Monday Musings

Monday Musings: Split personality of a writer….

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  MONDAY MUSINGS: Split personality of a writer….

I had hoped to have an extra-special post today.  As many of you know I’m preparing for the release of my first contemporary romance, SATIN PLEASURES, by the end of this month.  Alas, I must wait to share my new book cover and book blurb with you. The cover isn’t finished.  Sigh. With any luck, I’ll have it for you next Monday along with the announcement the book’s available for sale.

It drives me crazy when I don’t have control over absolutely everything!

There, I said it. I’m a control freak. A nice appellation is “Type-A Personality” but we all know that simply means that I worry things into perfection.  I write and revise and write and revise my manuscript pages daily.  This blog post will be revised half a dozen times as I write it.

Blast through an entire story and then go back and edit?  Pshaw!  Each scene I write is completely revised at least ten times before I type THE END on a manuscript.  I can’t go on until I’ve gone back over the previous 2-3 scenes.

In theory, I know this methodology was born as a result of the years I spent in revision as a pure pantser.  Yeah, I know it’s hard to believe I was ever a pantser but, believe me, it’s true!  I used to get up each morning and write whatever came to mind.  I didn’t plot anything and went wherever my muse took me.  I wallowed in the creativity I didn’t allow anywhere else in my life.  Completely unfettered, I wrote one of my earlier novels in eight weeks!

I don’t know where that writer went.  I can’t even pinpoint exactly when she disappeared into the mist.  It was a gradual thing and can be attributed to a number of factors.  Spending months, years in perpetual revision was only part of the transition.  I learned a lot about the craft of writing during that time.  POV (Point of View).  Characterization.  Plotting, etc.  Each skill I added to my repertoire made it more difficult for me to separate my creative side from my pragmatic side. When I made the subconscious decision to turn my love for writing into a career—yes, it was subconscious long before it became a conscious decision–my business background took hold, my stories became creative products, and the rest, they say, is history.

I’m not saying this transition was all bad. Writing a novel in eight weeks doesn’t guarantee the story’s good enough to publish.  Interestingly enough, SATIN PLEASURES was that novel.  Creatively, it wasn’t a bad story. In fact, it was a RWA® Golden Heart® finalist back when the only thing they looked at was the first three chapters and synopsis. (The book didn’t need to be finished then to be entered.  I only had the first three chapters and synopsis, but I was the Queen of Pristine Proposals!)  But I didn’t win, the story didn’t sell despite the fact several editors like many things about it.  I just hadn’t grown into my skills. I wasn’t quite “ready for prime time.”

I’ve since forged a comfortable balance between my creativity and my skills.  Well, most of the time, it’s a comfortable balance.  The editor perched on my shoulder does have 12-inch talons embedded in my creative soul!  I plot using the “W” technique I teach.  I focus my attention on making sure I use my technical skills to create a coherent, compelling story.  And my muse has learned to dance in whatever scene she wants in whatever order she wants. (Yes, I’m a non-sequential writer 🙂 ) Thanks to this alliance, I’m now ready to present my book to the world.

Yet, I’m discovering there are still things I can’t control.  Like my cover art.  My creativity doesn’t include drawing a straight line with a ruler, let alone designing the gorgeous cover I want.  So, I have no choice but to let someone else do it. Which means I have no control…and that just makes me crazy. 🙂

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Funnel Cake

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  It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!  Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me.  I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy.  It might be a main course recipe.  A cookie or baked item.  Candy.  Salads.  Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is FUNNEL CAKE.

I have a guilty secret. As many times as I went to the carnival growing up, I never tried a funnel cake. Thankfully, one of my daughters took pity on her poor, deprived mother and bought me one at a county fair. Every time I see one now my mouth waters. Since I don’t attend fairs often, I was delighted to find this recipe. A fun, fast treat your family will love!

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.  Happy eating!

Karen

P.S.  We’re at 21 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, etc.

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FUNNEL CAKE
[Makes 6 cakes]

1 large egg                                                                   1 T. baking powder

¾ cup milk                                                                  1/8 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup unsifted flour                                                    Powdered sugar

 

In heavy, wide saucepan, heat 1½ to 2 inches salad oil to 360 degrees.  In medium bowl, beat egg with milk; stir in flour, baking powder, ¼ tsp. salt and cinnamon.  Mix until smooth.  Holding finger under funnel with a 1/3-inch wide opening, pour ¼ cup batter into funnel.  Starting in center of skillet, drop batter into hot oil; move funnel in circle to make snail-like coil of rings, each about 6-inches in diameter.  Fry cake, turning once, until golden, about 2 minutes each side. Place on paper towel lined wire rack in warm oven while frying remaining cake.  If batter thickens, add more milk.  Sprinkle powdered sugar over cakes before serving.

 

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: **Author Special**

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Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL**

Welcome to my bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**.  Although I intend to continue with my usual Fixin’s feature every Friday 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 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, PATTY WISEMAN, and her recipe for Chicken & Sausage Gumbo!

BOOK PEEK ~ An Unlikely Arrangement

An Unlikely Arrangement is a cozy armchair romantic mystery with many twists and turns. Just when you think you have figured it out, you haven’t!

Young and rebellious, Ruth Squire defied her parents to live the high life of young people in 1929 Detroit. Handsome and responsible, Peter Kirby worked diligently to make his family’s life easier. Rich and powerful, Eric Horton held the fates of many families in his hands.

These three lives intertwine through the differing worlds of high society, middle-class life, and organized crime, culminating in an engagement, a kidnapping, a misunderstanding… and a murder.

  Patty Wiseman is the daughter of a WWII Navy vet who survived Pearl Harbor, Patty Wiseman was raised in Washington State. She attended The Wesleyan College in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and then moved to Northeast Texas where she has resided for over 30 years. For the past 24 years, she has worked as administrative assistant to a financial advisor.

An Unlikely Arrangement is her first novel and based on a true story. She has several short stories published and is currently working on two other novels, including the sequel to An Unlikely Arrangement.

She serves as secretary to the East Texas Writers Association and is a member of Northeast Texas Writers Association, as well as a two time winner of the National Novel Writing Month, commonly known as NaNoWriMo.

Now retired, Patty is proud to boast she still competes in her favorite sport, bowling. The proud winner of several 200 patches and other awards, she plans to continue to stay in shape with the sport.

Baseball is another passion, and Patty watches Texas Rangers Baseball faithfully. She and her husband Ron attend games as often as the can.

Patty and Ron are the proud owners of a year old crème lab they call Cutter. All their children are grown and scattered now with the grandchildren which gives Patty plenty of time to write and turn out the stories of a lifetime dancing in her head.

For more about Patty and her novels: Website, http://www.pattywiseman.com; Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Patty-Wiseman-Fan-Page/122326897827176; Twitter, http://twitter.com/#!/PattyWG

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.  Happy eating!

Karen

P.S.  We’re at 20 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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CHICKEN AND SAUSAGE GUMBO

1/3 cup all-purpose flour                                     1 ¼ cups water, heated

¼ cup cooking oil                                                  1 ½ chopped chicken

½ cup medium onion, chopped                         8 oz. link fully cooked link sausage

½ cup celery, chopped                                                     cut into slices

½ cup green sweet pepper, chopped                 1 ½ sliced, fresh okra

4 cloves garlic, minced                                         2 bay leaves

¼ tsp. black pepper                                               3 cups hot cooked rice

¼ tsp. red pepper, ground

1 14 oz. can chicken broth, heated

 

In a large heavy saucepan or pot combine flour and oil for a roux. Cook over medium-high heat for 5 mins., stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium. Cook and stir for 12 mins. or until roux is dark reddish brown.

Stir in onion, celery, sweet pepper, garlic, black pepper, and ground rep pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 mins. over medium heat or until veggies are crisp-tender, stir often.

Gradually stir in hot chicken broth, hot water, chicken, sausage, okra, and bay leaves. Bring to boil then reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 mins. or until okra is tender. Remember to discard bay leaves. Serve in bowls with rice.

Makes about 7 cups.

 

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Sichuan Chicken

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  It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!  Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me.  I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy.  It might be a main course recipe.  A cookie or baked item.  Candy.  Salads.  Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is SICHUAN CHICKEN.

I love Oriental foods, the fresh flavors and intriguing textures. This recipe for Sichuan Chicken is incredibly quick and easy to make, not to mention delicious! A great last minute meal when you’ve come home tired and hungry.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.  Happy eating!

Karen

P.S.  We’re at 19 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, etc.

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SICHUAN CHICKEN
[Serves 4]

 

¼ cup soy sauce
¼ to ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
¼ cup white wine
Worcestershire Sauce to taste
1 T. cornstarch
½ lb. asparagus spears, pierced
1 tsp. sugar
½ tsp. ginger
1 lb. boneless chicken, cubed
½ cup cashews
Cooked white rice (or brown rice, if preferred)

 

In bowl, combined ½ cup water, soy sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, cornstarch, sugar, ginger & chicken.  Marinate at least 15 minutes.

In wok, over medium-high, heat 2 T. salad oil.  Add red pepper flakes; stir-fry until black.  With slotted spoon, drain chicken reserving the marinade.  Place chicken in wok and stir-fry 2 minutes.

Add reserve marinade; over medium-low heat, cook, covered, 2 minutes or until tender.  Add asparagus; stir-fry 1 minute.  Stir in cashews.  Serve over cooked rice.

 

Monday Musings

Monday Musings: And so it begins….

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Here’s to my lack of a Musings post on this first Monday in 2012! A friend in my TwitterWorld sent this to me today and I found myself laughing out loud. This is soooo me today!

I have no excuses for not launching this new year right with a proper Monday Musings. Oh, wait, I *do* have excuses but you don’t really want to hear them.

I had all of these good intentions going into the holidays:

1.  I was going to get ahead of myself on my Monday Musings blog posts instead of scrambling every weekend when I don’t have time to write. My poor husband does occasionally need more company than the dust bunnies who are building a thousand acre ranch — hey, to those little rascals it is 1,000 acres — across our house.

2.  I wanted to launch my new **Author Special** feature on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s, introducing my many author friends and their favorite recipes. Yes, it’s an excuse to fill my recipe book with more goodies, my library with more TBRs, but shhh, we won’t tell them I have ulterior motives besides entertaining you.

3.  I was going to finally get my 2011 RomCon photos up on my website so everyone will see how much fun we had so they’ll come play with me, ahem, us in June for 2012 RomCon. Ya think anyone will notice if I just mix them up with June’s event?

4.  I wanted to finish the last edits and formatting on my contemporary romance, SATIN PLEASURES, get the cover finalized, and publish it by December 31st. Wow, I’m sooo in trouble if that old adage, “Go out of the old year as you mean to go into the new one”, rings true. I must…I must…I must improve my….oh wait, wrong ditty.

5.  I must get back to telling Patrick and Rachel’s story in KILLING SECRETS.  The serial killer in my head is getting impatient and screaming to get out on the page so he can…well, can’t tell you that. I’m keeping his secrets so I don’t end up as one of his victims.

6.  I was going to….

Well, you get the picture…and the lash of the wet noodle is already chafing my knuckles. Ah, the pain of it all!

I’m happy to report I did get one of these items checked off. If you missed it last Friday, check out Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** highlighting author, Lizzie T. Leaf, and her wonderful recipe for Spinach Artichoke Dip. Can’t wait to make the dip and share (maybe) with my husband. I also have Lizzie’s book sitting at my elbow TBR asap. It’s one I’m dying to read.  It’s even autographed!

Happily, I’ve already scheduled two more authors to come visit us with recipes so watch for those in the coming weeks. I’ll post them every other week until I run out of authors and recipes…which I hope won’t be anytime soon. If  you’re an author reading this, please give me a private shout at karendocter@yahoo.com and we’ll schedule a visit. I hope you all enjoy the special visits as much as I will.

As for the rest of my To-Do list, I’m just going to plug along until I get caught up. When this blog posts, I’ll have #1 done.  Well, sort of. I’ve got a week to get the next one done, right? Those sneaky semantics! Don’t you just love words?! 🙂

With hard editing/formatting, a swift cover artist, and a little bit of luck, my cute contemporary romance, SATIN PLEASURES, will be published in the next week or two. I hope you’ll check it out when I shout to the world that it’s ready for prime time.

As for #5, I need to hurry and clear the decks because that pesky killer isn’t going to shut up in my head until I wrangle him onto the page. The last thing you all want is for me to end up in the rubber room with those pretty hugging sleeves keeping me safe. I can’t type worth a damn in the silly things.

Happy New Year, my friends!

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: **Author Special**

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Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL**

Introducing a bonus feature to Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!  Although I intend to continue with my usual Fixin’s feature every Friday today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to another author who will share one of her 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 and their books.

     Introducing author, LIZZIE T. LEAF, and her recipe for SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP!

I’ve loved books since I opened the first one. My dream was to write them myself. Of course life has a way of throwing us a curve ball, and the writing became a distant memory, lost in the hectic day to day world of family, job, laundry and housework. When the twinkling ember did spark, it was usually doused by someone demanding their share of my time, and me allowing it to happen.

But life does seem to go full circle. The desire to put the stories that continued to play in my head on paper emerged stronger than ever, and at a time in my life when there was someone encouraging me to do it. Now I’m living my dream; creating stories to share with others. I hope you enjoy them.

My other hobbies, gardening and baking, are now taking a back seat, and as for housework…what’s that?

FMI about Lizzie and all of her books…. www.lizzietleaf.com
Beyond Magic now available at Passion in Print Press
http://www.passioninprint.com/ShowBook.php?CR=LTL_BEYONDMAGIC

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s Author Special.  Happy eating!

Karen

P.S.  We’re at 18 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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SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP

Ingredients

1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
2 (13¾ ounce) cans artichoke hearts
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 cup grated pepper jack cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a casserole dish with nonstick spray.

Heat the spinach in a microwave oven on high for 5 minutes and squeeze dry. Drain the artichoke hearts and coarsely chop in a food processor.

Combine all the ingredients except the jack cheese in a large bowl. Stir well. Scrape into the prepared casserole dish and sprinkle the jack cheese on top. Bake for 30 minutes. Transfer to a chafing dish and keep warm over a low flame. Serve with bagel chips.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Gingerbread Cookies

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   It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!  Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me.  I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy.  It might be a main course recipe.  A cookie or baked item.  Candy.  Salads.  Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is GINGERBREAD COOKIES.

Yeah, I know Christmas is only 2 days away but the holidays aren’t complete without gingerbread cookies. And there’s still time to have your…cookie, and eat it too. So pull out those favorite cookie cutters and fill the house with the best scent of the holiday season!

***Before you skim down to today’s recipe, a brief announcement.***

Next Friday, I’m launching a bonus blog feature called “Killer Fixin’s Author Highlights”. What this means is that on occasion one of my author friends will be dropping in to share a personal recipe with us. On these days you’ll get two complete recipes and the opportunity to connect with a new or favorite author. **These won’t be regularly scheduled visits so feel free to subscribe and have all of my blogs, including Friday’s Killer Fixin’s recipes, appear automatically to your email Inbox.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.  Happy eating!

Karen

P.S.  We’re at 17 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, etc.

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GINGERBREAD COOKIES

1/3 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 ½ cup dark molasses
2/3 cup water
7 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cloves (optional)
1 tsp. cinnamon

Cream shortening and brown sugar, Stir in molasses. Add water slowly. Measure flour into sifter along with other dry ingredients and sift together in separate bowl to blend well. Add  to molasses mixture and mix slowly. Chill about 1-1/2 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out on lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thick and cut with floured cookie cutters. Bake on lightly greased cookie sheet, 10-12 minutes. Cool and, if desired, decorate with icing, nuts, candies, etc.

Monday Musings

Monday Musings: Wedding Vows….

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As this is my last Monday Musings before Christmas, I stockpiled several ideas of what I could talk about if I ran out of time. There’s one about heroes that attract us, well, me actually. I have another one about writing contests, love ’em or leave ’em. And another on reading pref…well, you get the picture.

You’re not getting any of those great ideas today. Which means you’ll just have to come back, right?

Just allow me this delusion or I’m likely to run screaming into the street, stark nekkid with a mache…okay, we won’t go there either. I don’t know why that image keeps popping into my head when I’m feeling the slightest bit stressed. Maybe another Musings topic someday!

To tell you the truth, I’m about as scattered as a hunting dog in a soccer field full of jackrabbits. We all know how frenetic the holiday season can be for everyone. We writer types usually don’t get much writing done around Christmas — okay, some of us don’t, those who do write despite these distractions are bound to be eaten by Zombies in the near future because that’s just plain wrong — but I’m more distracted than usual this season with my Army son and his buddy home for Christmas, another grandbaby about to make her grand entrance, shopping still undone, wrapping not even started….

BUT, I didn’t want to make you think I’d dashed off to the briar patch with all of those crazed rabbits. I wrote another Christmas (well, it is set to the ‘Jingle Bells’ song) poem I’d like to share with you about what is of most importance to this romance writer…building a love between a man and a woman that will withstand anything.

This is my Christmas card to all of you…my readers. Happy holidays!

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Wedding Vows
By Karen Docter

Dashing through the files

Looking for the perfect line

O’er the page we pore

Searching all the time

Words do sometimes bring

A smile, a sigh, a fight

A romance is a tender thing

To make things turn out right

~~~

Oh, wedding vows, wedding vows

This is what we say

Oh, what fun it is to love

That one man every day

Wedding vows, wedding vows

This is what we say

Oh, what fun it is to love

That one man every day

~~~

Our heroine just can’t see

What the hero has inside

Until we do reveal

The words he tries to hide

He may be buff and fine

A financial wiz at work

If we can’t find our line

He just sounds like a jerk

~~~

Oh, wedding vows, wedding vows

This is what we say

Oh, what fun it is to love

That one man every day

Wedding vows, wedding vows

This is what we say

Oh, what fun it is to love

That one man every day

~~~

So here we sit all day

Looking for the perfect line

That reveals a man’s true heart

A woman can’t decline

She’ll see the man beyond

The words he cannot say

We work to make their love

Turn out in just that way

~~~

Oh, wedding vows, wedding vows

This is what we say

Oh, what fun it is to love

That one man every day

Wedding vows, wedding vows

This is what we say

Oh, what fun it is to love

That one man every day, yeah!

[Wedding Vows, Karen Docter © 2010]

[Inspired by Jingle Bells carol written by James Lord Pierpont (1822-1893) in
1850.]

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Sweet & Sour Meatballs

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It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s! Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me.  I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy.  It might be a main course recipe.  A cookie or baked item.  Candy.  Salads.  Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is SWEET & SOUR MEATBALLS.

In this busy holiday season, we often just don’t have time to make a satisfying meal for our families. Not only is this a delicious and satisfying meal, it’s quick and easy to fix. Need something to take to that holiday office party or family potluck? No need to
fix rice. Just bring the meatball dish and a small bowl of decorative toothpicks for guests to “pick” them up as hot appetizers.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.

Happy eating!

Karen

P.S.  We’re at 16 recipes and counting with this posting.  Hope you find some recipes you like.  If you don’t want to miss any future recipes, be sure to return to my blog next Friday.  Even better, subscribe to my blog and the recipes will come directly to your email Inbox.  If this is your first visit, check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column of my blog page, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, etc.

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SWEET & SOUR MEATBALLS

1 lb. hamburger
½ cup dried bread crumbs
¼ cup milk
¼ cup finely chopped onion
1 egg
½ tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
¾ tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

 

Mix well.  Make into 1½-inch balls.  Arrange in baking dish in single layer.  Cover loosely.  Microwave on high, 3 minutes.  Stir up. Cover and cook another 5-7 minutes until no longer pink.  Stand 3 minutes.  Drain.

 

Sauce:  ½ cup packed brown sugar, 1 T. cornstarch, 1 can (13-1/2 oz) pineapple chunks, 1/3 cup cider vinegar, 1 T. soy sauce, 1 small green pepper in ½-inch pieces.

 

Mix sugar and cornstarch in 2 qt. casserole.  Stir in pineapple chunks with syrup, vinegar and soy sauce.  Microwave uncovered 2
minutes on high.  Stir.  Microwave until mixture thickens.  Boil 3-4 minutes.

 

Add meatballs and green pepper.  Cover lightly and microwave on high 3-4 minutes.  Serve over rice.

 

Monday Musings

Monday Musings: All I want for Christmas is….

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Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.
~ Sir Richard Steele ~

I can’t tell you the number of times in the past few weeks I’ve heard someone say, “I don’t know what to get my mom, dad, sister, best friend – insert the role of the wonderful person in your life – for Christmas. S/he has everything!”

We all know that no one truly has everything. What you’re really saying is that you don’t have a clue what to get them that is fresh and new and speaks to their soul beyond Christmas morning. Something special they’ll remember having even if they don’t remember it came from you. A gift they’ll carry inside them forever.

It’s why I think the finest gift you can give to a reader is another book. The finest gift you can give to a writer is another reader…and a book.  🙂

It may seem simplistic, but a good book will never go out of style. The presentation hasn’t changed much over the years, even though many are now available through Kindle and Nook and other hand held devices. They’re all generally rectangular with covers and lots and lots of words inside. You can carry them everywhere you go. And many of them reach inside us and touch our souls forever.

In this fast-paced world of electronics, games, home-delivered DVDs, online TV program downloads, etc. it’s too easy to miss the simple pleasures…like reading a new story. A good book can carry you into a fantasy world so completely you forget the refrigerator just went on the fritz and its replacement has traumatized your credit card. A wonderful story can calm you after a frenetic day at work so you have the energy to smile at your child and snuggle with him. You can explore new worlds where characters just like you find alternative ways to resolve their problems, and experience vicariously that moment when a man and a woman discover their lust has grown into love or a villain is served justice. You may even leave the planet altogether and live a completely different life as a space princess for several hours.

I’m a reader who has stacks and stacks – fine, entire walls of bookshelves – filled with my TBR (To Be Read) books. I’m now the proud owner of a Kindle which is stacking my novels a bit more neatly. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be thrilled to receive another book. Or two. Or half a dozen.

If I’m lucky, someday soon, I’ll find myself filling my fantasy of sitting on a beach in Maui pulling one story after another from a bag in the sand. Food, drink, and the occasional decadent bonbon magically delivered and cleaned up by a six-foot elf with naughty eyes. Minimal clothing. Even more minimal distractions like phones and comput….okay, maybe just enough wireless internet service to chat with friends but nothing that resembles w.o.r.k.

Oops, sorry – got a little sidetracked there with my letter to Santa! 🙂  I’m pretty sure the jolly guy isn’t handing out Maui vacations this year. He looks a bit skinny to me, poor dear. And my own naughty-eyed, six-foot elf could use a vacation, too, so maybe I can fetch my own bonbons.

Anyway, back to my musings. If your hard-to-buy-for loved one is a reader your shopping dilemma can be easily solved. Find out what new releases she’s dying to read. Ferret out the name of his favorite author. Listen to your friends and discover new authors to introduce to your reader. Encourage that little munchkin in your life to read with a fun new book about making best friends or meeting trolls, squirrels, or friendly dragons that live in their room.

If your reader is also a writer, gift her with Christmas cheer by buying her book. There are so many wonderful authors to be discovered on the bookstore retail shelves, on Kindle and Nook. Another gift your favorite author is sure to love is a review of their latest release on Amazon, on the Barnes & Noble website. It’s a gift that costs you nothing but the time it takes to share your excitement about the story the author’s created for you.

You don’t need a fancy list for those “hard-to-buy-for” people in your life.  You don’t even have to check it twice.  No one has everything they want if they’re a reader. A book is unique, one of a kind, and there are thousands of them out there waiting to be unwrapped by some lucky “hard-to-buy-for” loved one.

Now, you’ll have to excuse me while I dash off to Amazon to make up my list for Santa. He’s going to be a busy guy if he’s going to load up the fifty or so novels I want!  Ohhhh, I want that one by Cherry Adair and that one by Barbara Freethy and that one by Allison Brennan and that one by Cynthia Woo….

Karen's Book Bench