Karen’s Killer Fixin’s
**AUTHOR SPECIAL**
with KENNA McKINNON & EMMA SHIRLEY BRINSON!

Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, KENNA McKINNON & EMMA SHIRLEY BRINSON, and Kenna’s favorite recipe for LAKOTA FRY BREAD!!

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BENJAMIN & RUMBLECHUM
Illustrated by Aniela Abair
BY KENNA McKINNON & EMMA SHIRLEY BRINSON

Blurb

Sister and brother Katie and Jacob travel across Canada and back with their two eccentric aunts, Kathleen and Mary, in a minivan named Rumblechum, with Benjamin, their stuffed monkey, sitting between them.

Rumblechum transports them through Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the huge province of Ontario, and finally back to their little grey house in Edmonton, Alberta.  Their dear calico cat Freedom is at the door to greet them, meowing with excitement and joy, and a mysterious parcel is opened.

A chapter book, the first of a planned series of young reader stories suitable for ages 3 to 6 years old. Fictional, but based on true traveling experiences.

Your little ones will love paging through the chapters with whimsical illustrations at the top of each chapter, and you will love sharing the magical story of Benjamin’s adventures in Rumblechum. A story for all ages, sharing the great country of Canada with a new generation of readers.

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BENJAMIN & RUMBLECHUM
Illustrated by Aniela Abair
BY KENNA McKINNON & EMMA SHIRLEY BRINSON

5-Star Review

As soon as I saw the cover of Kenna McKinnon’s book ‘Benjamin & Rumblechum’ I knew I had to read this book. My mother worked for ESSO (Austria) for more than a decade.

I absolutely LOOOVE ” Benjamin & Rumblechum.” Author McKinnon is a natural when it comes to writing this genre. She manages to add “magic” to her story.

All of us know that children have their own fantasy world, full of stuffed toys who listen to and also understand them. McKinnon’s presents this world in a beautiful book. She supports and nourishes kids’ thoughts with her beautiful story.

… “I remember many interesting places,” Benjamin the Stuffed Monkey said. “I know. I’ve traveled.”…
… “I’ve never traveled.” Freedom the calico cat licked one orange paw with a pink tongue.”…

Naturally, all children know that stuffed animals can be taken along on a trip easily, whereas taking a real cat (or dog) on a long trip would be a lot more complicated. That’s why Freedom, the calico cat, never gets to travel and, in this book, Benjamin the Stuffed Monkey gets to travel to Ontario.

These truths elevate the book’s other content, for instance, that stuffed animals who don’t say anything m i g h t potentially… possibly… experience their adventures in some way.
Author McKinnon is clever to stay in the realms of the possible,
“… Benjamin the Monkey lay sprawled on the hard ground beside the van. The dog sniffed at Benjamin’s Esso hat. He licked at Benjamin’s little white beard. He picked Benjamin up in his big soft mouth. He padded away. Benjamin screamed and screamed but no one heard him. He was only a stuffed animal…”

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Benjamin the Stuffed Monkey experiences new adventures with Aunt Mary and Aunt Kathleen, Katie and Jacob. And, of course, there is Rumblechum, the minivan, who makes that noise, Rumblechum, Rumblechum, Rumblechum.
Freedom the cat stays behind with Della and her daughter Emily who are cat-sitting. Freedom’s adventures are less “exciting.” One day, Emily leaves the house door open and Freedom seeks his own adventures in the vegetable garden. Unfortunately, Freedom gets attacked by bird parents who think that he wants to attack their baby bird. When finally, Emily rescues him from the birds Freedom decides that it is best to stay indoors.

Meanwhile, Benjamin gets to participate in a rodeo.
The cowboy will send gifts for Benjamin and Freedom. (No spoilers!)

The book features awesome travel descriptions, describing travel in Canada, specifically: Brandon, Manitoba, Maryfield, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Manitoulin Island, and flat Saskatchewan . It also advertises Canada’s finest goods:

“… where you can eat eggs fried in maple syrup, and maple syrup in your coffee, and sausages made with maple syrup, and pancakes with maple syrup, and maple syrup on toast…”

(Admit it – right now you’d like to eat pancakes with maple syrup; so, do I.)

However, the book’s most important message us:
Children are different.

• “… Katie smiled to herself. She heard Benjamin talk sometimes. No one else heard Benjamin talk. It felt like a whisper in her mind. You had to really love stuffed animals to hear them talk…”

• “… Emily had a stuffed Kangaroo all the way from Australia which she called Wally the Roo. A friend from Down Under had brought it back for her after a visit. But she loved real critters better…”

5 stars! Highly recommended.
Gisela Hausmann, author & blogger

Meet Author Kenna McKinnon…

Kenna McKinnon is a Canadian freelance writer, author of SpaceHive; Bigfoot Boy: Lost on Earth; Benjamin and Rumblechum, The Insanity Machine; Blood Sister; Short Circuit and Other Geek Stories; DISCOVERY: A Collection of Poetry; Den of Dark Angels; Engaging the Dragon; and Timothie Hill and the Cloak of Power. Her most memorable years were spent at the University of Alberta, where she graduated with a degree in Anthropology. Kenna is a member of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta and a professional member of the Canadian Authors Association. She has three children and three grandsons. Her hobbies include fitness, health, drawing, reading, walking, music, and entertaining friends.

and…

Meet Author Emma Shirley Brinson…

Emma Shirley Brinson, Kenna’s co-author, is a retired early childhood teacher with many years of travel experience and facts about Canada and children at her fingertips. Emma holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood from the University of Alberta.

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Links to Kenna & Emma’s website, blog, books, etc.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2tUPBLU

Universal Link: http://mybook.to/Rumblechum

Website: https://www.KennaMcKinnonAuthor.com

Author’s blog: http://KennaMcKinnonAuthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennaMcKinnonAuthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KennaMcKinnon

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kennamckinnon

Amazon Author Page:

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=kenna+mckinnon

I hope you enjoy the recipe Kenna is sharing today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy Eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 381 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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LAKOTA FRY BREAD

1/4 cup sugar (I use only a tbsp or two)
3 tsp baking powder
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 cup water (or just enough to make a soft dough)
Oil for frying

Mix all the dry ingredients together. Add water, mixing carefully. Divide the dough into four pieces and pat each into a round, flat shape. Add 1-2 inches of oil to a large skillet and heat to 350 F. Fry each round until crisp and brown on both sides.

For Indian tacos:

Top fry bread with seasoned ground beef or buffalo, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa and sour cream.