A Little Help Please

Posted on December 1, 2017 by Linda Andrews

I am in the prepping stages of a dystopian series I plan to start in March and would like some input (let’s call it online brainstorming).

What is the one thing you don’t believe people should make money off and why?

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A Tale of Two Cheesecakes

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Linda Andrews

As I’m sure many of you can tell from my last few blogs, I love to cook, especially during the holidays.

One of the things I’ve been asked to bring to the Thanksgiving table over the years is cheesecake. I used to make a large cheesecake, but let’s face it. After all the fixings, there isn’t much room for dessert, and frankly I was a little tired of throwing half a cheesecake away.

This year, I decided to try mini-cheesecakes with the added bonus of being able to freeze the leftovers and eat them later.

Since lemon is delicious, I focused on a lemon cheesecake recipe and to my delight I found two. So, yes, I made them both.

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With the traditional graham cracker crust and some helpful tips from the recipe. This one turned out lighter and fluffier. For the recipe: https://www.livewellbakeoften.com/mini-lemon-cheesecakes/

But, it lacked more of a lemon flavor that I wanted and as a result would probably top it off with lemon curd then whipped cream.

The second:

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This one was a little too brown for my two of my tasters (although not my family members). I preferred the vanilla wafer crust and the delightful lemon kick. Alas it sunk in the middle, so I would fill it in with whipped cream to hide the imperfections.

The recipe: http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/mini-lemon-cheesecakes-53712.aspx

And wouldn’t you know it. By the time my tasters finished, there were no more cheesecakes to freeze.

Until next time!

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When Two Become One

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Linda Andrews

I’m talking about cinnamon rolls that is. You see, I don’t want to wait hours to make them properly and those canned rolls don’t hit the spot. So, I’ve taken two recipes from my Kitchenaid mixer to make them in 60 minutes.

First, I start with the dough.  Yes, I use the 60 minute roll recipe and because it has sugar in it already, the dough is sweet. I following the rising and baking times to keep things simple.

http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/kitchenaid-sixty-minute-rolls-186146

I then combine the sugar mixture from the sweet roll recipe.

http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/cinnamon-swirl-rounds-kitchenaid-cookbook-399059

After dividing the dough into 2 batches I roll it out until it is 10 x 12 inches and add half the sugar mixture on, roll-up, then cut into one inch rounds.

I add them to cupcake pans to help them rise and to cook them faster.

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Once they have risen for the 15 minutes, I bake them according to the 60 minute roll recipe.

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The icing I use is standard vanilla, milk, and powdered sugar.

Then they are eaten by the hungry hordes who have been waiting.

Until next time.

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Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on November 23, 2017 by Linda Andrews

It’s that time of year in the US when most of us put ourselves in a food coma while spending time with family and friends.

So to everyone in the US, Happy Thanksgiving.

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Creative Commons Zero (CC0)

And to everyone else, enjoy your weekend when it gets here.

Until Monday.

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I Think I Missed the Memo

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Linda Andrews

I love to cook. The first thing I do when I purchase a new cookbook is to go through the recipes and, using scraps of paper, bookmark the first ones I want to try. Sure, the cookbooks look a bit like a porcupine but the system worked.

At first.

But over time, my collection of books has grown to 2 double-stacked shelves of books. And the recipes are a little harder to find. I usually remember the author/collection. Sadly, this isn’t as helpful when you collect the collection over a series of 4-8 books.

To make matters worse, my daughter would like those recipes now that she’s in her own house.  Um, yeah, sure. I’m like most cooks who kinda adapts recipes to suit my own tastes. Sometimes I make notes in the margins of the cook books, other times, I just wing it. Not exactly what my daughter wants.

Add in all those lovely recipes available online and there’s now printed recipes collecting in my kitchen cabinet.

All of which need to be sorted through to find those Christmas cookie recipes I talked about on Monday.

So this holiday season, I’m going to give myself the gift of typing the recipes on the computer and printing them out for collection in the 3 empty cookbooks I have for just that purpose.

Oh, and I’ll make a copy for my children as they move out:D

Until next time!

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Cookie Time

Posted on November 20, 2017 by Linda Andrews

As I am slowly putting away my Halloween decorations, I am stocking up on essentials for the next season. Cookie Season!

My oldest daughter is coming over on Friday and together we will get a jump on the cookie baking. The only thing is to decide: what goes on the list?

The hubbinator’s favorite of chocolate chocolate chip is a must.

I have a love of almond cookies.

My son and I fight for the sugar cookies (of course, there are multiple kinds made from Amish sugar cookies, Grandma’s sugar cookies, and roll out sugar cookies). Don’t judge, all will be made. Some will be frozen. And usually by the time I remember the frozen one my son has left me crumbs in a bag. Which I eat, because they’re sugar cookies.

I will also be making my favorite gingersnaps. Oddly enough, it is always a hunt in the grocery stores for the molasses. Which I’ve learned is now with the pancake syrups and when I selected the brand of choice, another shopper oohed and ahhed because molasses goes in gingersnaps, gingerbread, and pumpernickel bread.

We will also be making peanut butter blossoms, this time with Hersey’s kisses with almonds.

So what kind of cookie says Christmas to you?

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She’s making a list

Posted on November 17, 2017 by Linda Andrews

Tree With ornamentsWhen I was young, the arrival of the Christmas catalogs were a magical time. I remember spending hours pouring over the pages, circling the items I wanted.

For my children, they enjoyed the Christmas ads. I’d pick up the circulars and find pages of circles and tears from the pen tips.

And have no idea which of my three kids wanted what.

So, like all good moms and dads, I asked for lists of things they wanted. Of course, this had the evil benefit of having them write words (and, yes, spelling mattered because some of those things were…what is that?).

Soon I was receiving lists with links to where the items could be bought. This included things shipped directly from China, making the Thanksgiving deadline imperative.

And, because I am truly evil, when my kids were old enough, they were told how much money would be spent on them and either they prioritized their lists or they didn’t go over their limit. (Yes, budgeting and prioritizing were Christmas gifts I gave my children:D).

And so it is the time of lists and links. It makes shopping and life easier, and for that I am thankful.

Until next time.

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Stuff and Nonsense

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Linda Andrews

There is nothing that can invoke greater fear in my heart than the words, we’re moving. Truly, I’m starting to stress about an event that is about 9 years in our future.

Why?

Because of the accumulation of stuff. Lots of stuff. Rooms of stuff.

Kids moved out and stuff moved in kind of stuff.

How did I acquire all this stuff? Part of it is because I’m a packrat. I like to keep the stuff that I bought. Others must be a holdover from a previous life. Oh, look a screw, I can’t throw that away, I might need it some day.

I need to use the stuff that I have and start giving away the stuff that I don’t use. Which sounds a lot easier than it is. Because I might need that stuff one day.

So I plan to start looking at the stuff I’ve accumulated very carefully in the hopes that one day I can put it in the bin to give to charity. I’m sure other people can use my stuff:D.

Then again, I do have nine years.

And books don’t count as stuff. I don’t care what my husband says. Everyone knows a dream home has a library:D

Until next time.

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Circle of Trust

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Linda Andrews

Writers, like all creative people, tend to be a secretive bunch. We don’t always like folks to look at our work while it is in progress, usually because it is ugly and we know it needs some work.

But we are also people who crave understanding by those close to us, and so we choose who we will talk to about our projects. Many times it is trusted individuals we like to bounce ideas off of or brainstorm with.

Yesterday, my parents were visiting and I explained my brilliant story idea that I was tackling for NaNoWriMo. It is a bit of a departure from my usual lines but it feeds the darkness inside me while I’m also writing a Rom-Com.

As I got farther and farther along, my mother started making comments about how grisly the story sounded. My dad was more intrigued by the mystery part. As I told the end, my mother said it sounded too gory and that maybe she didn’t want to read it.

I was a bit disappointed, as my mother reads all my books before they’re published to see if I’ve dropped a plot point I hadn’t intended.

My dad said he thought the ending would satisfy the justice we all crave.

Without missing a beat, my mom said, yeah, but the serial killer has to know and fear what is about to happen to him. She wanted him to suffer for there to be justice.

I just smiled, because really, that’s what I had intended all along:D.

Until next time.

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November 11th

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Linda Andrews

99 years ago.

10 million dead.

On the 11th Day of the 11th Month at the 11th hour, the first World War came to an end. Sadly, the armistice didn’t stop the dying as many of the wounded succumbed in the days, weeks, and months afterwards.

The War to end all wars didn’t end them at all.

Nor did the war shed much light on possibly the most prevailing untreated wound of all—battle fatigue currently known as PTSD.

Tomorrow, as many around the world take time to remember their dead and those of us in the US honor those veterans still alive, take a moment to say thanks and to be thankful.

In the words of Winston Churchill when speaking about another war, “Never was so much owed by so many to so few“.

Until next time.

 

 

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