30 Day Book Meme - Day Five

Day 05 - A book that makes you happy

This one did not come to me right away.  There are lots of feel good books that I walked away with feeling happy... but which book makes me happy.  So I looked at it a different way.  Which book was around when I WAS happy... the one the came to mind first is Putting Food By by Janet Greene, Ruth Hertzberg & Beatrice Vaughan.  My copy is the fourth edition.  I grew up canning food with my family and have rediscovered the practice in the last few years.  It's incredibly hard work but not much makes me happier than to see my shelves and shelves of organic, local harvest stored to feed my family all year round.  There is nothing like opening a jar of summer sunshine in the grey of February.  


The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Four

Day 04 - Favorite book of favorite series

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling - I loved the Triwizard Tournament and all the new characters and challenging puzzles that came with it.  


The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

How-to: Chicken Stock

I NEVER buy stock from the store. It's so easy to make at home. It is also a great way to really stretch your food dollar since you make stock from food you'd otherwise throw away. It does take a little work one day every few months and it takes a good bit of freezer space, both for storing the bones and veggie scraps and for storing the finished product. If you don't have an extra freezer, you can still make stock, you'll just want to do it more often.

Save every chicken bone, turkey bone, onion peel, carrot scraping, etc. in your freezer. I reuse ziptop gallon bags and keep one in my small freezer to dump all the scraps into. Once it's full, I have a special spot in my big freezer where all these get stored until stock making time. You can get started with just one bag full of scraps.

Making stock

Throw your bones & veggie scraps into a pot. I have a large stock pot and will make 3 gallons at a time. Aim for the scraps to fill the pot to the top.  Even if you can't get the lid on right away, it'll thaw and cook down quickly enough to get the lid on. If you're feeling adventurous, add some fresh or dried herbs. I don't usually add many herbs because I want to keep it pretty neutral so I can dress it up for different meal purposes. Some salt is also a nice addition though it can be added as you use the stock later. Chicken stock especially needs SOME salt to have any flavor.

Add water to almost but not entirely cover your bones and veggies. Bring to boil and turn down to simmer. Now, go knit a blanket, scrub your baseboards, read War & Peace... twice. Whatever will keep you busy for about 8 hours since that's the MINIMUM you want to cook this. The point is to give the bones plenty of time to give up their yummy collagen. The bones will fall apart with the slightest pressure once it's done.  Its almost impossible to overcook it.  I typically run my 3 gallon pot for 12 hours.

Now you need to strain all this goodness. The veggies and bones have given their all and are ready for the trash heap. I use a colander over a pitcher/bowl and a handled Pyrex measuring cup to scoop the stock into the colander and drain... throwing away the solids bits as you go. Let it cool some.  If it's summer, I set the pot of strained stock down in a cooler with some ice.  If it's winter, I use my "walk-out freezer" to cool it, tying down the lid on the pot and setting it outside for a bit.  I store my stock in plastic baggies. My choice for freezer storage is Ziploc quart-size freezer bags. Use the quart size! I have given up on the gallon-size... too dang hard to thaw a slab that big. Fill your quart bag and make sure it's well sealed then lay flat to freeze. Once it's frozen flat, you can stack them flat, upright, whatever to fit them in your freezer... unless you plan to immediately use the stock then no Ziploc necessary.  You can also use glass quart jars, just be sure to use wide mouth.  Freezing liquids can break the shoulder on regular mouth jars... then you lose a batch of stock AND a canning jar.

When cool, this stock is nearly solid from the collagen and has the BEST flavor.  You'll never go back to thin, boring grocery store stock after you make your own.

30 Day Book Meme - Day Three

Day 03 - Your favorite series

Well this one is easy... Harry Potter.  There are others I like (The Dark is Rising, Wicked Lovely, Hitchhiker's "trilogy"), but I LOVE all things Harry Potter.  I think I may be more excited than my kids about going to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Me as Professor Violet Tanzanite, Professor of Gemstone Magic, at my church's Harry Potter-themed summer camp in 2006. 

The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

Oven-Fried Tofu and Greens

Oven-Fried Tofu & Greens

Two (2) 8-oz packages organic extra firm Tofu (not silken)
1 bunch fresh greens, chopped or 1 pound frozen greens, chopped (I used a mix of collards & kale)
1-2 inch cube fresh ginger, peeled & chopped
Sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup seasoned rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup bottled Asian orange chicken sauce (I used Panda Express, will just use orange juice concentrate in the future with a touch of chili sauce added)
1 tsp garlic powder
6 drops sesame seed oil
Breading
1/3 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup nutritional yeast (not entirely necessary but I like to add it where I can)

Slice each block of tofu into 8 equal slices.  Mix sauce ingredients in a measuring cup and whisk together.  Pour a bit in the bottom of a 9x13 pan to coat.  Lay the tofu in the pan in as close to a single layer as you can get.  I wound up with two pieces laying on top.  Pour the remaining sauce over all.  Allow to marinate at least 30 minutes before cooking.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix breading ingredients in a shallow bowl.  Pour 3 Tbl olive oil on a half sheet baking pan.  Use a basting brush to spread the oil evenly around the pan.  Coat each slice of tofu in the breading mix and place on the baking sheet. Cook for 10 minutes.  Carefully flip and cook for 10 minutes more.  Reserve the leftover marinade for the greens.

While the tofu is cooking, steam the greens in a covered skillet with just a little water.  For fresh greens, steam for about 10 minutes.  Thaw frozen greens first.  For thawed frozen greens, steam for 5 minutes.  Add the ginger to the leftover marinade and add to the greens.  Steam for another 5 minutes.  Serve with tofu and additional rice wine vinegar.

And yes... I failed at taking a picture again.  (sigh)  Tofu and greens aren't that attractive anyway though... yummy, but not pretty.  I really need to work on REMEMBERING to take pictures and also on improving the quality of the pictures I do remember to take.  Any suggestions for sites that explain how to do that?

30 Day Book Meme - Day Two

Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than Thrice

A few books fit this category (especially if you add in children's books!!!) but two favorites stand out so I'll list them both: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  They are both favorites, for different reasons, and I quote from them fairly regularly.    


The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day One

I'm trying to read more and, so far, I'm doing a pretty doing a pretty good job of it. My Kindle makes it very easy. Now, when I have to wait somewhere, instead of staring off into space or playing Gem Spinner on my phone, I can read. But, honestly, until recently, I haven't read with any consistency since college... at least not fiction books.  I read non-fiction a LOT... mostly how-to books about canning, house organization, homesteading, cooking, feng shui, camping, etc.

That was all a lead up to explain that I really have no idea why I feel compelled to do the 30 Day Book Meme, but I do.  I happened across it today while reading the blogs of some of the other What's in a Name Reading Challenge participants. Since I haven't focused on fiction reading for pleasure in so many years, I'm not sure what my answers will look like, so here goes...

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year

As already mentioned, I only just started reading fiction again last year with any vigor so the list for this is short to choose from.  I'm going to go with a Youth fiction book actually: Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan.  My son has gotten into the series and even dressed as Will for Halloween.  I made him a dark grey fleece sagum cloak which he stills wears.  It was an enjoyable book with the right amount of character development mixed with plot. I may or may not read the rest of the series (my son is on book four), but I see why he likes it and I like that I know what he's talking about now.

The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

Hawaii and Reading

I never did figure out how to post in a more efficient manner while I was in Hawaii.  I will need to investigate more fully from home before any future trips.... which are rare for me.  I'll post a more thorough Hawaii wrap up later.  Right now I want to update my reading list.

I made exceptionally good head way on my reading challenges while I was gone... completing FIVE books.  I usually don't have much free time to read and, while I can read fast, for pleasure reading I prefer to read a bit more slowly and run wild in my minds eye with the colors and stories running through my head.  So... not much time and slower reading equals not many books read for me during my typical day to day existence.  But a week of really not much to do but whatever I wanted to do meant lots of reading time.  My room at the condo was on the second floor overlooking the Pacific Ocean with a balcony.  The comfy wicker chair right inside the giant sliding screen door was a favorite spot.

I nearly completed the 6 in 12 Reading Challenge at the library. Three of the books fit What's in a Name categories so I'm halfway through that challenge as well.

The Books:



1) Soulless by Gail Carriger - I read this on a recommendation from my favorite book reviewer (and good friend) Rachel at Chaos is a Friend of Mine.  It's of the steampunk genre.  Vampires and werewolves live as (nearly) normal citizens in Victorian London.  Our heroine, Alexia, is a preternatural... soulless... and can make these supernatural creatures temporarily human with the merest touch.  It's a mystery with a sizable romance thread. I enjoyed the Victorian era images conjured and the detailed descriptions of the fashion of the time.  I'm now reading Changeless, the second in the series.



2) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - This is an old favorite.  I have only been truly sad, with a personal sense of loss, with one celebrity death... Douglas Adams.  I love his writing and grieve that his faithful readers won't have any new genius from him.  You can read this for light silly fun or you can read it for the more seething underlying critiques of government and the human condition.  If you haven't read any of his works, start here and read it for fun.

I am counting this one toward #2 on the What's in a Name reading challenge - A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title: Galaxy.



3) Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr - This is the third book in the Wicked Lovely series.  I read Wicked Lovely and Ink Exchange late last year.  I've seen the series referred to as the Tattooed Faeries series, which is accurate, though this book in the series was not really about tattoos.  The main heroine of the series is Aislinn, the Summer Queen of the faeries.  Here we find her human boyfriend, Seth, trying to "solve" the problem of his mortality so that he can be with Aislinn forever.  I went away from it feeling like I'd missed something... that the book didn't end quite where it should have.  I guess that means I'll need to read the fourth book as soon as possible.



4) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Rigg - This is definitely not what I expected it to be.  I have no idea where I even came upon this title to add to my reading list. Where ever it was I'd found it, it had me expecting a kids' book.  NOT a kids' book.  A teenager would enjoy it but I was previewing it for my eight year old son.  Nope.  I did enjoy the book and was compelled to return to it quickly every time I put it down. However, I doubt I'll read the expected sequel.  It was well written and I have no faults with the author or story... just not something I want to pursue.  A bit too dark overall for my tastes.  And too much tension.  I am both drawn to and repelled from tension-filled books... I tend to carry that sense of tension with me outside the covers of the book. I try to avoid reading too many tension-filled books, no matter how drawn in I am when I'm actively reading them.

I'm counting this toward #4 on the What's in a Name reading challenge - A book with a type of house in the title: Home.



5) Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey - This is a free Kindle title I found on Books on the Knob.  It was fun.  Jessica is your typical small town American girl... who just found out she's actually a Romanian vampire princess. Antics, both light and very serious, ensue.  An easy read with some clever twists.

I'm counting this toward #5 on the What's in a Name reading challenge - A book with something you'd carry in pocket, purse or backpack in the title: Guide.

Later today and will be able to post in a more tidy way from my Kindle Fire. Aloha!!!

Oops. Already messing up mobile blogging. I'm awake at 5: 30 local time because my body thinks it's 9:30. I learned the location of one of the amazing farmer's

To go to Hawaii or not to go to Hawaii...

Whoever thought THAT would be the question!  But that is exactly the question I had to ask myself last Thursday.  My sister called to ask me what I was doing from around the 13th of January to the 23rd of January. I rattled off the list of my usual commitments plus the extras for that week (there are always extras).  Then she asked me if I could get out of them.  She and her husband of 25 years have been planning a trip to Hawaii all year in honor of their silver anniversary.  Unfortunately, in the weeks before leaving, my brother-in-law's already bad back (made worse by his 6'7" height!) took a turn for the worse and the doctors don't want him sitting on a plane.  With the pain, he wasn't really keen on the idea either.

Rather than cancel everything, my sister wanted to know if I'd like to go with her instead.  Now, anyone who knows me, will know my first reaction was not the normal person's "HELL YES" reaction, but a wellspring of panic and guilt rising up that I can't possibly take a break, I can't be a burden to other people depending on me, I couldn't possibly take a break of that length to do something nice for myself.  Yep.  I'm a freak.  Since she caught me on my way out the door to my usual Thursday night over-scheduled activities, I had time to think about it... but I had to tell her that night.  My husband, my mother, my bandmates (who'd have to play a gig without me), my boss at the gymnastics school... pretty much everyone threatened to beat me up if I said no!  I mean, really?!

Bodily harm versus a week in one of the most beautiful places on Earth?  Even I can squash down neuroses to make the right choice there.  So I've spent the last week picking up liquids in 3 oz or smaller containers (I'm going with only carry-on), buying the clearance flip flops and sun hats at the local Kohls, and arranging with a small army of people to handle all my commitments while I'm gone.  I leave tomorrow morning bright and early... hopefully I can sleep tonight.

I will try to blog a bit while I'm there but I'm making no promises. There is a Kindle full of tattooed fairies, steampunk preternaturals and Babel fish to keep my occupied... not to mention ziplining, deep sea fishing and general lazing about. Aloha!

Christmas 2011 Handcrafted Gift Wrap-Up 2

I got this idea from From Nature with Love: Homemade Lip Balm - made from coconut oil, beeswax, Vitamin E and strawberry flavor oil.  I used an old tube of lipstick to add color to some of them.

I gave these to all the women on my list, plus my son, who is constantly suffering with chapped lips... he got one of the uncolored ones.

I got this idea from Show, Tell, Share: Bleach Pen T-shirt - I used a stylized lotus design.  I found a design I liked on a tattoo website.  I wanted something in all black since the bleach design would be all one color.  I just free-handed the design onto the shirt using the bleach pen.  Let it sit for about 10 minutes then wash it.

I gave this to my mother-in-law, who is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine.  The lotus is one of her favorite images.

I got this idea from one of my FAVORITE blogs, Frugal Family Fun Blog: DIY Travel Play Kitchen.  My daughter circled nearly every play kitchen in the toy catalog she marked up for her Christmas wish list.  We just don't have room in our too-small house for a whole play kitchen set.  This one fits over a fold-away tray table so it can be put away when not in use.  I got lots of kitchen utensils from friends and Risa's best friend gave her a set of toy food.  This cost me $4 for the felt top piece and the sticky felt to make the "burners".  The red fleece was a blanket that my mother-in-law gave me.  

Obviously, I gave this to my daughter.