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And maybe that's for the best.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
September 11, 2001
Seems like only yesterday, doesn't it? If you're old enough to remember that day, you probably remember where you were when you first heard the news. I know I do. Not sure I'll ever forget it.
And maybe that's for the best.
And maybe that's for the best.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Tasty Tuesday Makhani Chicken!
Popping up from the edits to Rebel to post the recipe I slaved over all day Sunday. It about wore me out, and I'm still tired, but it was damn good. Since the hero of the romantic suspense book I'm writing is Indian, I've been doing a lot of research and experimentation with Indian cuisine. I've made idlis and naan and something called Punjabi Sukha Urad Dal. I even made my own ghee, which is a type of clarified butter.
This recipe for butter chicken is one of the better known Indian dishes. I bought a jar of the ready-made sauce and tried it, but figured I ought to go the more authentic route for the purposes of research. I must say, I was surprised at just how tender the chicken was after marinating it in yogurt. I've always heard that milk was a good tenderizer, but this was a WOW! kind of tender.
Since I can't claim to have contributed much of anything to this recipe, other than the fact that I made my own version of garam masala and substituted fenugreek for the coriander, I'm simply posting my picture of it and a link to the recipe. The recipe doesn't say how long to cook the sauce, but I'd give it at least a half hour or so to reduce before adding the cream. Mine was a little runny. Enjoy!
Makhani Chicken (Indian Butter Chicken)
In other news, thanks to some great promo, Unbridled made it to the #1 spot on the Free Kindle Erotica list yesterday. I was amazed at how many downloads went to other countries. I had at least one in every country listed on KDP except Mexico. I mean, I finally got a download in BRAZIL!!!!!
Unbridled also made it into the overall Kindle Top 100 free list. As of 9pm last evening, it was #64! Whoo hoo!!!!
Too bad I'm not making any money. If I'd actually sold that many copies in one day, I'd have made almost $6K!
Oh, well...
This recipe for butter chicken is one of the better known Indian dishes. I bought a jar of the ready-made sauce and tried it, but figured I ought to go the more authentic route for the purposes of research. I must say, I was surprised at just how tender the chicken was after marinating it in yogurt. I've always heard that milk was a good tenderizer, but this was a WOW! kind of tender.
Since I can't claim to have contributed much of anything to this recipe, other than the fact that I made my own version of garam masala and substituted fenugreek for the coriander, I'm simply posting my picture of it and a link to the recipe. The recipe doesn't say how long to cook the sauce, but I'd give it at least a half hour or so to reduce before adding the cream. Mine was a little runny. Enjoy!
Makhani Chicken (Indian Butter Chicken)
In other news, thanks to some great promo, Unbridled made it to the #1 spot on the Free Kindle Erotica list yesterday. I was amazed at how many downloads went to other countries. I had at least one in every country listed on KDP except Mexico. I mean, I finally got a download in BRAZIL!!!!!
Unbridled also made it into the overall Kindle Top 100 free list. As of 9pm last evening, it was #64! Whoo hoo!!!!
Oh, well...
Monday, September 9, 2013
Free and Unbridled!
If all goes well, Unbridled should be available for a free download from Amazon sometime today--probably 3AM Eastern time. Any spreading of the word would be greatly appreciated!
Had some interesting developments this past weekend. Sourcebooks made an offer on one of my early manuscripts plus another new book to go with it. I haven't decided to accept the offer, but I'm definitely leaning in that direction. It's an erotic contemporary romance that involves cowboys.
Also, I got the cover for Rebel. I'm not sure I'm supposed to use it yet, but it's pretty awesome. They even gave Onca red hair! In the meantime, I've been working on the edits to Rebel, and I really think all you Cat Star fans will enjoy it.
Speaking of which, better get back to work...
Had some interesting developments this past weekend. Sourcebooks made an offer on one of my early manuscripts plus another new book to go with it. I haven't decided to accept the offer, but I'm definitely leaning in that direction. It's an erotic contemporary romance that involves cowboys.
Also, I got the cover for Rebel. I'm not sure I'm supposed to use it yet, but it's pretty awesome. They even gave Onca red hair! In the meantime, I've been working on the edits to Rebel, and I really think all you Cat Star fans will enjoy it.
Speaking of which, better get back to work...
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Window Woes
Oh, my. What a day yesterday was--so bad, I couldn't even find the energy to blog last night.
Imagine your worst home improvement nightmare. Got it in your head? Is it a hole in the wall you can't cover? A mismatched tile? A broken faucet?
Well, for me, those things seemed minor yesterday. This past weekend, my husband installed a new window in our bedroom. He'd put the outside of the house back together. My job was to work on the interior.
Word to the wise: Never use a dark shade of Polyshades on something you really want to be a dark color. Doesn't work. I told my husband to remind me the next time I picked up a can of it. To stain a light colored wood and get it really dark, you have to use a separate stain and then put on the varnish/polyurethane. I started with a brush, then progressed to a paper towel, and then to a cloth. It doesn't look too bad now, but at the time, it looked like crap.
But before that, I used some of that spray foam insulation around the window. Another word to the wise: That stuff KEEPS GROWING long after you've filled the gaps with it. And it's VERY sticky.
The next fiasco made the rest of them look tame. Because of the sticky foam stuff, my fingers stuck to the can of VERY DARK Polyshades with the result that I spilled it (a nearly full, medium-sized can, mind you) all over one end of my mother's cedar chest, which is made of a sort of blond wood. Yes, I had newspapers and old towels covering things, but with a spill like that, nothing really helps. It also splashed all over me--thankfully, I'd put on my old shoes and had the presence of mind to wipe the stuff off my legs (most of it) before it dried--the floor, the treadmill at the foot of the bed, and got a few splashes on the edge of the comforter. Screaming at the top of my lungs during this entire process, I got some more old towels and did my best to sop and/or wipe very very dark varnish off of everything it splattered on, including the rather large puddle on the light blue carpet.
Needless to say, carpet replacement got moved up on the list of things to do.
Then I put the trim back on the window. I knew I was going to have to cut it down, but first, I went out to the garage to find something to get the sticky stuff off my hands and wound up cleaning out a bit of the garage. After filling up two trash cans with the debris from the last home improvement project and not finding anything to clean my hands, I had to dig out the miter saw which was sitting on the table saw in the back of the garage. After moving my car and various other large, heavy objects, I dragged out the saw, plugged it in, and was amazed to find that it still worked after sitting idle for a good many years. The trim cutting actually went well, until I went to nail it up.
I don't know about you, but we have a junk/tool drawer in the kitchen that is filled to overflowing with every kind of nut, bolt, nail, and screw you can imagine. It's a hardware store in a drawer, but not nearly as well organized. After a good bit of searching, I finally found some finishing nails.
But first, I had to remove the curtain/shade hardware because this window sits about a quarter of an inch higher than the old one. I unscrewed the fixtures and nailed up the trim.
Then I opened the tube of wood filler to fill the old nail holes. Then I read the directions. This wood filler that I bought along with the damn Polyshades isn't supposed to be used with Polyshades.
By this time, I didn't give a damn. I filled the holes and dabbled the stuff with the cursed Polyshades without letting it dry the requisite two hours. I figured if it wasn't the right stuff anyway, it didn't matter. Oddly enough, it didn't seem to. But then, I haven't looked at it very closely yet this morning.
After drilling new holes for the curtain fixtures, I put them and the shade back up--astonished to discover that the batteries in the drill actually had some power to them. When I went to hang the curtain, I noted that it needed washing, but decided to leave that task for another day.
That done, I put the saw and various other heavy objects back in place in the garage, put my car away, and began sorting through the stuff in the hardware drawer. Somewhere in there I fixed dinner, had a long phone conversation with my pal Suzie, then finished sorting a bajillion nails, etc into labeled plastic bags. This has been done before, but it doesn't last long.
After that, I covered up the sticky spot on the floor with yet another old towel, took a shower, took three ibuprofen, and decided to watch a movie. I picked out a film that was lighthearted, mindless entertainment only to discover that the DVD wasn't in the case. After a fruitless search, I picked out a different movie and watched it. While I was watching it, I rubbed my sore feet with something called Sportscreme that's supposed to help you "Stay in The Game!" Then I went to bed.
And woke up at 2:30am unable to go back to sleep. After consulting my iTouch for the weather, my email, my book sales, and my horoscope (we won't go there), I finally went back to bed.
This morning, the room still smells like varnish, but at least it was cool enough to have the windows open. The window itself doesn't look too bad, even if the screen is still on order from Lowe's.
Budley and I learned a few things with this adventure, not the least of which is the knowledge of how to do it better the next time.
Oh, yeah. This was only the first window replacement of many.
I can hardly wait.
Imagine your worst home improvement nightmare. Got it in your head? Is it a hole in the wall you can't cover? A mismatched tile? A broken faucet?
Well, for me, those things seemed minor yesterday. This past weekend, my husband installed a new window in our bedroom. He'd put the outside of the house back together. My job was to work on the interior.
Word to the wise: Never use a dark shade of Polyshades on something you really want to be a dark color. Doesn't work. I told my husband to remind me the next time I picked up a can of it. To stain a light colored wood and get it really dark, you have to use a separate stain and then put on the varnish/polyurethane. I started with a brush, then progressed to a paper towel, and then to a cloth. It doesn't look too bad now, but at the time, it looked like crap.
But before that, I used some of that spray foam insulation around the window. Another word to the wise: That stuff KEEPS GROWING long after you've filled the gaps with it. And it's VERY sticky.
The next fiasco made the rest of them look tame. Because of the sticky foam stuff, my fingers stuck to the can of VERY DARK Polyshades with the result that I spilled it (a nearly full, medium-sized can, mind you) all over one end of my mother's cedar chest, which is made of a sort of blond wood. Yes, I had newspapers and old towels covering things, but with a spill like that, nothing really helps. It also splashed all over me--thankfully, I'd put on my old shoes and had the presence of mind to wipe the stuff off my legs (most of it) before it dried--the floor, the treadmill at the foot of the bed, and got a few splashes on the edge of the comforter. Screaming at the top of my lungs during this entire process, I got some more old towels and did my best to sop and/or wipe very very dark varnish off of everything it splattered on, including the rather large puddle on the light blue carpet.
Needless to say, carpet replacement got moved up on the list of things to do.
I don't know about you, but we have a junk/tool drawer in the kitchen that is filled to overflowing with every kind of nut, bolt, nail, and screw you can imagine. It's a hardware store in a drawer, but not nearly as well organized. After a good bit of searching, I finally found some finishing nails.
But first, I had to remove the curtain/shade hardware because this window sits about a quarter of an inch higher than the old one. I unscrewed the fixtures and nailed up the trim.
Then I opened the tube of wood filler to fill the old nail holes. Then I read the directions. This wood filler that I bought along with the damn Polyshades isn't supposed to be used with Polyshades.
By this time, I didn't give a damn. I filled the holes and dabbled the stuff with the cursed Polyshades without letting it dry the requisite two hours. I figured if it wasn't the right stuff anyway, it didn't matter. Oddly enough, it didn't seem to. But then, I haven't looked at it very closely yet this morning.
After drilling new holes for the curtain fixtures, I put them and the shade back up--astonished to discover that the batteries in the drill actually had some power to them. When I went to hang the curtain, I noted that it needed washing, but decided to leave that task for another day.
That done, I put the saw and various other heavy objects back in place in the garage, put my car away, and began sorting through the stuff in the hardware drawer. Somewhere in there I fixed dinner, had a long phone conversation with my pal Suzie, then finished sorting a bajillion nails, etc into labeled plastic bags. This has been done before, but it doesn't last long.
And woke up at 2:30am unable to go back to sleep. After consulting my iTouch for the weather, my email, my book sales, and my horoscope (we won't go there), I finally went back to bed.
This morning, the room still smells like varnish, but at least it was cool enough to have the windows open. The window itself doesn't look too bad, even if the screen is still on order from Lowe's.
Oh, yeah. This was only the first window replacement of many.
I can hardly wait.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Tasty Tuesday Curry Chicken and Apple Crepes!
A while back, I bought this nifty blue steel de Buyer (that's French!) crepe pan. I ordered it from some catalog or other (probably Chef's) and it was on backorder forever, but it was definitely worth the wait.
Since then, I've used it for practically everything except for making crepes. It heats very quickly, works great on my flat-top stove, and makes truly awesome grilled cheese and omelets. But it makes another awesome thing.
Crepes.
I have one of those electric, supposedly non-stick dip and cook crepe makers, but this pan... Well, let's just say the French have this crepe-making thing down pat.
I whipped up my favorite crepe batter recipe from a cookbook I've had forever, Crepe Cookery by Mable Hoffman, but modified it slightly by using half ultragrain flour and half white flour.
Crepe Batter
In a blender, combine thoroughly:
3 eggs
1 cup white flour
1 cup ultragrain flour
2 cups milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 tsp salt
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, (I just stick the blender jar in the fridge) then spray the crepe pan with non-stick cooking oil. Heat on medium to medium high heat, pour a bit of the batter in the center of the pan, making a puddle about 2-3 inches in diameter. Tilt the pan to coat the bottom and cook until the edges start to brown and the top is mostly cooked. Flip it over and brown the other side. Let the pan cool a little between crepes so they don't burn. I also sprayed the pan with cooking oil between each crepe, but I'm not sure I needed to.
The crepes can be filled immediately or stacked up between sheets of waxed paper or parchment paper. Parchment paper might be better because the crepes tend to melt the wax. Just sayin'...
But what to put inside them?
Since I've been experimenting with Indian-style cooking recently and my trusty Golden Delicious apple tree has been astonishingly fruitful,
I made a variation of my curry chicken with apples recipe. I think it's a keeper! The pic below is a next-day microwaved leftover version, which was still darn good.
Curry Chicken and Apple Crepes
Ingredients
2 tbsp butter
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium apples, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1 tbsp or more of curry powder (garam masala)
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups cooked chicken (you want this to be pretty tender)
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup milk
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup grated cheese of your choice
Makes about 8 crepes
Directions
Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add onions and apples. Saute until onions are soft and translucent. Add the curry powder, chicken, salt, and the broth and heat until boiling. Whisk the flour and milk together. Pour into the skillet and cook until thickened. Add more curry powder or salt to taste if needed. Strain the sauce into a measuring cup. Fill each crepe with a large spoonful of the chicken, apples, and onions. Fold or roll the crepes as desired. Place in a greased 9 X 13 pan. Pour sauce over the top and sprinkle with cheese. I used quesadilla cheese, but I think cheddar would be good, too. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
You will have crepe batter left over, which can be refrigerated for future use, but I go ahead and make the crepes. Reheated in the crepe pan and filled with melted cheese, they make the most awesome quesadillas. I made one with Havarti cheese that was to die for.
Enjoy!
Since then, I've used it for practically everything except for making crepes. It heats very quickly, works great on my flat-top stove, and makes truly awesome grilled cheese and omelets. But it makes another awesome thing.
Crepes.
I have one of those electric, supposedly non-stick dip and cook crepe makers, but this pan... Well, let's just say the French have this crepe-making thing down pat.
I whipped up my favorite crepe batter recipe from a cookbook I've had forever, Crepe Cookery by Mable Hoffman, but modified it slightly by using half ultragrain flour and half white flour.
Crepe Batter
In a blender, combine thoroughly:
3 eggs
1 cup white flour
1 cup ultragrain flour
2 cups milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 tsp salt
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, (I just stick the blender jar in the fridge) then spray the crepe pan with non-stick cooking oil. Heat on medium to medium high heat, pour a bit of the batter in the center of the pan, making a puddle about 2-3 inches in diameter. Tilt the pan to coat the bottom and cook until the edges start to brown and the top is mostly cooked. Flip it over and brown the other side. Let the pan cool a little between crepes so they don't burn. I also sprayed the pan with cooking oil between each crepe, but I'm not sure I needed to.
The crepes can be filled immediately or stacked up between sheets of waxed paper or parchment paper. Parchment paper might be better because the crepes tend to melt the wax. Just sayin'...
But what to put inside them?
Since I've been experimenting with Indian-style cooking recently and my trusty Golden Delicious apple tree has been astonishingly fruitful,
Curry Chicken and Apple Crepes
Ingredients
2 tbsp butter
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium apples, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1 tbsp or more of curry powder (garam masala)
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups cooked chicken (you want this to be pretty tender)
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup milk
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup grated cheese of your choice
Makes about 8 crepes
Directions
Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add onions and apples. Saute until onions are soft and translucent. Add the curry powder, chicken, salt, and the broth and heat until boiling. Whisk the flour and milk together. Pour into the skillet and cook until thickened. Add more curry powder or salt to taste if needed. Strain the sauce into a measuring cup. Fill each crepe with a large spoonful of the chicken, apples, and onions. Fold or roll the crepes as desired. Place in a greased 9 X 13 pan. Pour sauce over the top and sprinkle with cheese. I used quesadilla cheese, but I think cheddar would be good, too. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
You will have crepe batter left over, which can be refrigerated for future use, but I go ahead and make the crepes. Reheated in the crepe pan and filled with melted cheese, they make the most awesome quesadillas. I made one with Havarti cheese that was to die for.
Enjoy!
Monday, September 2, 2013
And the winner is...
Diva Donna! You've won the final goodie bag! Congratulations!!!!
Happy Labor Day!!!!
The voting is still open for LASR's Book of the Month. A vote for Wildcat would be greatly appreciated! http://www.longandshortreviews.com/uncategorized/august-book-of-the-month-poll/
The voting is still open for LASR's Book of the Month. A vote for Wildcat would be greatly appreciated! http://www.longandshortreviews.com/uncategorized/august-book-of-the-month-poll/
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Whoo Hoo!!!!
GREAT NEWS!!!
Wildcat is up for Book of the Month on Long and Short Reviews! Voting runs from Sunday, September 1st through Monday,
September 2nd. Click here to vote! http://wp.me/p2ZcT9-5yC
Jerden and Sara would greatly appreciate your vote!
Also, Unbridled has now been unpublished everywhere except Amazon, where it will be enrolled in the Kindle Select Program for the next 90 days! If you're looking for it somewhere else, I'm sorry! I promise, as soon as those 90 days are up, I'll be republishing it to the other formats. At some point, it will be free on Amazon for 5 days. Will keep you posted as to when that will be.
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