Monday, December 10, 2012

Mixed Con (and decorating a cake with Duff!)

     Last weekend was amazing!  I got to go to my very first foodie conference!  I spent the entire weekend at Mixed Con which was hosted by Paula of bell’alimento and Susan of Doughmesstic. The conference was held at the Mountain Lake Hotel in Virginia.  In case you are wondering this is the hotel where Dirty Dancing was taped and I have tons of pictures to prove it!

     I left Frostburg at 9am and stopped in Martinsburg, Wv to pick up Karyn from Pint Sized Baker.  Karyn and I had met earlier in the year at an online blog conference but this was our first time meeting in person.  We hit it off right away and spent the next 4 hours chatting about our families, our lives, and food of course!

     Arriving at the conference I was again extremely nervous.  I was meeting 5 girls from my online cooking board who I've been talking to for years but have never met.  The six of us The six of us (Liz from Books and Cooks, Lynsey from Lynsey Lou’s, Maeghan from The Way to His Heart, Stephanie from Brownies and Blondies, and Amy from What’s Brewing in the Kitchen) hit it off right away and soon were talking like old friends.  I felt like I had known the girls forever.

     Our first night was pretty relaxing with dinner planned and then a mixer to get to know everyone.  It was nice getting to meet everyone and putting faces to many of the blogs I read.


      The real fun came on Saturday when our sessions started.  My first session was with Marian from Sweetopia.  Marian is a fellow food blogger who makes the most gorgeous cookies I've ever seen.  We watched her demonstrate how to decorate a few Christmas cookies and then we tried it ourselves.  I was pleased with my cookies and happy to have learned a few new decorating tips.

     My second session was a cake decorating one with none other then Duff Goldman!  Duff is the owner of Charm City Cakes and of course was on Ace of Cakes.  With him he brought two of the wonderful women who work with him at Charm City Cakes, Elena Fox and Mary Smith.  I can not say enough about the three of them.

     When we got into the room Duff was all business.  He told us to look at our cakes, visualize what we wanted on them, and to get to work.  I jumped right in and immediately started making flowers.  Duff came over and helped me make the leaves for the flowers.  Mary Smith gave me some tips on covering the wires with fondant and Elena helped me with the glitter.  After a whirlwind hour I had a completely decorated cake!

      The cool thing about the session (besides working with Duff, Elena, and Mary) was working with fondant and learning about all the tools.  There was an air brush, rollers, cutters, edible glitter, food color pens, wire hangers, and more!  It was fun to see how everyone else's cakes came out as well.

      After lunch I had a few other very helpful sesions.  Bree Hester of Baked Bree spoke about food photography which was very helpful to me as I just bought a DSLR camera.  She had tons of great tips for shooting food.  Then Tami Hardeman from Running with Tweezers spoke about food styling.  This is a weak area for me but she had some great ideas that even a novice like me would be able to use in the future.

      Lenny Ferreira of Chez Us talked with us about videography.  While I've never wanted to put videos on my blog I am now second guessing myself.   Our final speaker was Heidi Larsen of Foodie Crush who spoke about creating an ebook.  I hadn't really thought of putting together an ebook of recipes before but after seeing her presentations I now have all kinds of crazy ideas.

      Finally I can't forget about the amazing sponsors for the weekend.  So many of them sent representatives out to hang out with use for the weekend and they all sent us home with tons of swag.  I was able to try some of the cheeses from Wisconsin Cheese and found a new favorite that wall made with espresso beans. Hershey's provided tons of snacks for us during the movies,  Way Better Snacks provided snacks in between the sessions (their black bean tortilla chips are so freaking good-and healthy!), Dreamfields Pastas sponsored a macaroni and cheese contest, Attune Foods made treats for us with their healthy cereals (that taste fantastic!), and Captain Morgan provided us with more then enough beverages at the mixers.

There were many other sponsors too and each of them sent us come with goodies from the weekend!  The two platinum sponsors were Oxo and KitchenAid who provided us with tons of prizes at the end of the weekend.

     I'm so glad I decided to go for the weekend.  I was finally able to meet all of my online cooking friends, I made new friends with many food bloggers, and made contacts with some awesome sponsors.  I also learned a lot from the sessions and now I can't wait for my next conference!




This post linked to:
Mangia Mondays, Mop It Up Mondays,
Posted by Heather King at 6:21 AM 7 comments
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Sunday, December 9, 2012

S'mores Cookies #SundaySupper

     This week #SundaySupper is all about our favorite Holiday Cookie Exchange cookies!  When I first heard the theme I had a ton of ideas.  My favorite cookies to make are thumbprint cookies with homemade jam.  I also really enjoy brown butter chocolate chip cookies but I wanted to make something a little bit different for this week.  Then I remembered the cookies I made a few weeks ago for our friends.

     A few weeks ago our friends called us up and told us they had closed on a house.  They were super excited to move in but had to wait a few days because our town was basically closed for a celebration of its' 200th birthday.  Our friends did want us to come over and see the house though so we made plans to go over later on in the evening.

      Because I can never show up anywhere empty handed I began looking for something to make.  They absolutely love my desserts so I wanted to make something sweet to take over.  These S'mores cookies caught my eye immediately.

      I thought it was interesting that the cookie dough is made and then placed on top of a graham cracker square.  The marshmallows are inside the dough and then a Hershey bar is placed on top.  They came out of the oven gooey and delicious.  The cookies were super sweet but definietly tasted like S'mores.

      We took them over to our friends house and they loved them!  These were a great choice for this special occasion.

S'mores Cookies (adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything)
6 T. butter, softened
1/3 c. brown sugar, packed
1/3 c. sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1 T. milk
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. sea salt
1 1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. chocolate chips
1/2 c.  mini marshmallows
1 regular sized Hershey bar, broken into pieces
7 sheets graham crackers, broken into squares

1.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2.  In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, and sea salt.  Set aside.

3.  In another medium bowl cream the butter, brown sugar, and sugar.  Mix well.

4.  Add the egg and vanilla to the sugar mixture and mix until well combined.  Stir in the milk.

5.  Add the sugar mixture to the flour mixture and mix until combined.  Fold in the chocolate chips and marshmallows.

6.  Place graham cracker squares on baking sheets, making sure they are close together.  Spoon a large tablespoon of dough on top of each square.  Press down on the dough.

7.  Bake for 7 minutes and then remove from the oven.  Place a Hershey bar piece on top of the dough and then continue to bake for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown.

8.  Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack.  Cool completely then cut the cookies apart with a sharp knife.



The Sunday Supper Favorite Cookie Exchange Cookies:

Check out Cookielicious by Food Editor Janet K. Keeler from The Tampa Bay Times now while there is a special… Buy One Cookielicious Cookbook and get one for a friend!


This post linked to:
Meatless Mondays, The Bulletin Board, Melt In Your Mouth Mondays, Mealtime Mondays,
Posted by Heather King at 4:00 AM 27 comments
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Saturday, December 8, 2012

Burgundy Beef Soup & 300 Sensational Soups by Carla Snyder & Meredith Deeds

"The definitive collection of recipes for soup lovers everywhere."

A good soup nourishes the heart as well the stomach, spreading a feeling of satisfaction and contentment. Hot soup is warming on a winter day, while cold soup is just as welcome in the heat of summer.

From comforting creamy chicken and rice soup to refreshing gazpacho, 300 Sensational Soups offers something for every season, mood and occasion. There are 50 international soups, including Vietnamese pho, Italian wedding soup, and Middle Eastern harira. Soups from the sea include such favorites as snapper in Asian broth with habanero and shrimp, and shrimp and pea soup with lemongrass. Each recipe also includes tips and techniques along with garnishing ideas. As well, there are many creative variations and serving suggestions.

There is also the Just (Soup) Desserts chapter, which features 20 dessert soups, including coconut soup with mango fritters, chocolate soup with brownie croutons, and chilled cherry soup with creme anglaise swirl.
With 300 recipes to choose from, ranging from everyday fare to elegant dishes for entertaining, 300 Sensational Soups offers home chefs a perfect bowl of soup every time.  (-synopsis from Goodreads)

 I found 300 Sensational Soups to be filled with warm and comforting soup recipes for any occasion.  The soups range from the classic French Onion Soup and Chicken Noodle Soup to the exotic Middle Eastern Lentil Soup and Tom Kha Gai.  There were so many incredible soups that I ended up tagging at least 10 to make this winter.

 The featured chapters in this book include:
-Soup Stocks                                           
-Chicken & Turkey Soups to Comfort the Soul
-Chilled Soups                                         
-Go Fish:  Fish and Shellfish Soups
-Fresh from the Garden Vegetable Soup 
-Chow Down Chowders
-Beans, Beans, and More Beans Soups   
-A World of Soups
-Cheese Please Soups                              
-Just Dessert Soups
-Hearty Soups for Meat Lovers               
-Gilding the Lily:  Toppings and Garnishes

The dessert soups in particular had me interested.  I've been on a cruise several times and they have always served a chilled fruit soup which was incredible.  I ended up making the Champagne and Strawberry Soup and it was out of this world.  It was fresh, creamy, and filled with bubbles.  I think I'm going to make it for our New Year's Eve celebration this year!

Last week was extremely cold and I also wanted to try a hearty soup.  I had a beef chuck roast in the freezer and decided to make the Burgundy Beef Soup.  I'm so glad I did!  The broth is made with beef stock, red wine, and a few seasonings which make it hearty and delicious.  The beef gets tender as the soup cooks and the vegetables add additional flavor.  The crumbled bacon on this dish adds texture and a slight saltiness which works well with the dish.  If possible the soup was even better the second day we ate it.

 Burgundy Beef Soup (Excerpted from 300 Sensational Soups by Carla Snyder and Meredith Deeds © 2012 Robert Rose Inc. www.robertrose.ca All rights reserved: May not be reprinted without publisher permission.)
4 slices bacon
1 T. olive oil
2 lb. boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 1 inch chunks
1/2 t. salt
1 t. black pepper
2 c. frozen pearl onions, thawed
3 carrots, sliced
2 stalk celery, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 t. thyme
1 t. rosemary (the original calls for basil but my husband doesn't eat basil)
1 bay leaf
2 c. dry red wine (I used Cabernet)
6 c. beef stock
1 t. balsamic vinegar
1/4 c. fresh parsley

1.  Cook the bacon in a large pot until it is crispy.  Remove and drain on paper towels.

2.  Season the beef with salt and pepper.  Add the beef to the pot with the bacon grease and saute over medium high heat until browned on all sides.  This may need to be done in two batches.  Remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm on a plate.

3.  Add the olive oil to the pan and add in the onions, carrots, and celery.  Saute over medium heat for 5-6 minutes.  Add in the garlic, potatoes, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf.  Saute for 2 minutes.

4.  Add the wine to the pan and scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan.  Return the beef and any accumulated juices to the pot and add the beef stock.  Bring the soup to a boil.  Cover and reduce heat to low.  Simmer for 2 hours or until the beef is tender.  

5.  Remove the bay leaf and stir in the vinegar.  Adjust salt and pepper as needed.

6.  Spoon the soup into bowl and garnish with bacon and parsley. 




This post linked to:
Strut Your Stuff Saturday, Gingerbread Sweet Saturday, Seasonal Inspiration,
Posted by Heather King at 8:34 AM 0 comments
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Friday, December 7, 2012

First Time: The Legend of Garison Finch-Author Guest Post

What Inspired Me to Write My Book

            by Samuel Ben White

Sitting at the kitchen table in the house I grew up in on Bickley Street in Abilene, my father and I were discussing time travel.  Having watched a rerun of “Star Trek” the night before, we were discussing what we would do if we could travel through time.  Where would we go?  Is there something we would change?

What if, we conjectured, we could travel back in time and take the place of someone in the past?  (This was long before the show “Quantum Leap”, mind you!)  What if one of us were to travel back in time and take the place of Patrick Henry in March of 1775?  What if he had never made his famous, “Give me liberty or give me death” speech and we were to take his place?  Would we give it?  From there, we began to wonder what the United States might have been like if Henry had never given that speech.  Would things have been different?

I had always wanted to be an author, since it first dawned on me that those wonderful stories—both true and fictional—that my parents read to me every day were written by someone.  I started by drawing cartoon stories and getting my sisters to letter them for me (one sister always wanted to edit, one sister wrote just what I dictated, and the other sister tried not to help at all—if they’re reading this, I’ll let them try to guess which one I am remembering in each role).  By first grade, I was excited to learn my letters and words so I could start writing my own stories and filling in the word balloons on my own cartoons.  (I still do that, by the way, drawing a comic strip for the local newspaper that’s read by upwards of a dozen people!)

Through junior high and high school, I sat up to all hours at that old namebrand-less typewriter hacking away at story after story.  Fantasy stories about the end of the world, detective stories that managed to rip off both James Bond and Magnum P.I., a western mash-up of Louis L’Amour and James Michener.  All of these flowed from my fingers and through that type-writer.  When one of my sisters and her husband—while between jobs—had to move back in with us for a while, I think it was the clickety-clack of my typing that drove them to take jobs they didn’t really want just so they could get out of the house.

Time passed, as did college and the first months of marriage, with a myriad of stories (and comic strips) being produced, and always that long-ago conversation about changing the course of the Revolution with time travel bounced through my mind but never quite made it to paper (or, by then, the ethereal saving mechanism of a computer).  In that first summer of marriage, as I got off work before my wife, I had about an hour each day and I sat down at my old Commodore 64 and began to type out the story I had been thinking of for more than a decade.

Garison Fitch, an eccentric, middle-aged bachelor of a lawyer living in Fairplay, Colorado, begins to experiment with … something scientific.  No, not Fairplay.  Where?  What if Garison were to live in La Plata Canyon?  I had been there, back in college when I had spent a summer as the youth minister for the First Christian Church of Farmington, New Mexico.  Somewhere in that canyon was Louis L’Amour’s vacation home.  Yes!  Perfect place to put Garison Fitch.  I even knew the meadow that would become his front yard.

And then Garison got younger, because as a young man myself I thought he needed to be younger to be active.  And his experiments: what would he experiment with?  What if, in an attempt to prove that there were more dimensions that currently accepted, he were to travel through time?  He travels to the past, and does what we’re always told time travel couldn’t do: change history.  But what if it did?  Got it!  What if Garison grows up in a world that’s very different from ours, but something he does in the past changes history and creates the world we know?  Suddenly, the story was flying as Garison grew up in a Soviet-dominated American continent, a world where everyone was worried that the two super-powers—Russia and Japan—were about to start World War III.  I began by creating the back story of how the world could have gotten to that point.

Finally, I had to ask myself, “What changed?  What’s the pivotal point and how can Garison be the one who changes it?”  I tried to have Garison interact with Patrick Henry but—as much as I admire Pat—I just couldn’t convince myself that he was the pivotal character in history.  At least, not the history I wanted.

So, where and how could Garison change history?  At the battle of Concord?  At the Constitutional Convention?  At the Delaware River?  And then it occurred to me that some of the most influential moments in history are the moments we know almost nothing about and seem inconsequential at the time.  The private who changed the course of D-Day when he told Eisenhower that June 6 was the birthday of Rommel’s wife and the German leader would be away from the front.  The farrier who, in trying to save a nail for economy, loses the horse and—subsequently—the battle.  I knew Garison needed to do not something big, but “small”.  Some little butterfly of an event that changes history by sending those insignificant little colonies on a victorious trajectory against the mightiest empire of the day.

A little boy who would be a general one day playing at troop movements in the dirt.  A speeding dray wagon with an angry driver.  A fellow from the future who shouldn’t have been on that road at all.  More than two decades after the original conversation with my father, it all coalesced into a wonderful time travel fantasy about the power of one man to change the world which I titled, “First Time: The Legend of Garison Fitch”.



Author Samuel Ben White

Samuel Ben White (“Sam” to his friends) is the author of the national newspaper comic strip “Tuttle’s” (found at www.tuttles.net) and the on-line comic book “Burt & the I.L.S.” (found at www.destinyhelix.com). He is married and has two sons. He serves his community as both a minister at a small church and a chaplain with hospice. In addition to his time travel stories, Sam has also written and published detective novels, a western, three fantasy novels and four works of Christian fiction.

Links
Posted by Heather King at 6:20 AM 1 comments
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Pandora the Curious : Goddess Girls #9


Goddess Girls #9 - Pandora the Curious

Is Pandora about to open up a box of trouble?

One of the few mortals at Mount Olympus Academy, Pandora is famous for her mega quizzical nature—not that she thinks there’s anything wrong with being curious, of course!

Her curiosity kicks into high gear when a godboy named Epimetheus brings a mysterious box to school. Epimetheus is the nephew of an MOA teacher in whose class Pandora once opened another box that sent a few weather disasters to earth. Still, Pandora can’t help but take a peek inside this new box when it unexpectedly lands in her lap. What could be the harm in that, right? Little does she know that opening the box will open up far more trouble than she ever expected!

Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams put a modern spin on classic myths with the Goddess Girls series. Follow the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy, where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills.


Purchase


Praise for The Goddess Girls
“…a clever take on Greek deities…”
~ Booklist

"Readers familiar with Greek myths should get a kick out of this plucky restaging."
~Publisher's Weekly

 “…an enchanting mythological world with middle-school woes compounded by life as a deity…”
~ School Library Journal


The Goddess Girls Series

The Goddess Girls series, by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams puts a modern spin on classic Greek myths. Follow the ins and outs of divine social life where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills.
  • Athena the Brain Finding out she’s a goddess and being sent to Mount Olympus brings Athena new friends, a weird dad, and the meanest girl in mythology—Medusa! 
  • Persephone the Phony Hiding her feelings works fine for Persephone until she meets a guy she can be herself with—Hades, the bad-boy of the Underworld. 
  • Aphrodite the Beauty Sure Aphrodite is beautiful, but it’s not always easy being the goddessgirl of love. 
  • Artemis the Brave She may be the goddess of the hunt, but that doesn’t mean Artemis always feels brave. 
  • Athena the Wise Zeus says Heracles has to do twelve tasks or he'll get kicked out of MOA! Although she's not sure it's wise, Athena agrees to help out. 
  • Aphrodite the Diva Isis claims she's the goddess of love? Ha! But to keep the title all to herself, Aphrodite has to find the perfect match for Pygmalion, the most annoying boy ever. 
  • Artemis the Loyal It’s time for the annual Olympic Games, and Artemis and her friends are not happy. It’s boys only. Not fair! 
  • Medusa the Mean Medusa wants to be more like her two sisters and the other kids at Mount Olympus Academy -- immortal. Is that too much to ask? 
  • The Girl Games (Goddess Girls Super Special) Listen in on what all four goddess girls are thinking as Mount Olympus Academy hosts visitors from many lands--including an adorable kitten!The first-ever standalone superspecial in the Goddess Girls series! 
  • Pandora the Curious
  • Pheme the Gossip (Apr. 3, 2013) 
  • Persephone the Daring (Aug. 7, 2013) 
The Goddess Girls




Author Suzanne Williams

Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children's choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 - 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 - 11). Other series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.








Author Joan Holub

I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children's books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job.

I illustrated my first published children's book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts -- Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee!

Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children's books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.







 Book Blast Giveaway
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/16/12
*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it when you follow Joan and leave the others blank.

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted by Heather King at 6:20 AM 0 comments
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Thursday, December 6, 2012

Orange Scented Poppy Seed Bread with Orange Glaze

   I admit it...I'm currently addicted to coconut oil in my baked goods!  It just makes them so moist and gives the cakes a velvety texture.  It even adds a hint of delicious flavor.  A few weeks ago I made a lemon poppy seed bread that was out of this world!  Since then I've been dreaming of making a different flavor poppy seed bread and this time I'm making an orange scented one.

    The consistency of this bread is different then my other one because it uses milk instead of yogurt.  It also adds in some orange zest and orange juice into the batter.  The result in a soft, delicate, orange scented cake topped with a sweet hint of orange glaze.  I took it to work with me and it was devoured.  While I still like the lemon one better, this orange poppy seed bread runs a close second.

     I wanted to share this for our 11th week of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats hosted by Meal Planning Magic. I always feel like orange is a holiday flavor and this bread would really brighten up a cookie tray or it would be a great breakfast for Christmas morning.

Orange Scented Poppy Seed Bread with Orange Glaze (adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe)
1 egg
1/4 c. coconut oil, melted and cooled
4 T. butter
1 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
1 t. baking powder
3/4 c. low fat milk
1/2 t. almond extract
1 t. vanilla
1 T. melted butter
2 T. orange juice
1 t. orange zest
2 T. poppy seeds

For the glaze:
3 T. orange juice
1/2 t. vanilla
1 c. powdered sugar
1 T. butter

1.  Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2.  In a large bowl combine the egg, oil, butter, and sugar.   Mix well.

3.  In a medium bowl combine the flour, salt, and baking powder.

4.  Pour half of the dry ingredients into the oil mixture and whisk to combine.  Stir in 1/2 cup of the milk and mix until incorporated.  Pour in the remaining flour and mix well.  Add in the remaining milk and mix well.

5.  Stir in the almond extract, vanilla, melted butter, orange juice, orange zest, and poppy seeds and mix well.

6.  Pour the batter into the prepared load pan.  Bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown.

7.  Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

8.  While the bread is cooling combine all the ingredients for the glaze in a small bowl.  If the mixture is too thin add more powdered sugar.  Pour the glaze over the cooled bread.  Let the glaze harden for 15 minutes then slice and enjoy.


 This post linked to: 
Full Plate Thursday,  Tasty Thursday, Thursday Treasures, Foodie Friday, Foodie Friends Friday, Shine on Friday,
Posted by Heather King at 6:20 AM 7 comments
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Beautiful Wild Rose Girl by B. Magnolia

This is an original fairy tale, appropriate for ages 7 and up: If everyone in the village calls her Beautiful Wild Rose Girl, why does this poor, sad girl live in a Swamp? And why, when she goes to bed every night, does she hear Bullfrogs singing to her: Trooonk! Trooonk! Trooonk! What A Stupid Ugly girl! This is a story about learning to see yourself as the beautiful person you really are. And how sometimes, to break a terrible spell, you need love, the understanding of a pure-hearted shepherd, and the help of a Very Mysterious Moth.  (-synopsis from Goodreads)


 Beautiful Wild Rose Girl is the first publication from Mystic World Press.  It is the first of twelve original fairy tales written by B. Magnolia and illustrated by Jamila Keba.    Each book is available in three different forms:  a paper pocketbook, a large soft cover, or a gorgeous Deluxe Hardcover Japanese Book Cloth edition.  All three forms are handmade and beautiful.  

 The main character in this fairy tale is a girl who lives in near a Swamp.  Everyday she leaves the swamp and walks into a field of roses that she picks to sell in the village.  The girl is sad because she lives alone and fears she is ugly and smells of the swamp.  She has no idea that the men in the village think she is beautiful and call her Beautiful Wild Rose Girl.

 One day a poor shepherd boy walks past her in the village and begins dreaming of her.  A mysterious moth lands on the boy, hears his pure thoughts, and vows to help him speak to the beautiful girl.

 The next day the boy gets a chance to speak with her and she hears the name he calls her.  She is shocked that he finds her attractive.  She runs back to the swamp to think about things before returning to the village.

 The story is similar to a classic fairy tale but underneath the talking frogs and beautiful girl there is the issue of a girl's self esteem.  Even though people are telling her how beautiful she is all she hears is how ugly she is.  When she finally hears the poor shepherd boy her entire world changes because she realizes that she isn't ugly and doesn't smell like the swamp.

 I think this is a beautiful story that would be great to read to girls (and boys!) of all ages.  It's a great lesson in self esteem and appreciating both your outer and inner beauty.  

 I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Posted by Heather King at 6:19 AM 0 comments
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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Thai Turkey with Spicy Dipping Sauce

     I love Thai food.  The flavor combinations along with the spiciness of the food just sings to my taste buds.  Unfortunately there is not a Thai restaurant within 30 miles of my small town and I greatly miss being able to eat Thai food whenever I want.  Back when I lived in Pittsburgh Thai restaurants were abundant and I could go to one whenever I had a craving.

    Since I couldn't go to a Thai restaurant I went looking for a Thai recipe that I could make in my own kitchen.  I found one for chicken but I didn't have any chicken in the freezer.  After reading the recipe I determined it would work just as well with the turkey breast cutlets I had in the freezer.

    The recipe is fairly easy.  The turkey is brined for an hour and then rubbed with a fragrant combination of herbs and spices.  Then the turkey is grilled until the outside is crispy and the inside is juicy.  It's served with a sweet yet spicy dipping sauce.

     When my husband tasted the turkey dipped in the sauce he smiled.  Apparently it reminded him of a Thai place he used to go to in Baltimore that served a similar chicken dish.  I thought the flavors worked wonderfully together and we both ended up drizzling the dipping sauce over top of our rice.  It was delicious.

Thai Turkey with Spicy Dipping Sauce (adapted from Cooks Illustrated)
For the turkey and brine:
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. salt
4 turkey breast cutlets
For the rub:
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 inch piece of ginger, minced
2 T. black pepper
1 T. coriander
3 T. chopped fresh cilantro
3 T. chopped fresh parsley
1/4 c. lime juice
2 T. vegetable oil

For the dipping sauce:
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 c. white vinegar
1/4 c. lime juice
2 T. fish sauce
1 T. Thai garlic chili sauce
3 T. sugar
1 t. red pepper flakes

1.  Combine the sugar and salt in a large bowl along with 2 quarts of cold water.  Mix until the sugar and salt dissolve.  Place the turkey in the brine and refrigerate for 1 hour.  Remove the turkey from the brine, rinse with cool water, and pat dry.

2.  To make the dipping sauce combine all ingredients in a small bowl.  Allow to sit at room temperature for 1 hour to allow flavors to combine.

3.  To make the rub combine all ingredients in a bowl.  Use your fingers and mix thoroughly.  Using your hands, rub 2 tablespoons of the mixture on each turkey breast cutlet.

4.  Heat the grill.  Cook the turkey cutlets for 6-7 minutes per side or until the internal temperature of the turkey is 160 degrees.  Remove from the grill and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

5.  Serve the turkey over rice with a side of the dipping sauce.



This post linked to:
Totally Tasty Tuesdays, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Trick or Treat Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, Tuesday Talent Show,
Posted by Heather King at 6:22 AM 2 comments
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