09 Dec 2012
by melaniem
in Book Reviews, Books, Contemporary fiction, eBooks, Fantasy, Favorite Recipes, M/M Fiction, Recipes
Tags: Amelia C. Gormley, Amy Lane, Andrew, Bailey Bradford, Breathless Press, Cassandra Gold, Charlie Cochet, Dreamspinner Advent 2012 Stories "Evergreen", Isle of Pine winter cocktail recipe, Lee Brazil, Love Land Books, R J Scott, S.A. Garcia, Sarah Black, Total E Bound Press, winter cocktails
I am definitely in the mood for the holidays this year. I am singing carols under my breath, holiday songs are playing on the radio, the tree is getting decorated, and the aroma of Frasier firs and cinnamon waft through the house. Of course the last bit is because our tree is a Frasier and cinnamon Glade was used liberally in every room Kirby ran into after rolling around in some dead guts he found in the backyard. In all my 25 plus years as a naturalist, I have smelled some rotten things but nothing prepared me for Kirby as he ran past me back into the house.
You know they talk about a delayed sense? That was the horrendous smell that kicked in once Kirby was well past me and up the stairs into the living room. And then the smell hit and nausea followed. And there is no way to chase a dog when you have a cane and no breath, so he romped his merry way through the house spreading foul odors and gunk as he went. Yeah not a pleasant afternoon, following him with bleach and towels. And then he had to be sheared to get rid of the smell that not even tomato juice helped with. But not even that deterred me from my Christmas cheer! I am a most determined elf!
So I decided to pile on the pressure and have two reviews a day this week. One a Holiday story and one regular book. The end of the week will find me making the first Winter Cocktail recipe that can be found at the bottom of the page. Let’s try it out together, shall we?
Monday: New York Christmas by RJ Scott
Acceleration by Amelia C. Gormley
Tuesday: Turkey in the Snow by Amy Lane
Esau (Leopards Spots 6) by Bailey Bradford
Wednesday: Snowbound in Nowhere by Andrew Grey
Cupid Knows Best by S.A. Garcia
Thursday: Lessons Learned, Wishes Earned by Cassandra Gold
Gregori’s Ghost by Sarah Black
Friday: The Christmas Throwaway by RJ Scott
Willow by Lee Brazil
Saturday: Mending Noel by Charlie Cochet
Colors of Pastor Saul by S.A.Garcia
Winter Cocktail: The Isle of Pines Cocktail:
Ingredients
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup white rum
1/2 cup fresh grapefruit juice
Ice cubes
Preparation
Bring pomegranate juice and sugar to boil in heavy small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Cool syrup.
Pour 2 tablespoons syrup, 1/2 cup rum, and 1/4 cup grapefruit juice into cocktail shaker. Fill with ice; shake vigorously. Strain into 2 Martini glasses. Repeat to make 2 more drinks.
Recipe courtesy of Bon Appetit!
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25 Nov 2012
by melaniem
in Book Reviews, Books, Contemporary fiction, eBooks, Fantasy, Favorite Recipes, Less Than Three Press, Loose id, M/M Fiction, No Boundaries Press, Recipes, Science Fiction, Shifters, Uncategorized
Tags: Amy Lane, Andrew Grey, Gay Holiday Stories, GLBTQ fiction, KC Burn, Left Over Turkey Recipes, m/m contemporary romance, m/m fantasy fiction, m/m fiction, m/m fiction series, m/m science fiction, m/m short Holiday stories, m/m short stories, m/m supernatural fiction, Megan Derr, Taste of Love series, Tere Michaels, Week Ahead in Reviews
Thanksgiving is over, the leftovers have been divvied out to family and friends, and the thought of cooking at the moment leaves me a little numb. On top of everything, I ended up the next day in an emergency care after hours clinic for a fever, sore throat and massive ear aches. So yeah, there’s that too that seems to go with the holidays.
Still the memories of family and good times are warm even if the leftover turkey isn’t and it leaves me plenty of time to read, review and knit a scarf or two as presents for the nieces. The cold weather here in Maryland is bitter, the bird feeders stocked to the brim, and the terriers are snug in their (meaning my) bed. If you need some books to fill your eStockings, here are some I definitely recommend:
Monday 11/26: Mourning Heaven by Amy Lane
Tuesday 11/27: A Slice of Love (Taste of Love #4) by Andrew Grey
Wednesday 1128: Cherish (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #4) by Tere Michaels
Thursday 11/29: Spice ‘n’ Solice by KC Burn
Friday 11/30: Black Magic by Megan Derr
Saturday 12/1 Holiday Stories
Dad’s Leftover Turkey Pot Pie (from allrecipes.com)
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 50 Minutes
Ready In: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
Servings: 12
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups frozen peas and carrots
2 cups frozen green beans
1 cup sliced celery
2/3 cup butter
2/3 cup chopped onion
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
1 1/3 cups milk
4 cups cubed cooked turkey meat – light
and dark meat mixed
4 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. Place the peas and carrots, green beans, and celery into a saucepan; cover with water, bring to a boil, and simmer over medium-low heat until the celery is tender, about 8 minutes. Drain the vegetables in a colander set in the sink, and set aside.
3. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, and cook the onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in 2/3 cup of flour, salt, black pepper, celery seed, onion powder, and Italian seasoning; slowly whisk in the chicken broth and milk until the mixture comes to a simmer and thickens. Remove from heat; stir the cooked vegetables and turkey meat into the filling until well combined.
4. Fit 2 pie crusts into the bottom of 2 9-inch pie dishes. Spoon half the filling into each pie crust, then top each pie with another crust. Pinch and roll the top and bottom crusts together at the edge of each pie to seal, and cut several small slits into the top of the pies with a sharp knife to release steam.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until the crusts are golden brown and the filling is bubbly, 30 to 35 minutes. If the crusts are browning too quickly, cover the pies with aluminum foil after about 15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
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07 Oct 2012
by melaniem
in Book Reviews, Books, Contemporary fiction, eBooks, Fantasy, Favorite Recipes, Less Than Three Press, Loose id, M/M Fiction, Riptide Publishing, samhain press, Science Fiction, Shifters, Supernatural, Uncategorized
Tags: Amy Lane, Animal Magnetism anthology Fallen Sakura, April Moone, By The River, Del Darcy, Fair Catch, GLBTQ fiction, In Excess, Katey Hawthorne, Keeping Promise Rock, m/m romance, m/m short stories, m/m short stories centered around animals, meet cute, Quinn Anderson
It’s Sunday and the weather has turned much cooler, the wind has picked up and the leaves seem to be just flowing off the trees. Yes, fall is here. But all is well, the Nationals are in the playoffs and Teddy has finally won a race. Now some folks think that until the playoffs were over, Teddy should have kept losing so not as to jinx the series. I have to admit I am kind of on their side. Superstition I know but if the Nats lose, you know who everyone will be pointing the finger at. Oh my. So I am looking for a 4 leaf clover and some luck to bind it with. Now where’s that pesky rabbit?
Mother’s birthday is today so I am off to lunch at the farm(bringing it with me actually). So without further ado, next week’s schedule:
Monday Animal Magnetism Anthology
Tuesday: Fallen Sakura by April Moone
Wednesday: Keeping Promise Rock by Amy Lane
Thursday: In Excess by Quinn Anderson
Friday: By The River by Katey Hawthorne
Saturday: Fair Catch by Del Darcy
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09 Sep 2012
by melaniem
in Book Reviews, Books, Contemporary fiction, eBooks, Fantasy, Favorite Recipes, M/M Fiction, Silver Publishing, Uncategorized
Tags: Alone In A Crowd (Cattle Valley Series #27), Anne Tennino, Carol Lynne, Cattle Valley series, Charlie, Dreamspinner Press, Ethan Day, Hypothetically, Katey Hawthorne, Life as a Fairy Thrall, Love, Love in La Terreza, Play It Again, R. Cooper, Total E Bound Publishers, Unconventional at Best anthology
Well, that wasn’t a fun night for anyone around here in Maryland, or even straight up the coast and into NYC. High winds, tornados, hail, and rain, lots and lots of rain. Our neighborhood was without power for about 8 hours, but at least we did not have tornados to deal with, as others in Maryland, Virginia and NYC did. Other than some branches falling, we came out of it rather well. I wish I could say the same for others. Nature is all stirred up and doing something about it. Perhaps we should listen a little harder to what she is trying to tell us. Just a thought. Now on to more pleasant things….
September always seems to me to be the reset month. Summer has ended but Autumn has yet to make it’s appearance. September is the breather between the two. September gives us time to gather our thoughts, to recollect on Summer doings and to think ahead and plan for Fall. For a gardener, it can be such a busy time. Hydrangeas need fertilizing and mulching in, so do the roses, some of which are still blooming. Trees get to be trimmed, old vegetables dug up and composted while still remembering to refill the hummingbird feeders for the last of the migrants on their way south. Some flowers will be left standing, their seed-heads offering food to Goldfinches and the like. The windows will open and Kirby will be the first there to rest his head on the windowsill, contemplating the birds, and squirrels, and the hawks circling in the sky above. The geese honk overhead, hurrying their way to the Marshlands as a few leaves turn yellow and drop. I love this time of year. I have time to smell the last rose, put mums in the planters, and admire the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds skimming through the gardens, visiting the feeders before their long journey ahead. Less humidity means more time spent outside, reading, observing, and enjoying the cooler breezes. I hope you all are doing the same.
Here is the week ahead in Reviews:
Monday: Play It Again, Charlie by R. Cooper
Tuesday: Alone in the Crowd (Cattle Valley #27) by Carol Lynne
Wednesday: Love in La Terreza by Ethan Day
Thursday: Unconventional At Best Anthology
Friday: Love, Hypothetically by Anne Tenino
Saturday: Life As A Fairy Thrall (Fairy Compacts #2) by Katey Hawthorne
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12 Aug 2012
by melaniem
in Book Reviews, Books, Contemporary fiction, eBooks, Fantasy, Favorite Recipes, Historical, M/M Fiction, Riptide Publishing, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Uncategorized
Tags: Abigail Roux, Amelia C. Gormley, Ava March, book reviews for the week, Breathless Press, Carina Press, Cut & Run series, Haven Fellows, Mending the Rift series, series, Smashwords published, Stars & Stripes, Story Orgy Monday authors, summer cocktails, summer Olympics, Synchronous Seductions series, The Michelada cocktail, Valentina Heart, week in review
So many things going on to talk about today. First let’s get right to the Olympics. Closing ceremony is tonight, bringing to an end one of the best Olympics I can remember. I have been glued to the television watching this incredible spectacle unfold from the beginning, from the high drama of the swimming pools and gymnastic mats to the cross country course of the Equestrian events to the river and glistening rowers then to track and field, and all the sports in between. So many athletes, so many stories, so many tears of sorrow to match the tears of joy. How not to feel a part of something bigger, to feel connected to other nations and nationalities when you see people cheering the athletes on regardless of the colors they wear or the countries they represent. Oscar Pistorius? Who wasn’t cheering that man on? Some of my favorites? Katie Ledecky, Misty and Terri, Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis, Michael Phelps, Gabby and the rest of the US gymnastic womens team, Misty Franklin….so, so many.
And what will the closing ceremony look like? Who knows? After the dancing nurses and their twirling hospital beds, massive shrubbery moving, the Tor, and best torch ever, I am waiting in anticipation to be confounded, baffled, and touched beyond measure. I know we will all be watching it together.
I am also going into this week with a working generator (dances for joy) so once more I am able to enjoy the rumble of thunder, the darkening skies, the sound of pounding rain for their beauty and music, secure in the knowledge that a storm no longer equals loss of power, food and appliances! Take that, Pepco. Now only if I could send you the bill.
Finally, Monday brings my review of Stars & Stripes, the latest in the Cut & Run series from Abigail Roux featuring Ty and Zane. So many people were trying to download their pre-ordered copies at midnight on the 11th that they crashed the servers over at Riptide Publishing. Wow. So was the wait worth it? Read my review on Monday. So here is what the week is looking like in books:
Monday: Stars & Stripes (Cut & Run #6) by Abigail Roux
Tuesday: Synchronous Seductions Trilogy by Haven Fellows
Wednesday: Inertia (Impulse #1) by Amelia C. Gormley
Thursday: Brook Street: Thief by Ava March (rescheduled from last week)
Friday: Mending the Rift Series by Valentina Heart
Saturday: Word Play Anthology by the Story Orgy authors
And finally our summer cocktail of the week. The Michelada, perfect for grilled foods and watching Olympic closing ceremonies!
The Michelada
Ingredients:
1/4 teaspoon piquin pepper
1/4 teaspoon salsa picante
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (12-ounce) can Mexican lager, chilled
Garnish: lime wedge
Directions:
In tall beer glass, stir together pepper sauce, salsa, lime juice, salt, and lager. Garnish with lime and serve immediately.
Happy viewing and have a great week!
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05 Aug 2012
by melaniem
in Book Reviews, Books, Contemporary fiction, eBooks, Fantasy, Favorite Recipes, Historical, Less Than Three Press, M/M Fiction, No Boundaries Press, Recipes, Riptide Publishing, samhain press, Science Fiction, Shifters, Silver Publishing, Supernatural, Uncategorized, Vampires
Tags: Ava March, bisexual fiction, Brook Street: Thief, Carina Press, contemporary romance, Georgie Leigh, GLBTQ fiction, Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane, M. A. Church, m/m novels, Mychael Black and Shayne Carmichael, Olympics, Pimm's Cup, Priceless, Serena Yates, short stories, Suicide Point, The Druid Stone, The Florist
It’s August, it’s hot and dry here in Maryland. Normal right? Well, except for the 100 degree days, but the dryness? That’s becoming typical too. We are down about 8 inches here from our normal rainfall, but compared to some of the other states now experiencing record drought conditions, that is nothing. As we hear of farmers and ranchers selling off stock they can’t feed and the Mississippi is down 20 ft in places, along with Lake Michigan recording a water temperature in the 90′s, I think Maryland is getting off easy comparatively speaking. But we will feel it, make no doubt about it. Higher food prices, higher costs in transportation, we are all woven together. A small ripple here becomes a tidal wave there.
So I would like to think that the Olympics in Great Britain are generating tidal waves of good feelings that are crashing upon the shores of many nations. I love watching athletes from all over the world competing and (mostly, what was with those badminton teams?) giving it their best. Did you see that rower from Niger? Never been in a boat, never rowed before, came in dead last and grinned like crazy! And then there is Michael Phelps putting on a show of remarkable physical ability, great team spirit and a happiness that I will remember for some time to come. So many wonderful moments this week from the women competing whether it was gymnastics, swimming, Judo, weightlifting, or women in head scarves running like the wind. I am just glued to my set and don’t see that changing until the very last whistle is blown and the torch goes out. How about you? Are you watching?
So this is what I have been reading in between watching the Olympics:
Monday: The Druid Stone by Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane
Tuesday: When Forever May Not Be Long Enough by Mychael Black and Shayne Carmichael
Wednesday: The Florist by Serena Yates
Thursday: Priceless by M.A. Church
Friday: Suicide Point by Georgie Leigh
Saturday: Brook Street: Thief by Ava March
Now on to this Sunday’s Feature Cocktail. In a nod to the British Olympics, here is the recipe for a Pimm’s Cup. This recipe is for one drink. Make as many as you like!
Pimm’s Cup Ingredients:
About 1 cup ice cubes
1/4 cup (2 ounces) Pimm’s No. 1
6 tablespoons (3 ounces) ginger beer or ginger ale
1 cucumber slice
1 sprig fresh mint (5 to 6 leaves)
Directions:
Fill highball glass with ice. Add Pimm’s, then top with ginger beer, garnish with cucumber slice and mint sprig, and serve.
Now I am off to watch the Olympics and finish Megan Derr’s Poison, the 4th book in the Lost Gods series.
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29 Jul 2012
by melaniem
in Book Reviews, Books, Contemporary fiction, eBooks, Favorite Recipes, M/M Fiction, Recipes, Riptide Publishing, samhain press, Science Fiction, Shifters, Silver Publishing, Supernatural, Uncategorized, Vampires
Tags: Amy Lane, Andrew Grey, Anthologies, Hank Edwards, Jamieson Wolf, Lee Brazil, London Olympic games, Mary Calmes, Milky Way Martini, Opening Night of Olympic Games in London, Shira Anthony, Shira Anthony and Venona Keyes, summer cocktail recipe, summer cocktails, The Week Ahead
So things are happening all around this coming week. I have been glued to the Olympics in London along with millions of others and that opening night still has me thinking. Words like stupendous, mystifying, amusing, and outright flabbergasted swirled in my head as the spectacle unfolded. Loved the symbolism of the Oak Tree on Glastonbury Tor but wondered how many people went “huh”. The Industrial Revolution and the molten river was very cool. And who doesn’t love Kenneth Branagh reading a passage from The Tempest? Hmmm…dancing doctors and nurses, and hospital beds for the NHS? I am told it is a “veddy British” thing and it must be as that and the “creepy” big baby had me stymied! Mr. Bean had me in stitches from first sight right thru his Chariots of Fire run. I will pass over the digital revolution. I loved, loved the songs! Singing my heart out along with them. But was it only me that it seemed as though I was watching people watch a large tv on tv? Don’t know. Maybe it was just getting late at night. Then came that eye opening, yelling for others to come see, smashing tour de force at the end. Wow! From the torch arriving with David Beckham (scream of joy) on a fast moving boat to the young athletes acknowledging and saluting their past, the older Olympians, to the lighting of the Olympic Flame (so incredible). Then it is all topped off by Sir Paul and Hey Jude singalong. Let me just say I was a totally happy camper when the lights finally went off. And how great was Her Majesty and her corgis, even the fat one?
So I am watching the events this week and with the permanent generator being installed, yes a permanent generator, on Monday. ”Take that Pepco! I should send you the bill.” We are assured of a constant stream of power. A great thing really considering the storms that arrive every night, bringing hail, high winds, and torrential rain to some parts of the area, we just never know where it will hit. So happy dance on Monday, might even post of pic! And no problems getting my posts up – knock on wood. So to the tune of the Olympics theme, here’s the lineup this week:
Monday: Reaping Shadows by Jamieson Wolf
Tuesday: The Man Trap by Lee Brazil
Wednesday: The Trust by Shira Anthony and Verona Keyes
Thursday: Three Fates Anthology by Andrew Grey, Mary Calmes and Amy Lane
Friday: A Foreign Range by Andrew Grey
Saturday: Hired Muscle by Hank Edwards
So we are still trying different cocktails to entertain with and break the heat. Today we are going into outer space for The Galaxy also known as The Milky Way:
Ingredients:
* 1 1/2 cups ice cubes
* 1/4 cup cold water
* 2 fluid ounces vanilla-flavored vodka
* 2 fluid ounces white Creme de Cacao
* 2 fluid ounces irish cream liqueur
* 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
How to make it
Chill a martini glass by filling it with 1/2 cup of ice and cold water.
Place 1 cup of ice cubes into a cocktail shaker. Pour the vanilla-flavored vodka, white creme de cacao, and Irish cream liqueur over the ice; cover and shake vigorously. Dump the ice and water from the martini glass and drizzle the inside of the glass with chocolate syrup. Strain the cocktail into the glass to serve.
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15 Jul 2012
by melaniem
in Book Reviews, Books, Contemporary fiction, eBooks, Fantasy, Favorite Recipes, Loose id, M/M Fiction, Recipes, Science Fiction, Shifters, Silver Publishing, Supernatural, Uncategorized, Vampires
Tags: alternative worlds, Amy Lane, Bellingham Mysteries, Book covers, charlie cochrane, Dreamspinner Press, fantasy, Less Than Three Press, London Burdon designs, m/m series, Mary Calmes, Megan Derr, Nicole Kimberling, series, series book covers, summer cocktail recipe, summer cocktails, The French 75 cocktail, The Warder Series
This week is series week here at Scattered Thoughts… and Joyfully Jay. JJ and hubby were hurrying off to Scotland to celebrate their 40th birthdays (yep, won’t see that one again) and 15 years of marriage (not this one either) and wanted to know if Sammy and I had anything we wanted to write about. Well, little love pandas, I have been reading some outstanding series and loving on the fact that my journey with each cast of characters would not be stopped short at one book! And as my mind wandered over the various landscapes and emotional terrains of those series, a little LED light went off in my head, I waved my hand and piped up “Series! I want to write about how I love series!” Sammy and JJ both had favorites series too, everyone got excited and so the idea of series week was born.
So what an exciting week ahead here in Maryland to offset the return of 100 degree temperatures and humidity that would not be out of place in the Congo! I will be talking about why I love a series, I am listing my favorite series and favorite series covers. I thought about listing my all time worst series but hey we are not about negativity here, at least this week. There are author spotlights and our first ever book giveaway! Nicole Kimberling will be giving away a copy of Primal Red, the first in the Bellingham Mysteries series being reviewed this week! So watch out for her Author Spotlight and the series review. Make a comment and I will choose a winner by the end of the week!
So here it is, my sweet baboos, the schedule for Series Week!:
Monday: Series I Am Excited About (And Still Reading)
Tuesday: Favorite Series and Series Book Covers
Wednesday: Series Spotlight: The Warder Series by Mary Calmes
Thursday: Author Spotlight: Nicole Kimberling
Friday: Series Spotlight: The Bellingham Mysteries Series by Nicole Kimberling
Saturday: Why A Series Makes My Heart Sing!
Also stop by Joyfully Jay this week. Check out the authors and series reviewed there. She is having book giveaways from Ava March and Katey Hawthorne! Woohoo. Love both of those authors and their books so you can’t go wrong.
Here is another great summer cocktail recipe in our battle against the summer heat and doldrums:
The French 75:
Ingredients:
1 lemon
3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) gin
1 1/2 tablespoons (3/4 ounce) fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) simple syrup
1 cup ice cubes
1/4 cup (2 ounces) dry sparkling wine, such as brut Champagne, chilled
Preparation:
Using zester or paring knife, slice peel from lemon in long, thin spiral. Reserve lemon for another use and set peel aside.
In cocktail shaker, combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Add ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into chilled Champagne flute and top with sparkling wine.
Curl lemon peel around finger to create twist at least 6 inches long. Garnish drink with twist and serve immediately.
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08 Jul 2012
by melaniem
in Book Reviews, Books, Contemporary fiction, eBooks, Fantasy, Favorite Recipes, Less Than Three Press, M/M Fiction, Recipes, Science Fiction, Shifters, Silver Publishing, Supernatural, Uncategorized, Vampires
Tags: Author Spotlight, Caitlin Ricci, Catalina Margarita, Dance with the Devil series, Maryland Extreme Heat, Megan Derr, Nicole Kimberling, Pepco, Sue Brown, Torquere Press, Torquere short stories
It’s Sunday in Maryland and we are in the 12th day of our heat wave and power losses! Yesterday we hit 105 degrees F and today is not supposed to be much better. There are still plenty of folks around the area without power as the limbs from last Friday’s storm continue to fall onto power lines, including some that just went back up. We are anticipating more storms as the cold front from the north is slowly coming our way and we know from experience (and science class) that a collision between a cold front and a hot as hell front brings a humongous amount of 
meteorological explosions.
Yesterday I found out that the storm cost us our relatively new dishwasher (burned out) to go along with the air conditioning circuit board and a heck of a lot of groceries that had to be thrown out. When I called the appliance store to see if there was any reset button etc that I could try, I got the “yeah, lady, I have been fielding calls from hundreds of people just like you all day”. Am I supposed to take comfort in the fact that everyone lost their appliances along with us? Perhaps so. There are thousands of us facing the same problems.
It is also our unfortunate lot to have Pepco has our energy supplier. They rank last in the ENTIRE NATION in service and reliability. Not surprisingly they rank first in profits as their bill came yesterday right on time, along with their expectation that we pay right on time. But they are not held to the same accountability. People just coming into the area say they have never experienced the power outages that are a regular occurrence here. And Pepco just asked for a rate 
raise too! Talk about cojones! But I think this time they will be met with more fines instead of raises. Peoples ire is up. We are fed up, the politicians are fed up! Maybe something will finally be done about them. I can always hope. In the meantime, the Moderate State is hanging up its nameplate and looking for a new moniker! Any ideas?
So yeah, heat. So hot in fact that I haven’t felt like cooking. It’s too hot even to stand at the grill. So we are making drinks, baby! Look for a drink recipe after the week ahead.
I am continuing to review two more books in the Dancing With The Devil series by Megan Derr. Just a outstanding series by a great writer and a wonderful lead into the week of July 16th which will be concentrating on book series all week. I think you will love it. So this is how this week will play out if the power stays on:
Monday: Midnight (DWTD #3) by Megan Derr
Tuesday: Ruffskin (DWTD #4) by Megan Derr
Wednesday: Almost Paradise by Caitlin Ricci
Thursday: Torquere Short Stories
Friday: Stolen Dreams by Sue Brown
Saturday: Author Spotlight: Nicole Kimberling
For your summer drinking pleasure, a Catalina Margarita!
1 1/2 oz tequila
1 oz peach schnapps
1 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
4 oz sweet and sour mix
Directions
Shake with cracked ice and strain into chilled cocktail or margarita glass.
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17 Jun 2012
by melaniem
in Uncategorized, M/M Fiction, Books, eBooks, Book Reviews, Silver Publishing, Favorite Recipes, Science Fiction, Contemporary fiction, Supernatural, Shifters, Less Than Three Press, No Boundaries Press
Tags: A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder, Emerald Fire, Ethan Day, Lost Gods series, Megan Derr, MLR Press, Second Time Lucky, Stone Rose, Tarragon Chicken, TC Blue, Torquere Press
Happy Father’s Day all. It’s a beautiful day here in Maryland, and all is well. Except for third best dog, Kirby. Kirby is our Soft Coated Wheaton and a rescue. A total joy and all around dim bulb who we love dearly. But he is like a small boy, boundless energy and everything goes into his mouth, regardless of what it is. So he got into something a couple of days ago and has a upset stomach for his efforts. This is a typical day with Kirby. It starts either inside or outside.
Kirby comes up to me and sits, wagging his tail, waiting for me to notice him. (uh, right big dog with a Wilfred Brimley face at my elbow)
Me: Kirby, whatcha doing?
Kirby: Grins and shows me mouth full of crap (5 socks, robe, pillow case, 3 stuffed toys, who knows)
Me: Oh, Kirby. (sigh). OK, let me have it.
Kirby: Runs to top of hill, staircase, sits and grins with mouth full of crap.
Me: Kirby, get your butt down here.
Kirby: Grins, wags tail.
Me: Kirbyyyyyyyyyyy! Get up, goes to top of hill or staircase, at which point Kirby runs past me to stand at the bottom.
Kirby: Sits and grins with mouth full of crap.
Repeat sequence until I finally empty his mouth. Which he promptly fills up again. And when his mouth is empty, he is talking up a storm. He wants me to know that kids are on their bikes in front of the house, the UPS man has just driven down the street, you name it. He is the house’s Town Cryer. Siamese cats have nothing on him. I wish I could do an audio recording of Kirby. I would post it here, trust me you would be amazed.
So while I have a few moments this morning before we start our ritual, here is our review schedule for next week:
Monday: Concord Grape: Unexpected by TC Blue
Tuesday: Stone Rose (Lost Gods #3) by Megan Derr
Wednesday: Smooth Like Latte by Rawiya
Thursday: Second Time Lucky by Ethan Day
Friday: Emerald Fire by A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder
Saturday: Reviewers Surprise
After all that great reading, you will need some sustenance. I just made this for the first time and it was wonderful. I used chicken thighs which I lightly seasoned and put into a 420 oven for 15 mins. Then I crisped the skin in the pan and put the chicken pieces aside. Then start the recipe from there. You will love it. Pair it with the dry white wine you cooked with and a lovely light salad and you have a great summer meal. Enjoy!
Tarragon Chicken
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 chicken (about 3 pounds, cut into 8 pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup chicken stock
3/4 cup dry white wine
1 shallot, minced
1 cup creme fraiche
1/2 cup chopped fresh tarragon
Lemon juice
Directions:
Melt the butter with the oil in a large skillet over quite high heat. Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and fry in batches until well browned, about 5 minutes per side. Put all the chicken back in the pan, add the chicken stock and reduce the heat to medium. Cover and cook until tender, about 30 minutes.
Remove the chicken to a plate and keep warm. Reduce any leftover juices until sticky. Add the wine and the shallots and reduce to a thickish sauce, about 5 minutes. Add the creme fraiche and half the tarragon. Boil down again to sauce consistency, 3 to 5 minutes.
Season the sauce with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Put back the chicken pieces, turning to coat, then transfer to a platter. Pour the sauce over, scatter over the remaining tarragon and serve.
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melaniem
