favorite dish of Phil Truman)
1 Pie crust – double, 9”
4 C. cut rhubarb- ¾” (fresh rhubarb, 8 stalks; frozen, 24 oz.)
1 C. sugar
1/3 C. brown sugar
¼ tsp. salt
6 T. flour
¼ tsp. cinnamon
2 T. margarine
Line
pie plate with half of the pastry dough. Combine other ingredients in a
bowl and pour into pie shell, dotting top with margarine. Cover with a
lattice or full top of pastry dough. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes.
Legends of Tsalagee – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds – Desserts
“One
day I was out looking, as I did pretty regular back then. It was in
November. A rainstorm had come through the night before and left it
cold and damp. The woods dripped, and dark thick clouds still filled
the day. Anyway, I was climbing up the side of this wooded hill. My
feet kept slipping on the thick fall of wet leaves, and I had to grab
saplings as I went so’s not to slide down the hill. All of a sudden,
this feeling come over me that I was being watched, so I stopped and
looked around. Didn’t see a thing. I then noticed how quiet it had
gotten. Now in November in the woods around here you don’t hear a lot
anyway, but this was beyond that. No birds, no wind, no nothing. It
was down right spooky. And things just didn’t smell right. I tell ya,
I’ve done a fair amount of hunting in these woods, and when a bear or a
cougar or bobcat came around, I knew it; even came up on a small pack of
wolves once. But this wasn’t like them times. Something in the woods
was watching me that day, and I had no idea what. What I did know was
that a little voice inside was yelling at me to skedaddle. So that’s
what I did, and I ain’t gone back to look for that treasure since.
Don’t really care about that sort of thing any longer, though. I figure
I’ve got all I need right here. I wouldn’t know how to act if I’uz
rich, anyway.”
In
1889, the famous outlaw Belle Starr was killed. Rumor had it that she
had a rather large stock of money and gold hidden, which had been
acquired through her robberies, but where? Her son Ed knew where it was stashed so after his mother was killed, he divided it between his sister and lit out before the law decided to pin the murder on him, of which he just might be guilty. Belle Starr lived - and died in Younger's Bend on the Canadian River, near the town of Eufaula, OK. After her 'death' Ed decided to ride up further northeast into the Cherokee Nation where the town of Tsalagee is located. There
he met Ned Starr and settled down. But in the back of his mind he
still felt the law was looking for him. He decided the best thing for
him to do was to not spend any of his mother’s money but to hide it
somewhere instead. Thus, the legend of the Belle Starr Treasure took on
its beginning.
It turns out that the Starr Treasure wasn’t the only legend floating around the area. The Choctaw
and the Cherokees had a legend of their own. All the way back to 1850,
the tribal stories of a large hairy man-beast roaming the woods and
hills was passed on generation after generation. The Choctaw called him
“Hill Man Who Yells at Night” while the Cherokee called him “He Who
Lives in the Hills” with the name later being shortened simply to “The
Hill Man.” They also believed that the Belle Starr treasure was cursed
and protected by the Hill Man. But of course, that didn’t stop many a
man from striking out with the desire to find this famous treasure,
town’s people included.
Once
in a while I’ll read a book that simply hits me as being Great! This
is one of those books. In the beginning you have your traditional
murder prompted by greed giving the book a bit of “catch me if you can”
but the more I read, the more I had to remind myself that there was a
murder. The characters are so down-to-earth, even the bad guys. They
are comical as well as serious. Author Phil Truman has created
characters that I will never forget. He even has me believing in the
“Hill Man.” I couldn’t get enough of this book and really hated to have
it end. It left me wanting more!
2011
Deadly Niche Press
ISBN #978-0-937660-95-9
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: big foot, Book Reviews, cookbooks, Indian history, Legends of Tsalagee, Martha A Cheves, Phil Truman, Stir Laugh Repeat
Walking Through Walls - Karen Coiffi, Author
12:41 PM Posted by MAC
Lemon Drop Cookies
(A Wang Favorite)
Preheat oven to 375
Ingredient:
1/3 cp. Milk 2/3
cp. sugar
4 eggs 2
tsp. vanilla
4 tsp. baking powder ½
cp. shortening (lightly melted butter)
Add enough flour to the above ingredients to make into a
soft dough. Drop tablespoon sized portions onto a greased cookie sheet. When
done, ice with confectioners sugar mixed with a little milk and lemon extract.
Walking Through Walls
– Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your
Taste Buds
"Twelve-year-old Wang longed to be an Eternal. He craved
wealth…and power. Spending his time learning about these mystics took his
thoughts away from the certain fate of slaving in the wheat fields all his
life, like his father. The wheat fields might be good for some, but not
for Wang. He had higher goals."
Everyone should have high goals and work to
reach them, as long as those goals don’t hurt others. Wang’s highest goal
was to find where the Eternals lived and learn magic so he could have
everything he wanted. He would use the magic he learned to take from the rich. After
all, they can afford to share so it wouldn’t be like stealing, would it? He watched his father
work in the wheat fields all his life and had even worked there himself, but he was
determined to not make the fields his life too.
Following Wang as he struggled to acquire the magical powers he always dreamed of
made me think about all of the people in the world today who are just like Wang, who strive for riches. Walking Through Walls is a book they should read; maybe it would help them see that riches, power and greed aren’t really
that important. What counts is what you do with the powers within you as
you use them to create good, not evil.
This is a great book that offers subtle morals for children as well as adults.
Publisher: 4RV Publishing, 2011
ISBN# 978-0-9826594-7-2
Genre: Middle-grade/YA fantasy adventure
Page count: 62
~~~~~~~~~~
Amazon link:
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com
Labels: Book Reviews, cookbook, Karen Coiffi, Martha A Cheves, Stir Laugh Repeat, Think With Your Taste Buds, Walking Through Walls
"This book is made up of 3 individual stories. All three are short reads and other than the setting, which is Mexico, all three are completely different."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"You'll follow Logan as she tramples through kudzu, goes to her first Testicle Festival, rents a room from a woman who runs around at night in the nude and connects with a wolf. You will also follow her as she gets her man, or should I say men."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"Will the people of Hollow Gap pull together and defend themselves from the Indian up-rise or will they fall apart. Find the answers to these questions and more when you read this book of taming the West through love."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"I would NEVER have guessed the turn of events that make up the last 20 pages of Fresh Frozen. The hiring of the spy will surprise you and the murder will surprise you even more. So if you love a good mystery, this book is definitely for you."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"As I read I felt as if I was a witness watching this evil man do the things he did to these young women. As I read through the trial I felt like one of those ready to convict him. As I listened to the comments by his wife, I could feel her pain and confusion."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"After reading Breaking My Silence I saw Jane as a strong person who was determined to do whatever was needed to get her children back into her life and to do whatever it took to make her life as complete as possible without the prostitution. This was one of the most informative books I've ever read about a subject that is normally kept behind closed doors."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"
While reading Genesis Beach I found myself not wanting to put it down. Each page had a piece of evidence that would help me solve the mystery before Logan. I really thought I had pin-pointed the murderer. Boy was I in for a shock."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"I've enjoyed reading this book. It's a cross between a "fiction" and a "true crime." So if you enjoy either genre you will enjoy A Study in Red. Do keep in mind that this book is very descriptive."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"The story captured me from the beginning, the evil of Rovella never ceased to amaze me, and the love that was always there but didn't surface due to guilt made me feel the pain that I'm sure she felt. The ending was perfect."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"This has been a really enjoyable book.
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. Beth, don't change your way of writing! I've really enjoyed reading Basket Case and will be reading more of Beth's books."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"I feel this is a wonderfully written book that would be helpful not just for young people who are overweight but also for those who look at a person, no matter the age, call them names, shun them and refuse to accept them as they are."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"Bertha Speaks Out is a very enjoyable book to read. Bertha finds herself in positions that will make you laugh and cry. You will feel her pain but also feel her pride when she stands up for what is right. It’s a must read for children as well as adults.
"
(Martha A. Cheves)
"Read Thicker than Water and ask yourself these questions. Did the wife make the right choice? Was her decision worth 15 years of her family’s life? Would you have made the same decision?
I highly recommend Thicker than Water. As I said, it was a joy to read."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"As I read I kept asking myself “Who would put out a hit on David and why?” “Who are The Chosen Few and what do they have to do with David?” “Will Max get to David before it’s too late?” You will have to read The Chosen Few yourself to find the answers to these questions."
(Martha A. Cheves)
"This book has taught me that life is like a chain. Everyone we meet becomes a link in our chain. Some links may be weak, but the strong ones keep the chain from breaking. And as memories and secrets are shared with those strong links, they become even stronger."
(Martha A. Cheves)
I'm from Georgia, moved to North Carolina by way of Florida. I've been in Charlotte for 14 years and love it. The recipes in my book Stir, Laugh, Repeat are all tested by "Food Testers" of which I now have 24. They try a dish and rate it from 1-10 with only those scoring at least an 8 making the book. My website is a holding place for my 2nd book Stir, Laugh, Repeat... Again. Please visit my site to find new recipes and tips. All recipes are easy, using common ingredients and according to my testers, great!