Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Fairy Tale Fusion - A. F. Stewart, Author



Fairy Tale Biscotti

6 Tbsp unsalted, room temperature butter
¼ cup sugar
1 tsp honey
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. grated lemon rind
2 ¼ cups flour
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup finely chopped nuts or dried fruit, or a fruit/nut mixture

Notes:
You can use salted butter instead of unsalted, but this makes the recipe’s saltiness hard to control. If you do use salted butter, you may wish to reduce the amount of additional salt slightly.
As the nut/fruit additive, I like to use either almonds, macadamia nuts, or dried cranberries. Chop the nuts very fine; it helps with the final cookie.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In large bowl, beat butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until pale and creamy.
Beat in eggs, honey, vanilla and lemon rind.
Add flour, baking powder and salt (best sifted together first). Blend to combine and stir in nuts/fruit.  Halve dough, and with slightly oiled hands, roll halves into two logs, roughly 2 inches by 12 inches. Place logs on baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes or until golden.

Remove from oven and place on rack to cool.  When cool, transfer to a cutting board and slice, at a 45 degree angle with a serrated knife, into ¾ inch segments. Use firm strokes to reduce crumbling. Put cookie slices back in oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees, turning once. Cool and store in an airtight container.



Fairy Tale Fusion - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

Have you ever wondered about what happened to all of our nursery rhyme characters?  All of the stories ended with "They lived happily ever after" but is that true.  Well, according to A. F. Stewart and the story land reporters, along with the story land police, that wasn't really the case.

Do you remember Alice who went to Wonderland?  Well, there was a grand wedding of the Mad Hatter and Alice last Sunday.  It was a stunning affair, utilizing a red and white wedding theme with a playing card motif.  The bride looked dazzling in a crystal encrusted white dress with cap sleeves, offset with a red embroidered sash.  Bridesmaids included the bride's sister, the Duchess, and the Cheshire Cat.  The best man was the White Rabbit.

Have you ever wondered what ever happened to The Three Little Pigs?  Well, according to reporters Spider Bramble and Aurora Gossamer with the Fairyland news, there appears to be a manhunt for the First Little Pig, in connection with a tragic domestic incident that left the other two Pig brothers butchered.  A late night dispute, over what seemed to have been long simmering family grievances, went terribly wrong, resulting in the stabbing death of two of the brother Pig.

And what ever happened to the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe?  She went missing fourteen days ago, after apparently suffering a nervous breakdown.  This is the latest in a string of mishaps, including her arrest on drug charges and the removal of her children into foster care by Child Services.  The Fairyland Police tracked her down and evidently found her trying to make a size 12 Oxford loafer her new home.  She is now undergoing psychiatric observation and rehab.

To my surprise, and I'm sure yours too, there apparently wasn't a Happily Ever After for these beloved childhood characters.  Fairy Tale Fusion will take you back in memories as you find out what really happened to Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, Tom Piper, Sleeping Beauty  and even Beauty and the Beast. 

I've read other books written by A. F. Stewart and enjoyed them and this book was just as enjoyable.  Her version of these bedtime stories are not exactly great for children but they sure did give me a chuckle and I think it will you too.



Friday, April 13, 2012

The Ocean and the Hourglass - Dan O'Brien, Author

Traditional Beef Stew
(An O'Brien favorite)
3 lbs boneless chuck roast, cut into 2-inch pieces
3 tbsp vegetable oil 
2 tsp salt
1 tbsp freshly ground pepper
2 yellow onions, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/4 cup flour
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup red wine
3 cups beef broth
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp dried thyme
4 carrots, peeled, cut into 1-inch slices
2 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch slices
3 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut in eighths
fresh parsley to garnish (optional)

On medium-high heat, add the vegetable oil to a large heavy pot (one that has a tight fitting lid).
When it begins to smoke slightly, add the beef and brown very well. Do in batches if necessary. Add the salt and pepper as the beef browns. Once browned, remove the beef with a slotted spoon set aside. Add the onions and sauté for about 5 minutes, until softened. Reduce heat to medium-low, and add the flour and cook for 2 minutes stirring often. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add wine and deglaze the pan, scraping any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. The flour will start to thicken the wine as it comes to a simmer. Simmer wine for 5 minutes, and then add the broth, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, and the beef. Bring back to a gentle simmer, cover and cook on very low for about 1 hour. Add potatoes, carrots, and celery, and simmer covered for another 30 minutes or until the meat and vegetables are tender. Taste and adjust seasoning. Turn off heat and let sit for 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with the fresh parsley if desired.


The Ocean and the Hourglass – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

“What kind of book is this, Mr. Thompson?” his voice cracking as he asked. “Open the cover, Nicholas.” Nicholas met the librarian’s gaze and the old man’s trustful not restored his confidence. Opening the cover, the thick black hand cover gave way to cream-colored sheets that did not smell of musk or salt. They were blank. “The book is empty?” Nicholas was now thoroughly confused. The librarian, however, seemed utterly amused by the situation. “That is why there are rules, Nicholas. The book alone cannot work without the hourglass. And of course, it will not function with the imagination of one as special as you are.” “I don’t understand.” “Let me explain,” offered Mr. Thompson as he rose from his chair. Clasping his hands behind his back, he resembled a lecturer preparing to give a speech. “There are five rules to using the Book. They must be followed as I lay them down…
“The first rule is that you must always read the book alone. Never tell anyone that you have the book nor let anyone read it.”
“The second rule is that you must always read the book with the hourglass. Never are you to activate one without the other. Disaster lies in that course.”
“The third rule is that when reading the book you must never lose track of either item. If you were to be reading and the hourglass was lost, then you too would be lost. Keep both together.”
“The fourth rule is to always read the book as you wish it to be read. Never lose hope in the story, for you will be lost if you do.”
“The fifth and final rule is as important as the others, even more so if you believe as you should. You must never stop believing in heroes, Nicholas. You must believe with all your heart that good will prevail, that heroes will triumph no matter the odds.”

Nicholas Miles was from what has become such a common state of being for so many young boys and girls. He is being raised by a single mother who works hard but enjoys the bottle a bit more than she should. He has also become the punching bag for the bullies within his school. One morning, after his usual confrontation with these boys, Nicholas just couldn’t bring himself to go inside the school. This time the boys had torn his favorite comic book in half tossing it on the wet ground. Nicholas’ hero was the Mariner and the destruction of this book was the destruction of his comic book friend. With no money to replace the book, the next best place was the library where he could read until his heart was content as he enveloped himself with those who cared… the heroes of the oceans of a world far, far away. What he never dreamed of was Mr. Thompson introducing him to the very old, very special book and the hourglass which he had stored deep within the library waiting for that special person to come along. This book allowed Nicholas to write his own story and live it as it happened. Only he could create the beginning and the end and only he could decide the effect his decisions would have upon everyone involved in his story.
 
 
The Ocean and the Hourglass is one of the deepest books I’ve ever read. It awakens the reader to right and wrong in says that I personally have never give thought to. You may ask the question “what is right and what is wrong?” Easy answer? Maybe but “who interprets what is right and wrong?” We all know the 10 commandments, which are cut and dry in definition – aren’t they? What about the gray areas? Can we tell black lies, white lies and gray lies? Or are they all lies? Can we kill people to benefit the masses and it be ok? Are there black killings, white killings and gray killings or again are they just all killings? Are the killing wrong if they will save more then they kill? Are we in our current position by choice or by events and chance? Do events really play a role in the choices we make? As I said, The Ocean and the Hourglass is a deep book of thought. It started out as what I expected to be a children’s book but boy was I wrong as I got deeper and deeper into the thoughts it evoked within me.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Cold Hearted Son of a Witch - The Dragoneers Saga II - M. R. Mathias, Author


Nacho Pie
A M. R. Mathias Special
1 pound ground beef 
1/2 cup chopped onion 
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce 
2 tablespoons taco seasoning 
1 tube (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent rolls 
1-1/2 cups crushed nacho tortilla chips, divided 
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream 
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Mexican cheese blend
 
  • In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in tomato sauce and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, separate crescent dough into eight triangles; place in a greased 9-in. pie plate with points toward the center. Press onto the bottom and up the sides to form a crust; seal perforations.
  • Sprinkle 1 cup chips over crust. Top with meat mixture. Carefully spread sour cream over meat mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and remaining chips. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Cold Hearted Son of a Witch – Dragoneers Saga Book II – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds – Desserts


‘The Crown Prince lay peacefully, as if asleep, inside the currently green-colored magical field.  He was afflicted with the Goblin King’s poison, a terrible stuff that had maddened and then slowly corroded from the inside out anyone who’d breathed it.  If the stasis failed before an antidote was concocted, he would surely die.  Jenka knew Herald was right about what had to be done, but that didn’t relieve the urge Jenka was feeling to just ignore common sense and keep his word by saving his fellow Dragoneer.  


The Dragoneer’s Lair, as the hall was now called, was an intensely morbid place.  Queen Alvazina was often found there arguing with her husband or weeping over her son’s body.  Like Mysterian, she was a witch of the Hazeltine, and she fully understood the magnitude of the situation.  She knew Richard’s life hung in the balance, and that there was no certainty about the antidotal potion Mysterian hoped to brew.  Her sorrow seemed to sap the hope out of some of the others, thus the hall was sometimes the quietest place in Mainsted.’


In his first book, Mathias introduced us to Jenka De Swasso, Rikky Camille and Zahrellion, along with their dragons Jade, Silva and Crystal.  He took us through the battle with the Gravelbone and the poison that put Prince Richard into his state of suspended animation.  We saw King Blanchard and Linux change places for the benefit of the war.  We also learned the prophecy of what is called the “Confliction” that will be fought by 10 – 5 Dragoneers and 5 dragons.  But what is the “confliction” and who are the other 2 Dragoneers?  Where will they come from?  Where will the battle take place?  Will the antidote, once brewed and administered to Prince Richard, counteract the poison and bring him back to help fight in the confliction?  And will Linux and the King finally make the switch back into their own bodies?

It didn’t take me long to read M. R. Mathias’ first book.  It was packed with action, excitement, suspense and a little humor now and then, making it a fast enjoyable read.  When I read his second book in this series Cold Hearted Son of a Witch, I expected more of the same.  Well, he didn’t disappoint me.  It has everything that the 1st book had and more.

I’ve never been a big fan of fantasy books but this author is changing that.  He could carry this book into a series of 10 and I’ll read, and am sure, enjoy every one.  I love reading this series.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Travelers - M. T. Bargeman, Author

Ointment for Skin Irritations- Bugbite
(A very special recipe from M. T. Bargeman)
¼ cup Crisco
2T.Salt
1T. Cloves, ground
1T. Peppermint leaves
1T ginger
1T Turmeric
1T. Rosemary leaves
1T. Oregano Leaves
Let the Crisco set out until it is room temperature. In a mortar and pestle, combine slat and herbs, and grind them to as fine a powder as possible. Mix this with the Crisco, then with a spoon, place in tins. I use old candy tins like the ones Altoids come in. Once the mixture has been placed in the tins, and is level, and the excess has been wiped off the tin with a clean dry rag, close them up and set them in the sun for two hours. Use liberally for bug bites, especially chiggers, cuts and scrapes. This will stop pain and itch and keep the cut or scrape clean. To bandage or not will depend on the depth of the cut. For extra relief, keep it in the fridge.

The Travelers - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds - Desserts
“The dragon is part of the reason you’re here now.  It has been a growing problem for some time now.” 


“Then why doesn’t somebody kill it?” she said, as if she wondered why this was a novel concept for him.

“It can’t be killed.  That’s the problem.  Only the Phoenix can kill the Dragon.”

“Well, go get the damned Phoenix, then!”  she half shouted.

“It isn’t that easy.  The Phoenix can only be spoken to by certain people.  It will ignore all others.  We need you to find the Phoenix.”


“Hold the phone!  I don’t do quests.  I get paid to find people, check out cheating spouses, find long lost friends and family.  I also find missing people.  That’s it.  No quests, no Yellow Brick Road.  Hell, I’ve never even been to Kansas, and I hate little dogs.  No.  Take me home.” she said.

Lord Sir Eugene of Nodde was on his own quest which was to find the Green Witch who was strong enough to wake the Phoenix.  And that witch turned out to be Twila. Sole owner of her own detective agency which specializes in the search and rescue of missing people, mainly children.  So, after taking a job that would take her away from her own son for a few weeks, Twila goes in search for a missing boy.  But, to her surprise, she herself is kidnapped by none other than Eugene of Nodde and taken to the ‘Other Place.’

Cynthia, who is the apprentice of Lady Robin, both of the ‘Other Place,’ has been sent back to the world in search of Robin’s brother, Joseph.  Joseph is the only one that can lead the army that will  work with the Phoenix to destroy the Red Dragon and save not only ‘Other Place’ but also ‘World.’  Cynthia’s quest will also include rescuing Joseph from an institution where he was committed by his mentor from the FBI.  Joseph was on the search with Twila when she was abducted by Eugene.  Using the connections of his agency with the Red Dragon, Stuart Barnes had Joseph hospitalized to keep him from helping with the quest to destroy the dragon.  

Author M. T. Bargeman takes us on a trip between two worlds – ‘World’ which is earth and ‘Other Place’ which is its counterpart.  In ‘Other Place’ magic can be performed only by the women, which gives Lady Robin, Cynthia and Twila an advantage as they combine their strengths to perform what must be done to save both worlds.  The Travelers is a book of mystery, suspense and love.  I’ve enjoyed this book and am anxious to read the next chapter that will take the Travelers into their war with the Red Dragon.

 
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