Wiggle Room - Darden North, Author

Anderson’s Chicken Pesto

Ingredients
1  package pesto sauce mix
8  boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4  slices provolone cheese, cut in half
1   4-ounce can sliced mushrooms
Breadcrumbs

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare pesto sauce following the package directions.  Spray 9 X 12 inch  rectangular dish with no-stick cooking spray. Moisten chicken with water, shake off excess, and completely coat with bread crumbs. Place chicken in baking dish. Spread pesto sauce evenly over chicken breasts. Cover each piece with ½ slice of provolone cheese. Spread mushrooms over cheese. Bake for 45 – 50 minutes. Serve with pasta. Enjoy with friends and family.

I am more of a cook of books than an authority on cookbooks.  Even that’s a stretch.  I rarely cook at all except for the occasional grilled steak or piece of fish and a pop of a leftover into the microwave.  In fact, my biggest meal of the day is typically lunch at the hospital where I work as an ob/gyn (my “day job”).  Our two children are grown and live away, so my wife and I rarely have big meals around our house.  But this is one or my favorite dishes.  Daughter Anderson has made it popular around Jackson, Mississippi, when she has been home.  It’s a quick and easy, but delicious meal, without being too heavy.

----- Darden North
 Author of Mysteries and Thrillers

Wiggle Room - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

Mississippi surgeon Brad Cummins, serving on temporary duty at Balad Air Base Theatre Hospital in Iraq, has just been informed that an incoming Black Hawk will be bringing in wounded from an IED which hit a Humvee on patrol. Of the six transported to Balad, five are American Troops. The sixth person injured appears to be an Iraqi student  walking down the road and tossed under the Humvee, breaking bones and receiving burns to much of his body. One of Brad’s patients, Lance Corporal Giles, is treated and seems to be doing OK until a CODE is called on the dying Giles.  Team surgeon John Haynes takes over after Brad attends the Iraqi student. Unfortunately, Giles dies for no apparent reason causing an investigation into his treatment and death. Brad is cleared by his peers but not by himself. He questions his own actions, and his uncertainty mounts.

Brad returns to his fiancee Leslie and to the surgical practice in Mississippi with his twin brother Brian. His real troubles start when Brad and Leslie find Brian shot to death in the parking lot elevator of their medical building. Brad believes that someone meant to kill him, not his twin brother.  Other attempts are made on his life, and the only connection seems to be with the death of Giles. And how does the Iraqi student fit in?

Author Darden North really out-did himself this time. I’ve read several of his books and they have always kept me on the edge but this book became one I didn’t want to stop reading until I reached the end. He kept me guessing as to who the killer would turn out to be and when I decided I knew the answer to that question, he threw in a wrench at the end which had me second guessing my choice. This was a very enjoyable book and I really hope we’ll see more of Brad Cummins in future books.

The Moon is Broken! - Monique B. Martin, Author

Beef Tamales (6 servings)

(Taylor's Favorite)

 

Ingredients:

4 lbs boneless chuck roast
4 cloves garlic
4 dried ancho chiles
3 8 oz packages dried corn husks
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp whole wheat flour
1 cup beef broth
2 tsp cumin
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tsp chopped fresh oregano
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp white vinegar
2 tbsp salt
3 cups lard 
(lard is a non-negotiable for Mexican-style tamales, but I've had success with coconut oil as well)
9 cups masa harina

 

1. Place beef and garlic in a large pot. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil over high heat. As soon as water boils, reduce heat to a simmer and cover pot. Let simmer for 3 1/2 hours, until beef is tender and shreds easily. When beef is done, remove from pot, reserving 5 cups cooking liquid and discarding garlic. Allow meat to cool slightly, and shred finely with forks.
2. Meanwhile, place corn husks in a large container and cover with warm water. Allow to soak for 3 hours, until soft and pliable. May need to weight down with an inverted plate and a heavy can.
3. Toast ancho chiles in a cast iron skillet, making sure not to burn them. Allow to cool and then remove stems and seeds. Crumble and grind in a clean coffee grinder or with a mortar and pestle.
4. Heat oil in a large skillet. Mix in flour and allow to brown slightly. Pour in 1 cup beef broth and stir until smooth. Mix in ground chiles, cumin seeds, ground cumin, minced garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, vinegar and salt. Stir shredded beef into skillet and cover. Let simmer 45 minutes.
5. Place lard and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whip with an electric mixer on high speed until fluffy. Add masa harina and beat at low speed until well mixed. Pour in reserved cooking liquid a little at a time until mixture is the consistency of soft cookie dough.
6. Drain water from corn husks. One at a time, flatten out each husk, with the narrow end facing you, and spread approximately 2 tablespoons masa mixture onto the top 2/3 of the husk. Spread about 1 tablespoon of meat mixture down the middle of the masa. Roll up the corn husk starting at one of the long sides. Fold the narrow end of the husk onto the rolled tamale and tie with a piece of butchers' twine.

 

 

The Moon is Broken! - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

 

Every night at eight o'clock the same thing happens.  "Time for bed,"  Mommy says.  "Time for bed, sleepyhead!"  But, to her surprise and fright, something is wrong this starry night!  Something has happened to the moon and it has to be fixed! 

 

This is such a sweet little book that helps Taylor solve her dilemma.  She's determined to let God know that the moon is broken.  The last time she looked it was a round circle and now part of it's fallen off.  She must find the missing part so it can be fixed.  Perfect for a bedtime story for young children.  Beautiful illustrations.

The Map - Boni Lonnsburry​, Author

Asparagus and Mushroom Tarts  
Originally from Bon Appétit | April 2009

A simple but sophisticated starter: Puff pastry squares are topped with a bright spring mixture of asparagus spears, fresh shiitakes, and crème fraîche.

Yield: Makes 8

 

Ingredients:

1 17.3-ounce package frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
12 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, divided
1 pound slender asparagus spears, trimmed, cut on diagonal into 1-inch pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
1/2 cup crème fraîche*
1/2 cup (packed) coarsely grated Gruyère cheese (about 2 ounces)
Fresh thyme sprigs (for garnish)

 

Preparation:

Roll out each pastry sheet on work surface to 10-inch square. Cut each into 4 squares. Using small knife, score 1/2-inch border (do not cut through pastry) around inside edges of each square. Arrange squares on 2 rimmed baking sheets. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Sauté until tender and lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to large bowl; cool 15 minutes. Add asparagus, chopped thyme, lemon peel, 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to mushrooms. Mix in crème fraîche and cheese. DO AHEAD: Filling can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.

Preheat to 400°F. Mound filling atop pastry squares, leaving 1/2-inch plain border.

Bake tarts 20-22 minutes until crusts are puffed and golden and filling is cooked through. Remove from cookie sheet and cut into 4 pieces each with a pizza cutter. Garnish with thyme sprigs.

Boni’s note:

I absolutely LOVE this recipe!! It is easy, it looks amazing, it tastes like you slaved for days, it is so delicious you’ll crave it in the middle of the night, and it freezes like a dream! What’s more to ask for?

 

 

The Map – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

 

 

…There are plenty of people who have tons of money but it’s never enough…they are never satisfied, never secure and they never feel truly abundant.

There are people who have the spouse, but not the trust, the support, the respect and the ever-deepening love.

There are people who have careers that they thought would make them happy, but they don’t feel free, creative and excited and they aren’t having fun.

The things are not what bring you the essence (the wonderful, positive feeling states).  The essence (the wonderful positive feelings states is what brings you the things…

 

 

By now I’m sure you’re asking yourself, what exactly does this have to do with a Map?  Well, The Map isn’t just any map.  It’s not one that you can use to map out a trip, or is it?  Actually the answer is yes and no.  You won’t find the highway numbers, little towns and cities you’ll travel through nor your mileage distance but you will find your destination and how to get there.  Through following the instructions given in The Map you don’t create your ‘wish’ list you create your ‘intent’ list.  And this goes for everything from relationships to jobs to cars, to travel and to everything in between.   How?  You ask and then believe.  Now that doesn’t mean half-heartedly believe.  You must truly believe.   You must want it strong enough that it is no longer a wish but an intent.  Again, how?  The Map will map the way for you to have what you intend to have simply by following it’s steps and believing in your own self. 

 

 

Does this work?  A couple years ago I wanted to take a trip to Utah.  I lived there a couple years when I was a child and wanted to see if my childhood memories were real or just made up by my mind over the years.  Now, how to I afford a trip like this?  I thought about it and thought about it and became determined, or should I say intent, upon making this trip.  Then it hit me.  I was a smoker for 44 years.  If I quit smoking I could easily afford this trip.  I had tried to quit smoking a hundred times and nothing seemed to work but I was determined to make this trip.  Through my intent to quit smoking and my intent to make this trip I did both!  And in the long run I did even more that made me very happy.  I gave up something that was harmful to my health, I made the trip, I saw relatives that I had not seen in 50 years and will probably never see again, but the biggest accomplishment was that when I became intent on that one trip I proved to myself that I can do and have anything if I really put my mind to it and make it an intent instead of a wish.  So, since reading The Map I’ve ‘mapped’ out other intents that I have all the confidence that I will acquire along the way.

20 Strawberry Cake Recipes - Sharon Ray, Author

20 Strawberry Cake Recipes - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish
 

Classic Strawberry Cake
(Straight from the Cookbook and so good)

 

2 large eggs
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup fresh, crushed strawberries, unsweetened
1/2 cup butter
2 1/5 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

 

Strawberry Glaze:

1 cu powdered sugar
12 - 3/4 cup crushed strawberries
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/5 tsp. vanilla

 

Preheat oven to 350F/180C/gas mark 4.  Prepare the cake.  First sift flour, salt and baking powder together.  Using a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients.  This includes the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla.  Beat for about 3 minutes.  Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl.  Add the flour mixture to the cream mixture.  Alternate it with adding the strawberries.  Beat again for about 2 minutes.  Pour the batter into two 8-inch round greased and floured cake pans.  Put pan in pre-heated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until cake tests are done.  Turn out on wire cooking racks to cool.  When cool, top the cake with the strawberry glaze.  To make the strawberry glaze, simply mix all ingredients together.  Just make sure that you use enough strawberries to think the mixture.

 

 

This is just one of the wonderful recipes included in Sharon Ray's Golden Recipe Collection - 20 Strawberry Cake Recipes.  I made this cake and my food testers all raved about it's taste and texture.   When working this recipe up I did notice the batter was a bit thick and that worried me a bit but it proved to be a deliciously moist cake with loads of strawberry flavor.  The glaze did come out thin but as it sat for a few minutes it thickened slightly and just added to the moist consistency of the cake.  This woman has it together when it comes to strawberries.  I can't wait to try some the others in this book, especially since strawberries are in season.

 

Order your copy today 20 Strawberry Cake Recipes

A Cloud of Witnesses - Joan S. Hickey, Author

Apple Pie a la Mode

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

6 to 7 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches)

1 tablespoon butter

1 egg white

Additional sugar

 

Directions

In a small bowl, combine first 6 ingredients and set aside. In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice. Add sugar mixture; toss to coat.

Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom crust; trim pastry even with edge. Fill with apple mixture; dot with butter. Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pie. Place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in pastry.

Beat egg white until foamy; brush over pastry. Sprinkle with sugar. Cover edges loosely with foil.

Bake at 375° for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake 20-25 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack.

Yield: 8 servings.

Top with ice cream

 

A Cloud of Witnesses – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

 

***I am the seventh of seventeen children, from a working-class, Midwestern Catholic family.  In my teenage years, the tension of alcoholism and depression brought my family to its knees.  My parents fought constantly about money.  Teenage brothers and sisters, one at a time, ran away from home.  My fifteen-year-old younger sister, Lisa, got pregnant.  My eighteen-year-old older brother, Charlie, who was smoking a lot of weed and dropping a lot of LSD, got shot in the back hitchhiking home at 4 a.m. through the ghetto and became crippled.  My father’s depression and drinking led to the loss of his job.  When my family defaulted on the mortgage to our house, we sold our furniture on the front lawn in the middle of January, packed our remaining belongings into a U-Hall truck, and made our way out west for a new start.***

 

***Inside I was dying.  The alcoholic family’s code of silence and denial worked in tandem with teenage male conditioning in a toxic way.  I was deeply depressed by all that was happening at home.  I struggled with a tremendous sense of shame.  I had no way to access my own needs and feelings, much less the ability to articulate them or to ask for the help I desperately needed… This whole time was a death-of-God experience for me.  The God of my childhood, with whom I had bargained to save me and my family, was now officially dead.***

 

This is a story that is lived by many others but seldom told.  How can a person expect to live through circumstances so negative and still come out with a positive attitude?  How can they be expected to go through the heartbreaks and horror and still have Faith?  How can they be expected to even believe that the is a real God?  ‘As a young boy Jesse felt called to be a priest.  Part of this was a real sense of piety.  He truly felt a love for God.  The Holy One was the only one he could count on amidst the emotional and physical violence of his family.  At the same time, religion was a socially sanctioned way to escape from the chaos’…  Even though his faith and beliefs faltered over the years, he experienced his own ‘miracle’ that kept him seeking and eventually becoming what God meant for him to be.  He is a board-certified chaplain who works with pediatric oncology patients and their families.

 

Jesse’s story and many others are shared with us in this wonderfully uplifting book A Cloud of Witnesses.  As I read each story I allowed myself to drift into a state of ‘meditation’ and be there for each Godly experience.  The inter peace and tranquility that I received was through each testimony can only be described as beautiful.  I have several friends who are cancer patients and this is a book that I fully intend to pass along to them with hopes that they too will receive the messages being shared by those within this book who experienced them.  I can only say thank you to the author Joan S. Hickey for bringing these words together.

 

Escape From Paris - Carolyn Hart, Author

Corn Sausage Casserole

(WWII recipe which I found on recipecurio.com Carolyn Hart)

 

BEAT 4 eggs well. Thoroughly blend in 1 No. 2 can cream style corn (2 1/2 cups). 1 cup soft bread crumbs (packed in cup), 1 lb. sausage meat, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper. Pour into greased 8-inch round open-faced casserole. Spread 6 tbsp. catsup over the top. Bake 50 to 60 minutes in a moderate oven (350°). 6 servings.
 

Escape From Paris - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish


***If he didn’t hurry, they were going to be caught. That sergeant would walk down the road in a little while to see why she was taking so long. Why didn’t the Englishman hurry? Why had she said she would take him? Why had she been such a fool? If the soldiers searched the car at the gate…Linda shivered uncontrollably although the late August heat baked the little car, making the leather so hot that her blouse and skirt clung wetly to her. Still she shivered. She tried again to light the cigarette. The lighter clicked. The pinpoint of flame wavered but she held it to the cigarette, drew deeply. Dear God, why didn’t he come? Her hand reached out, touched the key in the ignition. All she had to do was turn the motor on, put the car in gear and be on her way. She would stop at the gate and show her papers and she wouldn’t have to be afraid. The Red Cross pennant on the windshield was her protection. The pennant wouldn’t protect her if they found an English soldier hidden in the trunk. She turned the key in the ignition. Why should she take such a frightful chance?***
 

Eleanor does volunteer work with the Red Cross taking small packets of food to the prisoners being held in the hospitals by the Germans before they move them on to the prisons. Linda is Eleanor’s sister. Today’s visit to Douellens had been scheduled for a week or more. When Eleanor was up all night with a toothache, Linda volunteered to go in her place. Linda hated sickness – and wounds – and hospitals – and she was dreadfully afraid of the Germans. You see, there is a war going on and the Germans have taken over Paris. What Linda had not expected was to have one of the English prisoners ask her to help him escape. After helping just one English pilot escape, Eleanor, Eleanor’s son Robert and Linda find themselves becoming an important link in the chain as they helped others find their way out of Paris and hopefully on to safety.
 

I’ve read many of Author Carolyn Hart’s books and will read every one I can get my hands on. I love her style of writing, as she always seems to add drama along with humor. But this book was different. I had no idea that this author could write such a wonderful piece of history. I’ve never been a fan of WWI nor WWII history. When I picked up this book to read I didn’t think I would make it through to the end. I was so wrong! All my life I’ve read and heard about the Jews during WWII but never have I read nor heard much about the treatment of the people by the Germans in other countries. Carolyn Hart makes you see the brutal punishments, torture, and deaths of those who even spoke against them. She takes you into the torture rooms and gives you enough of a description that you knew what had to have gone on there. She takes you to the prisons where the women are held and exposes you to their treatment or should I say lack of it. You become so engrossed with the characters that you feel as if you actually know them on a 1^st name basis. And she scares the heck out of you as you follow them through their lives as underground links. I had a very hard time putting this book down. I wanted it to end so the torture would end but I didn’t want to stop reading. This is a wonderful book of history.

81 BBQ Chicken Recipes - Sharon Ray, Author

Pepsi Chicken Barbecue
(From Sharon Ray’s BBQ Chicken Recipes Cookbook)
 
  Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Marinating time: 8 hours
Cooking time: 15 minutes  
 
Ingredients  
2 Lbs. chicken – boned and skinless  


Marinade:
3 c. Pepsi 1
1/ 2 tsp. garlic
2 tsp... Rice vinegar
2 tbsp. Smokey paprika
2 tsp. salt
1 1/ 2 tsp. ground cayenne pepper
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. sugar  
 
Dry Rub
1 c. brown sugar
1 1/ 2 tbsp. kosher salt
1 tbsp.   Garlic powder
1 tbsp. Smokey paprika
1 tbsp. cayenne pepper
1 1/ 2 tsp. onion powder  
 
Directions  
1. Prepare the marinade. Simply mix all the spices together.  
2. Put it in a re-sealable plastic bag. Add the chicken and then add in the Pepsi and rice vinegar.   3. Refrigerate and marinate for at least 8 hours, turning the chicken occasionally.  
4. Prepare the dry rub. Simply combine all the dry rub ingredients together.  
5. Take out the chicken and rub the spices on the chicken.  
6. Grill for about 6 to 8 minutes or until the chicken is firm and the juice runs clear.  
7. Serve along with potato salad and marinated cucumber, if preferred.
 
BBQ Chicken Recipes  - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A book and A Dish
 
I seldom eat red meat but live off chicken and fish so this book was right up my alley.  The recipes included in BBQ Chicken Recipes – the Best BBQ and Grilled Chicken Recipes allow it to live up to its name.  The one above has to be my favorite.  The chicken comes out juicy and tender.  It is seasoned just a bit ‘hot’ for me but I can always cut down the cayenne pepper in the marinade and dry rub. 
 
Another favorite is the Oven Steamed BBQ Chicken Quarters with Sweet & Tangy Sauce.  The chicken cooked with onions and lemon made a beautiful blend but it’s the sauce that got me.  A mixture of vinegar and mustard mixed with onions, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and chili powder and topped off with tomato puree and apricot preserves to give it the perfect blend of sweet and tangy.  And those are just two of the delicious recipes that I’ve had a chance to try, so far.  Next I want to try Grilled Chicken Quesadillas and the BBQ Chicken with Easy BBQ sauce.  This one sounds like something that could become a quick go to dish on the grill when needed.
 
So, if you like chicken as much as I do and love yours cooked on the grill or even in the oven, this is a must have book for your own kitchen.  I’m sure enjoying mine.

Ghostly Justice - Bev Irwin

Golden Peach Pork Chops Recipe

(Bev's favorite Slow Cooker Dish)

 

Ingredients
1 can (29 ounces) peach halves
5 bone-in pork loin chops (1 inch thick)
1 tablespoon canola oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1/4 cup cider vinegar

Directions
Drain peaches, reserving 1/4 cup juice (discard remaining juice or save for another use); set fruit and juice aside. In a large skillet, brown pork chops on both sides in oil; transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and cloves. Add the tomato sauce, vinegar and reserved peach juice. Pour over the chops. Arrange peach halves over the top. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the meat is tender.

 

Ghostly Justice - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

 

***I watched until they turned the corner at Colburn Street.  Then the energy vanished and a profound sadness filled me.  Even playing the piano held no joy that day.  I have to talk to her.  But how?  I gave up trying to contact the living years ago.  It became so tiresome – appearing in front of them, touching them, talking to them, yet never being noticed.  Until now.  Every day, I watch for her.  Every day, I try to make contact.  Every day I plead for her to look up at my window again.  Two weeks have passed now.  And every day, she hurries past; her gaze focused on the street ahead.  I must talk to her.  Daira is the first person I’ve been able to communicate with since the day I was murdered.***

 

Daria Brennan is your typical 15 year-old, or at least she thought she was until she discovered that she could see ghosts.  Her first sighting was of a young woman in the upstairs window of an old house she passed every day going to school.  At first she thought it might be her imagination since the house was empty.  The woman who lived there had fallen and been taken away to recuperate in a rehab center.  Maybe someone had broken into the house.  Whatever it was she knew that every time she walked past the house she felt a chill.. [1]  Then came the voices.  Someone calling her name when there was no one there.  This became more frequent after she and some friends broke into the house to have a place to be together. 

 

As the visits to the house grew more frequent, so did the voice in her head begging for her help.  The ghost she was seeing and talking to turned out to be Amanda the daughter of the old lady who owned the house.  She had died 40 years earlier and Amanda needed Daria’s help t her remember how and why.  As Daria researched Amanda’s death she found that the police had ruled it as a suicide.  But as Amanda’s memory started coming back she knew it wasn’t suicide but murder. Daria was the only one to help her prove it and to help her put the person responsible away.

Ghostly Justice was a really enjoyable mystery.  I had no problem coming up with who murdered Amanda but I had a problem guessing how he would be caught.  I also had a problem guessing why Daria and Amanda looked so much alike.  Daria was born 40 years after Amanda’s death but their birthdays were the same month and day.  Had to be a connection but what?  I really enjoyed this book and there are a couple cuss words, not really bad ones, but I can see this being an enjoyable read for ages teen to 90.  I loved it and hope to hear there will be other chapters in Daria’s life that will be put to words.

 

 

Ghost Hunting Diary Volume III - T. M. Simmons, Author

Southern Fried Chicken and Gravy
(One of T. M. Simmons' favorite dishes)

1 cut-up chicken

3 cups flour
2 tbls. corn starch
1 tbl. baking powder
½ cup canola oil
1 can condensed milk
Salt and pepper

Lay chicken in sink and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper to taste. (If you want, you can freeze the back for noodles later rather than cook it.)

Combine flour, corn starch and baking powder. Shift together.
Heat oil in large iron skillet to high heat.
When oil is ready, dredge chicken pieces in flour mixture and add to oil. (Save flour mixture for gravy.) Cook each side until nicely browned, then lower heat to medium low and finish cooking, turning often so chicken doesn't burn.
When done, remove chicken from skillet and drain on paper towels.
Pour off excess oil until there is only a thin layer in the bottom of the skillet, leaving in any small pieces of chicken or skin that came off during cooking.
Turn heat back up to medium high and sprinkle 3-4 tbls of flour mixture into oil.
Stir until flour begins to brown.
Turn heat down to medium and pour in one can of condensed milk, stirring as you add it. Add water if gravy is too thick.
When gravy is thickened, turn off heat and serve it with your fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Yum!


Ghost Hunting Diary Volume III – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

***Billy and Lucy York had been to Goshen Cemetery once previously with two other ghost hunters. From what they told me, I wanted to visit this historic graveyard myself.  I wasn’t deterred by the rumors and tales abounding about Goshen, nor by the fact invitations to a few other paranormal investigator friends to join us were turned down flat.  Word about evil entities and how dangerous Goshen could be had spread through the paranormal community for years.  Perhaps I should have been more forearmed, but hindsight is perfect vision.***

 

Reading this Author’s diaries has been quite fascinating to me and as soon as I finish one, I can’t wait to read the next.  Her experience in the Goshen Cemetery would have scared the heck out of me but what happened as they were leaving would have probably given me a heart attack. 

 

As her diary went on through other outings, I was drawn to wishful thinking when she told about her short chat with a Dr. Griffith who was examining her ‘horseless carriage’ one night while she was visiting a friend.  That’s one event I think I would have enjoyed after my heart rate slowed down just a bit. 

 

The Ghost Hunting Diaries all take you into what most of us can call the unknown.  For T. M. Simmons, it has become the purpose of her life to deal with those who haven’t passed over yet and to encourage them to make the decision to leave their ‘unlife’ for a peaceful one on the other side.  But all isn’t fun and games when it comes to ghosts.  Some are humorous and enjoy playing jokes while others are quite evil and enjoy wreaking havoc on those around them.  And some are simply demonic and quite dangerous.

 

This is the third Ghost Hunting Diary that I’ve had the pleasure of reading and as I said, I can’t wait to dig into Volume IV.  If you like a good ghost/sprit story, you won’t want to miss T. M. Simmons’ own personal accounts of being a paranormal investigator.  They have sparked my interest.

What Did You Say? - Monique E. Hammond, Author

CHICKEN  MANHATTAN  (adapted from 365 Ways to Cook Chicken)

(The fun of cooking is to create one’s own recipes or to use a recipe as a guideline and to improvise. Use more of what you like and leave out what you do not care for or substitute something else. If you like spinach, use more. To give more zest to the topping, add a sip of wine and a few bouillon granules. That’s what I do. -  Monique Hammond)

Serves 4    

¾ cup breadcrumbs (mixed with 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese)    
1 egg slightly beaten (or ¼ cup real egg substitute)
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves pounded to ¼ inch thickness
Olive oil
½ cup chopped onions
1 garlic clove, crushed
½ pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 package frozen spinach, thawed and drained (almost 2 packages if using fresh)
4 slices of cheese Swiss or Provolone
¼ cup dry white wine 
½ teaspoon nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste

Steps:

1) Dip chicken pieces in egg and dredge in crumb/cheese mixture to coat
2) In large frying pan heat olive oil and brown chicken pieces on both sides
 3) While chicken browns, heat olive oil in a separate pan; add onions and cook for about 2 minutes until soft. Add mushrooms and garlic. Cook and stir frequently until mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Add spinach and nutmeg. Mix well. Season with salt (or a few bouillon  granules) & pepper, if desired. Cook until heated through and excess liquid has evaporated.
4) Top each chicken piece with a ¼ of the spinach mixture and a slice of cheese. Reduce heat. Add wine to pan. Cover pan and simmer 5 minutes or until cheese is all melted and chicken is tender.

Serve with oven-browned potatoes and, of course, crunchy baguette

What Did You Say – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

***By profession I am a hospital pharmacist, I also enjoy teaching which is what I was doing when D-Day hit me… By 7:00 p.m., the end of the class period, my ear felt as if it were stuffed with cotton; it was totally deaf Yet I remained amazingly calm… I decided that I would call the doctor’s office in the morning…By the time my Husband picked me up at school, it felt like life was chugging along in slow motion. My reactions had become sluggish, and I was quite tired. As I got into the car, I mentioned sort of casually that I was half-deaf and that I would have to see the physician… Ross wondered if we should go to the hospital, but I declined… We went home and I managed to fix dinner… By 10:00 p.m. I was ready for bed… as soon as my head it the pillow, the room began to whirl around and around and would not stop. I became violently ill… Ross suggested that we go to the emergency room, which is where I ended up and that was also when live changed forever.***

Monique E. Hammond and her husband Ross had been on an Alaskan cruise two weeks before her D-Day (Deaf-Day) started. She had noticed occasional popping noises in her left ear. They would flare up in response to pressure changes inside her head. When the bus they were on climbed uphill or whenever she yawned she would have rounds of dull sounds inside her hear. Muscle spasms? She reacted each time by pressing her thumb against the lower portion of her ear – no pain, just tenderness. While on the ship, just the slight movement made her feel ill. Then came the problems with loud noises which caused her ear to crackle off and on. So what is the problem and is it permanent? She would soon learn the answers to some of her questions but not all as the ear is a quite complicated part of our body.
 

For a long time now I’ve heard people talk about having Vertigo, an intense spinning sensation accompanied by nausea and vomiting, that put Monique into the hospital for a couple of days.They have complained about it throwing them of balance, making them dizzy and violently sick. As I said, I’ve heard about this but never experienced it… I thought. There had been times that I would walk down a hall and feel like it might be good if I just touched the wall for balance, but this would only last for an hour or so and it wasn’t really bad. I assumed it was maybe a rise in my blood pressure or that I was just tired. Then it hit me. I woke one morning to the whole room spinning as I lay in bed. If I opened my eyes I could actually see the walls going round and round. Then the nausea hit me. Thank God the bathroom was close. All I could do was sit on the floor with my head over the toilet and hold on with both hands to try and stop the spinning. I then knew what Vertigo was really like and have had it several times since but never quite as drastically. In What Did You Say you’ll learn and come to an understanding that the word Vertigo actually stands for the feelings that you experience when having ear and hearing problems. Vertigo is more of a symptom than a true title for what you may be going through. What scared me so bad was the cause of the Vertigo symptom is really wide spread. It can be anything from an ear infection to wax buildup to loss of the cochlear hair cells to even a tumor. And the causes of these problems can be anything from putting a swab in your ear to loud noises to again a possible tumor. The symptoms themselves can be from loss of balance, spinning room, nausea and ringing in the ear. 

The cure? Monique Hammond suggests you see your medical doctor first to make sure you don’t have some type of infection. If you’re clear of infections then see a hearing specialist. Only through tests can the cause, treatment and hopefully cure can be determined.

Scare Me - Richard Parker, Author

 

 

TEMPURA SCALLOPS WITH LIME WEDGES

 

(This is my favorite appetizer that's very easy to cook but looks really impressive.  The batter is bubbly, light and crispy because of the chilled soda water.  If you don't like scallops I'd suggest whole mushrooms, discs of sweet potato or trimmed spring onions/scallions.  The great thing about this recipe is that it doesn't need to be too precise.  Adjust it for your own taste and add any seasonings or spices you like - turmeric is a favorite if you want a yellow rather than red look to the batter.  You can use chilled beer instead of soda water.  Richard Parker)

 

 

Ingredients

 

King Scallops - allow at least two per guest.

2 cups of plain flour

1 cup of Corn Flour

Tbsp Smoked paprika

Tbsp Garlic Salt

Tbsp Chilli Flakes

Bottle of Chilled Soda WaterOilLimesSeasoning

 

Method

Cut limes into wedges.

 

In a mixing bowl combine both flours, smoked paprika( It's worth tracking down smoked rather than plain paprika because it has an entirely different depth of flavor), chili flakes, garlic salt and seasoning.  Gradually add chilled soda water and stir until you have a batter that has the same thickness as paint.  Don't worry if it's lumpy.  Thick is better than thin.

 

In a wok or deep pan heat oil until hot enough for deep frying.  Test with a drop of batter to make sure it crisps on contact.

 

Dip scallop in mixture and coat.  Drop it in oil for thirty seconds max and then remove with slotted spoon.  Place onto kitchen paper to get rid of excess oil and serve in batches.  Eat with lime wedges and rock salt. Chili jam is also good. Let your guests have a few mouthfuls each and cook another batch.

 

Beware - guests will eat this as long as you keep serving it up!

 

 

Scare Me - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

 

***Poppy wondered if he'd locked himself in his bedroom but she had the key to that as well.  It looked like blind panic had won out, howeer.  She met Brett when she was a third of the way up the stairs.  He was naked from the waist down.  She jabbed a taser into the center of his chest and he dropped like he'd been fileted.  He juddered down the rest of the staircase on his spine and his tee shirt rode up his back.  She followed his body to the bottom.  Then she took the same broad-bladed sushi knife she'd used on the rest of the family out of the pocket of her robe.  Poppy pushed it into his stomach and his spasms haulted.  He turned to face her with incredulity.  She gripped the handle firmly and draged it towards her.  She felt it hot on the heel of her hand but Poppy didn't see the blood, had prefected the art of creating blind spots where she needed them.  Like biting down on her lip and not feeling it... as she slipps out of the white robe and kicked off her flip-flops, she only vaguely registered the footprints of blood she left before diving into the pool.  She didn't hae to worry about leaving fingerprints or hair strands because Poppy didn't really exist.***

 

Will is CEO of Ingram International.  He has great plans for his wife Carla and daughter Libby as they celebrate Will and Carla's nineteenth anniversary.  He plans to spend a few days with his wife and daughter before she leaves the nest and moves in with her boyfriend and father of her unborn child.  But things are about to happen that will change his comfortable world into total hell. 

After receiving a light night call asking "When did you last google yourself, Mr. Frost?" Will's gut feeling told him things weren't quite right.  After inserting his own name he ended at a site that brought up pictures of his house that had been taken through the windows.  Then he found pictures of his daughter Libby and her boyfriend Luke tied together in a livestock shed. 

 

After being shown pictures of 6 houses, Will is instructed to travel to 5 locations around the world on a sort of scvanger hunt to retrieve items belonging to Libby.  The 6th house on the list is his own and this is where it will all come together and possibly make sense.

 

Will's 1st house is in the U.S. in the state of Florida.  There he must go and retrieve his first item but before he gets there the house's picture is opened showing inside pictures.  Pictures of the family.  All are dead leaving Will to enter the house before the police arrive and find the item he needs.  Knowing now what to expect from the other 4 houses, Will doesn't know how he will be able to go through this little game of scavanger hunt but knows he must if he wants to save his daughter.

 

I've made this statement about other books I've read but I have to say Scare Me really does live up to these words... This Was A REAL Page Turner.  I don't think I've ever read a book that is so descript in details yet one that I simply couldn't put down.  And to make it even better, Author Richard Parker tells me that the Hollywood movie rights have already been acquired by Relativity Media and Wentworth Miller is currently contracted and working on the screen adaptation.  This is a movie I don't want to miss, even if I do have to look away when it gets too gory.  As for the actors maybe Angelina and Brad?

 

So if you're looking for a good late night keeper upper, I've just found it for you. 

Essentially Yours - A Tall Pine Mystery - Aaron Paul Lazar, Author

Steak and Tomato Soup
(An Aaron Lazar special)

1 large Vidalia onion
One pound Portabella Mushrooms
Garlic Cloves
Olive Oil
2-3 large Chard leaves or similar greens
Japanese radish (Daikon or mild rutabaga would work)
Handful of fresh sugar snap or snow peas
Beef stock - either use 4 large cans of good stock or enough powder to flavor the broth
1-2 pounds of steak
1/2 cup Barley
1 lb. hard Tofu
1 pkg. fresh bean sprouts
3 Tbsp. fresh chopped Cilantro
3 cups Tomato based product such as frozen tomatoes, pureed, spaghetti sauce, salsa, etc. (A little ketchup adds a zesty flavor!)
Seasonings:  Garlic powder, onion powder, Thai fish sauce, sugar, soy sauce, salt, red hot pepper to taste

Saute one large thinly sliced Vidalia onion, one pound thinly sliced Portabella mushrooms, and a few cloves of garlic, chopped in olive oil.  Add freshly ripped greens from two or three large leaves. (I used chard from the garden).  Chop 1/2 fresh Daikon radish into cubes, add to fry pan (from garden).  Add several handfuls of fresh snow peas, ends cut off but peas left whole.  Start heating stock pot using good quality beef stock.  I used four large boxes of liquid stock to fill the stock pot about 3/4 full.  When onions are translucent, transfer all ingredients to stock broth.  Cut 1-2 pounds sirloin steak into cubes.  Saute in same fry pan, add just a little more olive oil if needed.  Brown steak in batches and add to stock pot.   Add 1/2 cup barley.  Chop one pound hard Tofu into 1/2" - 1" pieces.  Add to pot.  Add one package fresh bean sprouts to stock pot.  Add two - three tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro to stock pot (from garden).  For seasonings I added the following: Garlic powder, onion powder, Thai fish sauce, sugar, soy sauce, salt, red hot pepper to taste.  Add at least three cups tomato base product such as tomato sauce, plum tomatoes, tomato paste, salsa, spaghetti sauce, etc. (even ketchup would work! I also cut up four ripe tomatoes into chunks and added them to the soup).  Adjust ingredients for flavor and cook until barley is soft.  This soup tastes best the next day after flavors have melded.

Essentially Yours - A Tall Pine Mystery - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds, A Book and A Dish

**Hurrying up the cement path, I climbed the stairs to the front door that lead to her kitchen and knocked on the glass, "Callie! Are you in there?"  An answering whine came from Beau, who jumped up and scratched at the glass from the inside.  I knocked again, tried the door and found it locked.  Running around the back side of the house near the road I hammered on the door.  "Callie!"  In the distance, I heard some shouting down the road, but my tunnel vision didn't allow it to penetrate.  Anyway, I figured it was neighbors arguing with each other over something stupid like a property line.  I bent down to get her door key out of the ceramic turtle that lived under her shrubs, and opened the door.**

**I sank onto the bed and sighed.  Callie never went out, so what happened to her?  Had Willow called the copy again when she spied her sister on her way back in the pontoon boat?  Had they come and picked her up and dragged her off to jail?  Shutting Beau securely inside, I stomped toward her house.  A siren screamed in the distance, growing louder with each step.  A cop car screeched to a stop beside the ambulance.  And a coroner's van rolled up behind them both.  Oh my God.  Willow killed Callie.  She finally did it.**

Marcie, Callie and Sky, Callie's brother, have been friends since childhood.  Whee you saw one you saw the other two.  Marcie and Sky actually became more than friends.  They became lovers.  But this all ended when Marcie decided to pursue her singing career and Sky joined the military.  Then Sky came up missing and assumed dead.  Marcie and Callie continued to be best friends even after Marcie married Quinn.  And when Callie received a strange package that was supposed to have come from Sky, even with her agoraphobia, Marcie was the first person she ran to.

Callie's sister Willow had always shown resentment toward Callie so when she saw her leave on the pontoon she knew she was without license so calling the police was the perfect thing for her to do.  And now the police are at Willow's home and Marcie just knows that Willow finally lost it completely and killed Callie.

I really enjoyed traveling with Marcie and Quinn as they searched the Adirondacks trying to find their friends as well as the truth about Sky.  Could he really be alive after all these years?  The package sent to Callie contained bottles of oils.  Some of which, due to his native American heritage, Quinn recognized as being great healers.  But what is the connection?  This book kept me on the edge from page 1.   But why are the drug companies trying to stop the research behind the oils?

Is this a believable story?  Very possibly so.  For years I've believed there are cures for certain ailments but if released it would put a crimp on the drug companies.  This story brings that possibility to life.  And the oils have fascinated me enough to make me want to learn more.

Buy your copy today
Essentially Yours
Other Books By this Aaron Paul Lazar

Missing Clayton - Bev Irwin, Author

Lemon Cranberry Tea Cookies

(A Bev favorite)

 

Glaze

1. 2 lemons
2. ¼ cup (50 mL) granulated sugar

Cookie Batter

1. 1 cup (250 mL) all-purpose flour
2. ¼ cup (50 mL) whole wheat flour
3. 1 tsp. (5 mL) ground nutmeg
4. ¼ tsp. (1 mL) each salt and baking soda
5. 5 tbsp. (75 mL) margarine
6. ½ cup (125 mL) granulated sugar
7. 1 egg white
8. 3 tbsp. (45 mL) plain yogurt
9. 1 tsp. (5 mL) vanilla
10. 3 tbsp. (45 mL) dried cranberries

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 1 or 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Finely grate peel from 1 lemon and set aside. Squeeze juice from 2 lemons. You should have about ½ cup (125 mL) of juice. Place juice in a small saucepan and boil until reduced by half. Stir in ¼ cup (50 mL) sugar until dissolved.

In a small bowl, stir flours with nutmeg, salt and baking soda. In a medium bowl, beat margarine with remaining ½ cup (125 mL) sugar and lemon peel until combined. Beat in egg white, yogurt and vanilla (it may appear curdled). Stir in flour mixture just until combined.

Roll dough into 1-inch (2.5 cm) balls and set about 2-inches (5 cm) apart on a baking sheet. Press gently, flattening slightly to form a cookie. Press a cranberry in the centre of each.

Bake, one baking sheet at a time, in centre of the preheated oven until the bottom is golden brown for 7-9 minutes. Place cookies on a rack set over a baking sheet. When cookies are cool enough to handle, dip tops into lemon glaze. When glaze looks dry, re-dip. 

Missing Clayton – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

Clayton awoke to shivers running up and down his body.  The blanket had slipped while he slept, and now, only partially covered him.  The short-sleeved puppy-dog T-shirt he wore left his arms exposed and goose bumps covered the bare area.  He reached out a hand and grasped an edge of the blanket.  It was threadbare; several small holes scattered across its length.  The blanket gave him little warmth in the dampness of the dirt hole.  He pulled the blanket up to his chin and curled himself into a tight ball.  Shivers traveled along his arms and legs.  His body felt like a block of ice, and his forehead felt hot, so hot.

He wanted to go home.  He wanted to be in his own soft bed with his mother tucking the blankets around him, blankets that were thick and warm and had no holes in them.  He wanted his mother hugging him.  More shivers.  Grabbing the edge of the blanket, he tucked it around his limbs.  He shut his eyes.  He wanted to keep them closed.  He tried to go back to sleep.  At least then he didn’t have to think about anything.  He didn’t have to think about why he was here.

What did I do?  Did I do something bad?  Why won’t Mommy come and get me?  Why is she leaving me here?  Why?  Mommy, please come.  I want to go home.

Five-year-old Clayton Kingsley and his mother Jenny have moved to a new home.  Jenny left her abusive husband and obsessive mother and took Clayton to a serene bedroom community that she thought would be the perfect place to raise her son.  At least that was until the day Clayton came up missing.  She had only left him for 5 minutes to go inside and make peanut butter sandwiches for lunch.  Jenny searched every place a child could hide and still no Clayton.  He neighbor Steve took up the hunt but still had no luck finding the child.  Who could have taken him that quickly and left no trace, no clues?

Tyrell was a loner who lived in what could only be described as a shack in the woods.  After high school he had joined the army and served his time but before he left he had met Patty.  They married and had a child and what Tyrell thought would be a happy marriage.  But when he came home after being wounded everything had changed.  Patty had changed.  She was no longer the quiet, mousey girl he had married.  She kept her hair bleached and when she saw the limp from his war injuries, she called him names.  Eventually she took their son and left.  Could he be the one who took Clayton?

Steve the next door neighbor had a police record.  He had helped his friend kidnap the friend’s newborn child when the mother planned to give it up for adoption.  The child’s mother went to one of the police deputies to report the missing child and Steve’s friend ended up being beaten pretty badly and eventually dying.  The deputy who came after the baby later accused Steve of possibly kidnapping another child that came up missing.  And now Clayton is missing.  Coincident?  Could Steve be the one who took Clayton?  He lived close enough to snatch him quickly and without being caught.

Missing Clayton kept me wanting more.  The suspense kept me on the edge in hopes that Jenny would find her child before it was too late.  And when she was taken to the morgue to identify a child's body, it had me holding my breath.  This is an experience that has to be one of the hardest things a parent can do and go through.