tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55411587818529125862023-11-16T08:22:59.202-08:00The World Turtleamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-84758695396179635262012-12-06T21:42:00.001-08:002012-12-06T21:42:14.996-08:00Fennel & Pepper Bacon Stuffing<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Oh god this turned out so fucking delicious. I just want to eat it forever. Seriously.
I have a problem with stuffing. Om nom nom. Is it wrong to make stuffing for every holiday? Like maybe for the 4<sup>th</sup> of July?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1 pound of whole wheat bread crumbs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1 tablespoon cracked black pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">2 eggs, whisked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">4 tablespoons melted butter, unsalted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">½ cup Riesling<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">10 pieces of cooked pepper bacon, sliced into bite sizes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">½ of a medium sweet onion, chopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1 small fennel bulb, chopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">½ oz fresh parsley, chopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">2 teaspoons of fresh thyme<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1 tablespoon fresh rosemary<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1 teaspoon fresh fennel fronds, chopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">2 cups Turkey Stock—homemade will make ALL the difference<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Combine all ingredients in a giant bowl. Refrigerate covered for at least an hour, or preferably
overnight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
Throw it all into a baking dish and cook, uncovered, for half an hour. Cover with tin foil and bake for a further 30
minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Try not to eat the whole thing in a single setting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-14028589095464606772012-12-06T21:27:00.002-08:002012-12-06T21:27:38.449-08:00Mashed Cauliflower<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Look, this </span><span style="font-size: 19px;">isn't</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> a ‘healthy’ recipe. It’s just a good one. Potatoes are no less a vegetable than
cauliflower, and its only tradition that has us mashing them instead. So give this a try. The tea isn't mandatory, but the smoky notes
in it add a subtle but lovely allure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1 medium pot of brewed Lapsang Souchong<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">2 head off cauliflower, chopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cracked black pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">4 tablespoons unsalted butter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup of heavy cream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Add tea to large stockpot, fill with water, and salt
liberally. Bring to boil. Add cauliflower, pepper. Boil until softened. Mash together with butter and cream. Enjoy the accolades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-17542422539538263742012-12-06T21:18:00.001-08:002012-12-06T22:10:24.497-08:00Cranberry & Pear Sauce with Riesling<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">This is designed to be tart; a palate cleanser for all that rich
holiday fare. But you can always add a
bit more brown sugar. Yes, brown; it
adds both flavor and sweetness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1 Anjou pear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">½ cup dry Riesling—get the cheap kind, do yourself a favour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1 cup packed brown sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Zest of 1 small lemon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1/2 tsp cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1/4 tsp cloves</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1/4 tsp allspice</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">1/4 cayenne pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">2 pounds of Cranberries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Puree the pear in a food processor, then add to a large sauté pan
and turn to medium heat. Dump in
Riesling, brown sugar, zest, and spices, then stir. Heat
until just starting to bubble. Add the
cranberries and continue cooking until the berries have just burst, stirring continuously
to avoid scorching the sides or burning your house down. Remove from heat, transfer to a pretty bowl
and put on table. Or, chill it and serve
in crepes. Both ways are super yum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-21491992995807121422012-12-06T20:00:00.002-08:002012-12-06T21:18:30.504-08:00Almost Caught Up--Sort ofBooks from September So, closer closer closer. Think of me as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Tank_Engine" target="_blank">Thomas the Tank Engine</a> of book reviewing. Not a lot of reading this month, because not only did I have a birthday, and my sister's birthday, to get on, but marathon training was at its peak. My spare time was spent running or eating. Because, seriously, I did not know how many calories a body needed to run so much. But I could eat 2--TWO--foot long subs and still be hungry. Yeesh. So, yeah, just a couple for this go round. Enjoy!<br />
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<i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Century, serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ashes-Honor-October-Daye-Novel/dp/0756407494/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354846516&sr=8-1&keywords=ashes+of+honor"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ashes
of Honor</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: Century, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By Seanan McGuire</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: Century, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A-</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333382143l/10184345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333382143l/10184345.jpg" width="248" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #323232; font-size: small;">God, I heart this series so hard. While Toby is still reeling from the death of
her irritating love interest, a changeling girl raised as human is kidnapped—and
this is the type of super powered changeling that has the power to rip apart
the boundaries of Faerie. As Toby &
Co try to hunt her down we’re reintroduced to several locales and characters
from prior books, which is nice.
(Please, read the the books in order.› There are two problems with this
book. Problem the first? It’s the one
that comes after </span><i style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://seananmcguire.com/toby.php">One Salt Sea</a></i><span style="color: #323232; font-size: small;">, a nearly
impossible act to follow, so it suffers a bit in comparison. Problem the second? It feels like a lot of nifty set pieces strung
together by emotional interactions. And
yes, I champion emotional interactions, and yes, they play an important part of
making characters believable, and growth linked coherently to past events. But somehow, it starts to feel like Toby is
repeating a few conversations and the thread of hunting down our changeling
trouble maker ripping the worlds apart </span><span style="color: #323232;">doesn't quite</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: small;"> carry enough momentum to sustain
all the breaks. But this is a super
minor complaint. By and large, the plot
is swift, the characters react in ways that are consistent and plot relevant,
and the payoff of several series long plot-arcs is well handled. This is one of those worlds, like </span><a href="http://www.ilona-andrews.com/blog" style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">Ilona Andrews’ Atlanta</a><span style="color: #323232; font-size: small;"> or </span><a href="http://www.patriciabriggs.com/" style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">Patricia Briggs’ Tri-Cities</a></span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> that you
can breathe in and smell the tang of the Bay, the leather of a jacket, the
smoke of a burning building. If you haven’t
already gotten hooked, it is absolutely worth getting into.</span><span style="font-family: Century, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Century, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Steel-Novel-Iron-Seas/dp/0425251047/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1354846601&sr=1-2">Heart
of Steel</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: Century, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By Meljean Brook<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: Century, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">B+</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://meljeanbrook.com/mmhs200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://meljeanbrook.com/mmhs200.jpg" width="248" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #323232; font-size: small;">Look, I know this is shelved under romance, and it
is, but I swears, it is also one of the best steampunks I’ve come across. Both in terms of word building and of
plot. There are zombies--Zombies!—and
there are airships and pirates, and believably screwed up characters, and
tricky, complex relationships that I enjoy untangling. There is also a fair dash of tragedy,
romance, and more than enough steam to make that </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/340987215" style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">50 Shades</a><span style="color: #323232; font-size: small;"> chick cry
in shame. Which she should be doing
pretty much always, but still. If you read the first book in this series, </span><i style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Iron-Duke-Novel-Seas/dp/B004X8W3W8/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y">Iron
Duke</a></i><span style="color: #323232; font-size: small;">, then the set up was already introduced. A mercenary airship captain takes an adventurer
into zombie territory, but while sparks might be flying between them, things go
very, very wrong. Both leads are
interesting, the plot is brisk, and the sets are fan-freaking-tastic, and, as I
said earlier, the world building on display here is just rock solid. This is a world transformed by steam
technology, and ravaged by an alternate history timeline where the Khan’s horde
had not only numbers on Europe, but technology, and has swarmed across the
globe, spreading nanotech in its wake. If </span><span style="color: #323232;">you've</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: small;"> ever been intrigued by steampunk, this is a great example of what it can
be. And don’t let the sex scare you off,
it’s also incredibly gritty, gory, and hard-assed. The only reason I suggest waiting until they
go to mass market paper is that these versions tend to add on a standalone
short story at the end. And that’s like
a bonus for paying less, so, um, </span><i style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">duh</i><span style="color: #323232; font-size: small;">. </span></span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Century, serif; font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Century, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ugly-Duchess-Eloisa-James/dp/0062021737/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354849992&sr=1-1&keywords=the+ugly+duchess">Ugly
Duchess</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: Century, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By Eloisa James<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: Century, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">B-</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.giraffedays.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ugly-duchess-182x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.giraffedays.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ugly-duchess-182x300.jpg" width="242" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">A lady who is rich, but not pretty*
is wooed by a lovely young man, they wed, and she discovers he really was only
in it for the money.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">Which, of course,
he wasn’t and really truly lurvs her.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">But she throws him out, and then the book takes a turn for the
silly.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">Because the hero, an English
peer, takes to sea and becomes a tattooed pirate.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">Yeah.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">That.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">And then he comes home and
society accepts him back with open arms because . . . reasons.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">And the only person who hesitates is his
wife, understandably miffed that he’s spent years with doxies, showed up back from
the dead without telling her first, and is maybe slightly crazy.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">But our hero is an über Alpha male, and he
wins back his lady love despite all these obstacles.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">The leading lady is a fabulous creation, the
dialogue sparkles, and the plot concept, while familiar, is well handled.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">But wowzers, the idea that a tattooed pirate
lord would ever ever in a 1000 years get any kind of green light in regency
England is ridiculous.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">Just, just, words
fail me.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">I know that it’s supposed to be
fluff, meaningless empty calories consumed rather guiltily.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">But still.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">Did he have to get the ink on his EYE?</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">Come on here, somewhere, a line was crossed.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">I know this author can do better.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">Get it used and prepare for a giggle interspersed
with sympathy tears.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">Because, wow, she
nailed her leading lady.</span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 12pt;">If only the
same could be said of our hero.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Century","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">*And never, never <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUjlBP5gUrQ" target="_blank">Princess Diaries</a> into being pretty, but rather just learns how to dress well and carry
herself in a manor called “fuck you, I’m richer than Croesus” which makes me so
fracking happy I can barely say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
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A=I might buy the hardback; B=pay trade cover price; C=get it used or from the
bargain bin; D=used if you’re in to self flagellation; F=what, are you stupid?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-55614393092994740052012-11-16T13:32:00.000-08:002012-12-06T21:18:42.339-08:00And Now, for Something From August.The slow advance into up-to-date rolls on. Without further ado, BOOKS!<br />
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<i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Discount-Armageddon-InCryptid-Incryptid-Novels/dp/0756407133/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353093362&sr=8-1&keywords=discount+armageddon">Discount
Armageddon</a></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Seanan
McGuire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">A-</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://booksjadore.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/seanan-mcguire-discount-armageddon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://booksjadore.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/seanan-mcguire-discount-armageddon.jpeg" width="248" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This,
friends, is the true heir to the Sookie Stackhouse throne. It’s funny, it’s screwball comedy, and even
better, it’s magic is not only well crafted and just different enough to
standout, but it’s magical allegiances are shifty and full of grey area
pratfalls. For instance, our heroine’s
loving cousin is also a telepathic killer who’s with the protag as much to
prevent a killing spree as to provide girl time. The romantic lead, however, is less
cool. Honestly, when it failed the sex
in the first book test, I cringed, but the real problem is that he’s just not
that damn interesting yet. Maybe in the
next outing. In the meantime, I’ll root
for the sex-crazed Tanuki, or the cute bakery boy as rivals. Yes, I ship bizarrely. So why is it still an A-? Because, dude, a TANUKI; also a metric crap-ton
of international folktale beasties and a relationship with the word “monstrous”
that is constantly fluid and surprisingly meaningful. The family supporting cast, seen only briefly,
is terrific enough to inspire chants of “MOAR! More! MAOW!” and I cannot wait
to see what they get up to. Oh, and the
lead character is trying to make it in the competitive world of <i><u>Ballroom Dancing</u></i>. Seriously.
While helping mythical creatures/people and working as a cocktail waitress at a
supernatural strip club. It’s brilliant
froth: snarky, silly, and still occasionally moving. As an anchor to what may well be a fantastic
series, I have high hopes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gunmetal-Magic-Ilona-Andrews/dp/0425256138/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353093584&sr=1-1&keywords=gunmetal+magic"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Gunmetal
Magic</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Ilona
Andrews<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">A-</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331230049l/12288282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331230049l/12288282.jpg" width="248" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The
problem with a truly great cast of character is that, eventually, they start to
need/deserve their own little spin-offs to solve their own little issues
without dragging down other peoples plot lines.
The problem with these spin-offs?
They’re never quite the real deal.
In the previous Kate Daniels books, side character Andrea had a lot of
plot shoved in her face, from romantic explosions, to professional crisis, to
personal Gethsemane. This book is an exciting,
not-quite stand alone addition designed to deal with all of that. It would definitely help to have read the
whole prior series. The plot is brisk,
and, dear gods, sensible and adherent to its own internal logic; the stakes
are high and the risk feels very real.
Also, I deeply love the different angles on the other series characters we've come to love. Always a treat. But the big problem is that Andrea is not
Kate, and this is<i> Kate’s</i> world,</span><i style="color: #323232; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> her</i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">
bombed out and magic eaten Atlanta, </span><i style="color: #323232; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">her</i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">
magical detection/protection office,</span><i style="color: #323232; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> her</i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">
sidekicks. So regardless of Andrea’s unique
voice, or even her own viability as a series lead, I was always somewhat disappointed
not to hear </span><i style="color: #323232; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">KATE’s</i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> voice. But if it </span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">weren't</span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> for that, this book would
otherwise be a pretty much perfect example of how to make exciting, romantically
immediate, and crisply well-written Urban Fantasy. A must for fans of the genre, as well as fans
of the series. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nightshifted-Cassie-Alexander/dp/0312553390/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353095097&sr=1-1&keywords=nightshifted"><span style="font-size: x-large;">NightShifted</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Cassie
Alexander<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">B+</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://openbooksociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Nightshifted-finalcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://openbooksociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Nightshifted-finalcover.jpg" width="244" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">I
bought this because of the premise. A
nurse—whoa-who, a new profession: detectives, mercenaries, and the magically
gifted need not apply—takes a job in a crappy urban hospital to save her drug
addled brother. The catch? This wing she works in caters to supernatural
people/things and her job, even more so than the average nurse’s, is believably
dangerous. It’s a full plate of dirty
needles, cranked up werewolves, creepy shapeshifters, and neo-natal
drama. And dragons. Because, hey, what’s not better with dragons? The main plot involves some full-on creepy
vampires, who not only chart high in </span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">their</span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> yuck factor, but in their occasional
humanity, that want to kill our heroine because she killed one of their own. The drug addled brother is a real standout,
as the author nails the walking disaster of having an addict in the family. The romantic drama, however, is much less fun and
why this one falls to a B+. I do not
love zombies, and find them hard to buy as “love interests,” and Edie’s sexual
habits just don’t feel believable. But I have no qualms about picking up the
next installment, and a good deal of hope that many of my issues are just first
time author jitters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aurelia-Anne-Osterlund/dp/0142405795/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353096401&sr=1-1&keywords=aurelia"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Aurelia</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Anne
Osterlund<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">B</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWdvRvkEoY8ilED5vnDND6Fz-93EB5h-b1AjPw2jzl6KdJPz1h-LIO2Gan945Rsr93dmsX8tz3mQqJGm46cY4UWB90sMvtMbgCnFqmp5FlXsyMK2yjjNbOKqAmN-TxnMxV_Z7SkS7ePU/s1600/aurelia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWdvRvkEoY8ilED5vnDND6Fz-93EB5h-b1AjPw2jzl6KdJPz1h-LIO2Gan945Rsr93dmsX8tz3mQqJGm46cY4UWB90sMvtMbgCnFqmp5FlXsyMK2yjjNbOKqAmN-TxnMxV_Z7SkS7ePU/s400/aurelia.jpg" width="265" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I
quite like this author, and absolutely loved her <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Academy-7-Anne-Osterlund/dp/0142414379/ref=pd_vtp_b_3">Academy
7</a></i>, so my hopes were high for this one.
A princess, a spy master’s son, an assassin on the loose, and an evil
step-mother, even. And it’s solid. The plot moves briskly, the drama is believable
in both its big and small aspects, with the family dynamics tense and
complicated, and the political intrigue murky and actually intriguing. Even the slight romance is handled with
grace. The problem is the ending. Where our author’s skillfully realistic world
can’t quite provide a happily-ever-after, but we don’t get the big fireworks
the the twist ending seems to warrant, either.
So it feels like a bit of a letdown, even though it is far more believable
than anything that would actually be satisfying. Which is the ultimate bitch of being a writer. A well crafted, internal logic-adherent world
breaks in the face of what we actually want out of a reading experience in
these days of <i><a href="http://www.sff.net/paradise/lists.htm">Hunger Games</a></i> excitement. This is a good book, rock solid, but I still
find myself suggesting that it might be for younger readers, or at least those
of us not permanently jaded by the onslaught of immediate and revolutionary
gratification.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grave-Memory-Alex-Craft-Novel/dp/0451464591/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353097260&sr=1-1&keywords=grave+memory"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Grave
Memory</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Kalayna
Price<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">B-</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://www.kalayna.com/covers/GraveMemory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.kalayna.com/covers/GraveMemory.jpg" width="248" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I
like the main plot here. Our
necromancing lead is tracking apparent suicides while all around her begin to
to question her loyalties, her means to her end, and her personal choices. The suicide inducing shade is a really fun
device, and the ways this forces her to interact with her two romantic interests
are novel. But then the plot gets
overburdened with unnecessary secrets.
Everyone is keeping something from someone else, and in almost all
cases, they are keeping mum just to give the plot twists and trajectory. This is supremely irritating. Also un-fun is the way our romantic entanglements get tanglier just
Because They Need To. Words fail to
express how %^#*ing over the romantic
triangle I am, let alone the endlessly rebuilt one. And this one is starting to prove the why of
that. Look, I get that a series has to
have reversals and set-backs in order to maintain momentum; I’m just tired of
the only game in town being a lead who can never quite figure out which Hot Guy
she should climb into bed with. Why can
the plot not be sustained by the creepy politician dad and his obviously shady
machinations? What about the Fairy
Queen? Or Alex’s encroaching blindness
as she uses her magic more and more? How
about the changing dynamic of her relationship with the police? All of these things interest me so much more
than which needlessly complicated mess of a dude she’ll pick. I’ll still buy the next one, but it had
better get more plot focused fast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Brass-Novel-Clockwork-Agents/dp/0451236599/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353098604&sr=1-1&keywords=heart+of+brass"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Heart
of Brass</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Kate
Cross<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">B-</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://darkfaerietales.com/wp-content/uploads/Heart-of-Brass.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://darkfaerietales.com/wp-content/uploads/Heart-of-Brass.png" width="247" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">There
was something so familiar about this lead character. Her missing husband. Her steampunk fetish jewelry. Even the—OH, I see. Kate Cross is the pseudonym of Kady Cross,
whom we remember from last month’s </span><i style="color: #323232; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.katecross.com/a-k-a/">The Girl in the Steel Corset</a></i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">,
and our lead, Arden, is a dead ringer for the aunt in that novel. Which is weird, but whatever. I liked many things about this one: that the
romance between a couple separated by years and a fake death was dealt with rather
than swept under the rug; that the earlier relationship was less perfect than it first appeared; that I could buy that our leads would fall back in love with
one another. I really <i>really</i> liked the
supporting cast, who seem more than capable of carrying this into serial
land. What I did not love was how the
plot happened </span><b style="color: #323232; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">because plot</b><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">. Why? </span><b style="color: #323232; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Because
the Author Says So</b><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">! was a major theme here.
Also, I like my steampunk to be steam-based, rather than magic because-it-just-
is based, plus at several points the incredible silliness of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Avengers_(TV_series)" style="color: #323232; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Avengers</a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> type
good guys/bad guys dynamic was actually giggle inducing. It made me want to go read </span><i style="color: #323232; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.monkeybrainbooks.com/The_Man_from_the_Diogenes_Club.html">The
Man from the Diogenes Club</a></i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> as a palate cleanser from the </span><i style="color: #323232; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rocky and Bullwinkle</i><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> of it all. This </span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">isn't</span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> bad by any means, but I would
suggest that it’s more for the romance fans than the steampunk ones, which is a
shame, because I think the author is capable of much better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A note on Grading: on my Scale
A=I might buy the hardback; B=pay trade cover price; C=get it used or from the
bargain bin; D=used if you’re in to self flagellation; F=what, are you stupid?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-42284344604321215072012-11-15T23:37:00.000-08:002012-12-06T21:18:53.641-08:00I'm so far Behind these are the Books I Read in July<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">See? I told you I would get those reviews out. I will behave like an adult. I think I can; I think I can; I think I can. Right. Less positive self reinforcement, more book ratings!</span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Rhiannon-Held/dp/0765330377/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353043397&sr=1-9&keywords=silver"><span style="color: blue;">S</span></a></span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue;">ilver</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Rhiannon Held<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A+<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<a href="http://jacketupload.macmillanusa.com/jackets/high_res/jpgs/9780765330376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://jacketupload.macmillanusa.com/jackets/high_res/jpgs/9780765330376.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As we’ve learned, I love new things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a frequent victim of “New! Shiny!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll own it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And when it comes to books, I adore anything that isn’t like the rest of
the mass produced crap I often, nevertheless, read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So why am I giving an A+ to a <u><em><strong>WEREWOLF</strong></em></u>
book?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because this is functionally a
reboot of the lore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because it involves
a genuinely crazy person, with valid reasons for being crazy—and it never ever
not once, tries to magic her out of crazytown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It embraces crazytown with the same spare elegance that it rewrites
werewolf tropes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The language is
effective, clear and kept me engaged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was not planning to pay 15$ for this slim little gem, but once I’d read the
first chapter, I literally couldn’t put it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked up to a total stranger I saw reading
it in a café the next week and said “good choice,” it’s that fab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An enforcer w/ a shady past, a mysterious
threat, a damsel in distress—and yet somehow all of these things felt fresh and
immediate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pick it up; it’s worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Minority-Council-Matthew-Swift/dp/0316187259/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353042806&sr=1-1&keywords=minority+council"><span style="color: blue;">Minority
Council</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Kate Griffin<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.orbitbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Minority-Council-Griffin1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.orbitbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Minority-Council-Griffin1.jpg" width="203" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Oh Matthew Swift, how I have missed you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have missed your full page descriptions of
London minutia, your fabulously wrongheaded assumptions, your magic system and certainly
your electric blue angels. Nothing else in Urban Fantasy is quite like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you haven’t
already fallen head over heels in love with these books about how the Tube is its own
form of magic and traffic wardens having the mystical power of the “Stop!” sign,
do yourself a big favour and buy the first one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are grrrr-reat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time it’s
more drugs, weirder drugs whose concept is so much fun, a heaping serving of violence, and plenty of folks who’d like to
see our Midnight Mayor deposed or dead, though not necessarily in that order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, the new assistant is fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hell, it’s all fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get thee to a bookstore near you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kingdoms-Dust-Necromancer-Chronicles/dp/0316068985/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353043323&sr=1-2&keywords=kingdom+of+dust"><span style="color: blue;">Kingdom
of Dust</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Amanda Downum<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A-<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.orbitbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Kingdoms-of-Dust2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.orbitbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Kingdoms-of-Dust2.jpg" width="194" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I really like this series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s twists unfold a little like the kind of origami
that I just can’t quit figure out how to do, the characters grow up, wise up,
and fuck up without being shamed for it, and events impact their emotional
lives as well as the plot in believable ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The minus is mostly due to the slow start and what feels like a couple
of random dead ends at the front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
after the ½ way point it rapidly picks up pace and finishes in a muddy, morally
dubious finale that is absolutely fabulous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because the reason I champion these books is that from the very first,
the bad guys have never really been <em>bad</em> and the good guys have never been all
that <em>good</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just people, trying to do the
best they can in face of very large events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This go round, the events are the world ending kind of big, rather than just political disaster type big, and our heroes
are still reeling from the events of previous books—so start with the previous
books!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>:P<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Deadfall-Hotel-Steve-Rasnic-Tem/dp/1907992839/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353043823&sr=1-1&keywords=deadfall+hotel"><span style="color: blue;">Deadfall
Hotel</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Steve Rasnic Tem<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">B+<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://weirdfictionreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Deadfall-hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://weirdfictionreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Deadfall-hotel.jpg" width="206" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Oh, this book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wanted so much for this book to be a thing that it was not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> What it</span> is is creepy, and atmospheric, and quite
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so self-consciously post-modern and
self aware and literary that I just wanted to smack the pretension out of
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look, we get it, little girls
growing up is scary for dads-look, a metaphor!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We get the importance of blood-look a metaphor!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have stood under the deluge of werewolf
imagery—look, a metaphor--for a while now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It took me a long time to read this because I don’t love slogging
through that sort of obviousness, but honestly, I somehow still ended up liking
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wouldn’t pay full cover again for
it, though I’d say to buy it used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
no <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shining-Jack-Nicholson/dp/B002VWNIDG/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1353050834&sr=1-2&keywords=the+shining" target="_blank">Overlook</a>, but the Deadfall does have some fun/creepy surprises and set pieces
up its sleeve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Steel-Corset-Harlequin-Teen/dp/0373210701/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353044819&sr=1-1&keywords=girl+in+the+steel+corset"><span style="color: blue;">Girl
in the Steel Corset</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Kady Cross<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">B-<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1297987541l/9166877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1297987541l/9166877.jpg" width="208" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This is a fun concept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In steampunk England--are there any other
locales for steampunk to be set in?--a girl with a split personality has a tendency
to misbehave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the course of this, she
runs into a motley group—are there any other kinds of groups?—who share many of
the same issues. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though, to be fair, the
explanation of “magic” made me giggle a little and think of midiclorians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I liked the characters, but I felt many
weren’t given enough screen time, and the plot felt a bit sloppy with the villains easy to spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my biggest
complaint was how the “dark” half of our split heroine was portrayed:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> s</span>trong; quick witted; able to hold her
own; funny; and someone the most enjoyable characters in the
book wanted to know better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet this was
the evil side she had to suppress/control?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because the good side was everything I find irritating in girls:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> s</span>impering.;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
w</span>eak-willed; self-effacing, and
nervous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yuck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get not wanting to black out; I’m on boardl with
that. I just wish that the coolest part of our lead wasn’t portrayed as
naughty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the ending was fun, and set
up the next in what seems like a series nicely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will I pick up said sequel? Sure--used.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Red-Dead-World-Book-1/dp/0765359146/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1"><span style="color: blue;">Red</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jordan Summers<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">F<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://artseblis.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/red-dead-world-series-by-jordan-summers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://artseblis.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/red-dead-world-series-by-jordan-summers.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then
there is this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some
futuristic half-assed post-apocalypse American southwest, a sexy werewolf sheriff
and a cold army soldier track a serial killer while lusting after each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he plot is bad. The prose is
bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, somehow, <em>Tor</em> published
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A <u>legitimate</u> publishing house--and there are <em>sequels</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got nothing, except the hope that anyone can get anything published.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried--<strong>twice</strong>--to get through this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made it maybe 50 pages into bad villain POV,
sloppy characterization, hackneyed plots and sketchy world building and then I
just gave up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <em> </em></span><em>Gave up</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so, so bad, that I just said I have
better ways to waste my life and gave it back to the used bookstore from whence
it came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is how a book earns an
F.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t even finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Save yourself some time and irritation and just skip this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="color: #323232; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A note on Grading: on my Scale
A=I might buy the hardback; B=pay trade cover price; C=get it used or from the
bargain bin; D=used if you’re in to self flagellation; F=what, are you stupid?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-60802834669767033992012-11-15T23:13:00.000-08:002012-12-06T21:19:04.682-08:00I WILL Post the Book Reviews, I WILL!Get prepared. I WILL post the soggy backlog of books I've been reading. It will be a glut. It will be momentous. It will . . . okay, probably not happen all that that fast, but it <em>will</em> finally happen, I'm almost sure of it. So, to begin the begin:<br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fables-Vol-March-Wooden-Soldiers/dp/1401202225/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353045974&sr=1-1&keywords=march+of+the+wooden+soldiers"><span style="color: blue;">March
of the Wooden Soldiers</span></a> Vol. 4</span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bill Willingham, et all</span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_liv1yygj9I1qzz1dyo1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_liv1yygj9I1qzz1dyo1_400.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This, for me, is the book where Fables became <em>Fables</em>
and I started to understand why everyone and their dog was so in love with this
series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is fast paced, occasionally brutal,
surprisingly filled with truth, and, as always, gorgeously drawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Puzzle pieces start dropping together and
lives start falling apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lurv
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The adversary makes a move on
Fabletown and our heroes/rogues/villains have to fight back while still trying
to have personal lives and pay the rent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So far, my absolute favorite in the series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is also a high bar to set, because a lot
of plot happens here and it’s about twice as thick as the previous volume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is great, but please read them in order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fables-Vol-5-Mean-Seasons/dp/1401204864/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353046178&sr=1-2&keywords=mean+seasons"><span style="color: blue;">Mean
Seasons</span></a> Vol. 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bill Willingham, et all<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">B+<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.workingforthemandroid.com/storage/fablesmeanseasons.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1323991478086" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.workingforthemandroid.com/storage/fablesmeanseasons.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1323991478086" width="204" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">That thing I just said, about the high bar? Yeah,
this is what I meant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of this
volume is taken up with fallout from holding off the enemy, and dealing with
character development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are great
and needful things, but I was so spoiled by how much plot and action and
breathless “oh god more please now” was crammed into the previous edition that
I just couldn’t help feeling a bit let down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Still quite good though. Note: it is also really, really sad. Like, existentially. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Royal-Street-Suzanne-Johnson/dp/0765327791/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353046730&sr=1-1&keywords=royal+street+suzanne+johnson"><span style="color: blue;">Royal
Street</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Suzanne Johnson<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">B<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1314132668l/12009478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1314132668l/12009478.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">To be honest, I bought this book because I was curious
about how it would handle the idea of a post Katrina NOLA and in this regard I
feel like I made a solid purchase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
still wish it would have incorporated more, to feed my ghoulish need to see all
the mess from the view of an insider, but it felt like the sorrow and
devastation were just about right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm,
that sentence feels wrong somehow. :D<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The plot is brisk and not as romance-heavy silly as the cover implies,
and if nothing here is incredibly new, than at least it is handled well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Characters are just southern enough without
seeming like freaks or cutouts, the setting is authentic feeling and a
refreshing change from the ubiquitous Seattle/Portland of most UF, and the plot
is handled well, though more of a suspense than a mystery, which is fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is one where the writing is good enough
to make me ignore the occasional annoying romantic entanglement, or super
trope-y magic system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would recommend picking
it up used wholeheartedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fables-Vol-3-Storybook-Love/dp/140120256X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353046358&sr=1-1&keywords=storybook+love"><span style="color: blue;">Storybook
Love</span></a> Vol. 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bill Willingham, et all<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">B-<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://media.dcentertainment.com/sites/default/files/book-covers/1607_400x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media.dcentertainment.com/sites/default/files/book-covers/1607_400x600.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A lot happens in these pages, don’t get me wrong,
but this is also the volume where the monthly publication schedule feels
hardest pushed and most irritating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mostly, my bitch is that it feels like set up and is massively episodic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it must be, to keep on that kind of schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reading a comic, even once it’s been bound
into volumes, is what it is, but here I feel the disparate pull of the needs it’s
trying to meet—and not always succeeding in meeting them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, this is an absolute necessity for
getting through the next volumes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it
nevertheless offers more than the average of great writing, fun characters, and
fabulous artwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/If-You-Hear-Her-Romantic/dp/0345517539/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353048801&sr=1-1&keywords=if+you+hear+her+shiloh+walker" target="_blank">If You Hear Her<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
Shiloh Walker<br />
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">D-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What to say about this book?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hmmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, to start, I should
own that I picked it up because of Author Confusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it was by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Duke-Novel-Seas/dp/B004X8W3W8/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353047313&sr=1-8&keywords=meljean+brook"><span style="color: blue;">Meljean
Brooke</span></a>, a romance author whose steampunk is shockingly enjoyable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/HappyEverAfter/I/If%20You%20Hear%20Herx-inset-community.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/HappyEverAfter/I/If%20You%20Hear%20Herx-inset-community.jpg" width="194" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I almost put the book down forever after the first
chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because it begins in villain POV
land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which we all know I despise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even worse, the POV functions as a master
class on why I find them so damn squicky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because it is written like a <a href="http://www.feminisms.org/4232/you-watch-that-why-we-consume-violence-against-women-as-entertainment/"><span style="color: blue;">Criminal
Minds</span></a> episode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vicarious violence to
women, whoa-who,more, MOAR!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
utterly no functional need for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
intentionally awful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also intentionally
cruel, demeaning, and torture-porn titillating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I kept going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone had
recommended me this; it must get better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And it does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That’s the problem</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our heroine
is blind, but wonderfully functional, her love interest is believable, but
still macho and fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Side characters set
up the rest of the trilogy and seemed interesting enough to sustain it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mystery was twisty and enjoyable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the ½ point it felt like escapism romantic
suspense fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why I have such a
big problem: because the villain POVs came back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What this means is that I’m supposed to
consume torture porn as a part of my fun escapism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That torture porn is fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No likey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, at this point, characters start making stupid decisions so that
the author can soapbox and/or move the plot along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And also, the book isn’t so much a part of a
trilogy as 1 book split into 3 easy payments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the writing, oh the writing is great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prose style is swift, even funny, and I
loved the choice to make our lead blind without ever making her disabled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I will never give these books any more of
my money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never recommend that anyone
else do, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how well they’re
written, I cannot and will not condone the idea that gratuitous violence
against women-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1<sup>st</sup> person</i>
depictions of rape, murder, torture, and evil--should ever EVER be a part of my
leisure time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finished this, yes I
did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then I took a shower.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A note on Grading: on my Scale
A=I might buy the hardback; B=pay trade cover price; C=get it used or from the
bargain bin; D=used if you’re in to self flagellation; F=what, are you stupid?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-33205800329264263472012-10-29T21:01:00.003-07:002012-12-06T21:19:14.454-08:00The Great Book Backlog, Part 2<br />
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The book glut continues, as I desperately try to
catch up not only on my reading, but on my ratings. </span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> I’ve been pretty happy
recently—all of my favourite authors are publishing and my biggest nitpick is
“Um, could we spread these out a bit?” Seriously, why must we go in packs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only read so many books so fast guys,
and my budget isn’t endless either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
‘bout the justice department investigates that, eh?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ANYway, oh with the show!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span id="goog_726141778"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">1001 Nights of Snowfall<span id="goog_726141779"></span><o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
<img height="480" src="http://geekyartistlibrarian.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/fables_1001_nights_of_snowfall_1600x1200.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">By Mark Wellingham et al<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A+<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fables_(comics)"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue;">Fables</span></span></i></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> is pretty much unanimously
considered the best thing out there in graphic novel land (currently in
publication, that is) and it deserves every accolade it gets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the damn thing is so massive that it
can be daunting to actually get started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first book in the series is good, and required reading, but
honestly, if you’re looking to dip your toe in these deep waters, I recommend
you start with this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a part
of the Fables cycle, but not at all tied into the mainline, so its super
accessible, and requires that you know all of NOTHING about the characters and/or
plot to dive in, though if you do it’s that much sweeter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s basically a hijacking of the 1001
Arabian Nights structure to tell vignettes and shorts stories about the Fables
we’ve come to know & love/loathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since they’re set prior to the start of the series, you can do a meet
and greet without worrying about spoilers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And as a bonus, the art work is just gorgeous throughout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the stories are fun, and some are a
little heart breaking, but it’s like the story itself in that it’s an excellent
mix of tart, sweet, and bitter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A great
place to give it a try! And, swoon, those James Jean covers; <em>hubba hubba</em>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sins-Demon-Kara-Gillian-Book/dp/0756407052/ref=pd_sim_b_1" target="_blank">Sins of the Demon<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">By Diana Rowland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOGoGwrpmP4Ik4JpTNzIjUXSDCTDR9FqUMyRqlUlKLVpfeUl2rNrvvpCuZWzDuMz0tge7gUbqo9rHk3h-sTQqTrk9EQl2tGAAyr-mAp1uLyBM4F5aoznQr56ZH1Nk_UqDHJ1z_f1C1Fk/s1600/Sins-of-the-Demon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOGoGwrpmP4Ik4JpTNzIjUXSDCTDR9FqUMyRqlUlKLVpfeUl2rNrvvpCuZWzDuMz0tge7gUbqo9rHk3h-sTQqTrk9EQl2tGAAyr-mAp1uLyBM4F5aoznQr56ZH1Nk_UqDHJ1z_f1C1Fk/s1600/Sins-of-the-Demon.png" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Frankly, just, <u>hats off</u> to this series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With each book, I see the author getting
better and better at her craft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in
this case, she seems to not only have weathered a change of publishers, but come
out all the better for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d initially
discounted these because of the slutty covers (I know, I know, but hey, I’ve
got to narrow the field <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">somehow</i>,
right?) now we have covers that are a far more accurate reflection of the
inside bits, and those inside bits are tastier than ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this installment, the writing is crisp,
the plot mostly makes sense and carries its own weight-yay!-and the characters
try to interact with each other like grownups rather than Shonda Rhimes cutouts.
But.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WARNING: Cliffhangers ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just when things looked good, interesting,
and going to fun places, an absolute game changer pops up from left field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which isn’t a deal breaker, but it is a bit
of a bitch to wait so long for a resolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But hey, I’m waiting eagerly, so it can’t be all bad, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All and all, proof that the series is headed
in a good direction and I’m willing to stick with it and see if it keeps taking
me to better and better places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Demon-Kara-Gillian-Book/dp/0756406528/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351567503&sr=8-1&keywords=secrets+of+the+demon" target="_blank">Secrets of the Demon<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://palmcoasttwilightbookclubreviews.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/secretsofthedemon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://palmcoasttwilightbookclubreviews.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/secretsofthedemon.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">By Diana Rowland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">B+<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">While still fairly predictable, the plot actually makes
sense this time, and our characters no longer waste time and garner irritation
by angsting about sexual activity as much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The whole Ryan thing, frankly, is a side show I could do without, but it’s
not into GO AWAY territory by any means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The book picks up sharply by mid pt and carries through to the end at a
pace almost brisk enough to mask some really bizarre police procedure/plot
tricks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But getting much better<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fated-Verus-Novel-Benedict-Jacka/dp/1937007294/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351568675&sr=1-6&keywords=fated" target="_blank">Fated</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bennedict Jacka</span></div>
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<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330906653l/11737387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330906653l/11737387.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">So, I found this book in a Hastings (yes, they still
exist; no don’t ask what I was doing in one) and read the 1<sup>st</sup> two
chapters before I was called away for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was in such a hurry to go eat crappy Mexican that I didn’t buy it then
and there, but I was interested enough to rectify that as soon as I got back
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about a diviner in London who
gets forced back into the game (of magic-k-k-k) he abandoned years ago when it
screwed him over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The back story is uber
similar to that of our unreliable narrator in Kate Griffen’s Matthew Swift
books, but this narrator is totally different and the plot less dense, more
straight forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s basically a quest
to see who can retrieve a magical doohickey first, but the good guys and bad
guys rapidly turn into murky assholes and there are no guarantees that even
allies have our lead’s best interests at heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This reads quickly, the plot gels nicely, and the side characters are
solidly crafted and entertaining enough for me to want to see more of
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt that the author handled the
tricksey plot point of how a guy who can see the future might get into trouble
nicely, and I will make a point of grabbing the next in the series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cinder-Book-One-Lunar-Chronicles/dp/0312641893/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351569157&sr=1-1&keywords=cinder" target="_blank">Cinder<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">By Marissa Meyer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">B+<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeFz6aKrPLkr0ZJpWK0WdZXc9rZktNYKWIXR5zDQAsPknxYRCkgyJfMfS62KRnkfoML97Sf6rgJEqlsgbXIuYhA8KhIIM49ZVpqlsoOpQO3qn4L0tOM6s0NFgrvu-EC12Y2v4pku2xLrB/s1600/Cinder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeFz6aKrPLkr0ZJpWK0WdZXc9rZktNYKWIXR5zDQAsPknxYRCkgyJfMfS62KRnkfoML97Sf6rgJEqlsgbXIuYhA8KhIIM49ZVpqlsoOpQO3qn4L0tOM6s0NFgrvu-EC12Y2v4pku2xLrB/s1600/Cinder.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This book is so . . . almost cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a re-telling(ish) of Cinderella set in
far future China and stars a human who’s been cybernetically enhanced, which is
a stigma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s also the best robotic
mechanic in the city, and she ends up meeting the prince through her work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also a plague that is decimating the
populace, a possibly evil and certainly Dr. Meingela-esq doctor trying to find
a cure, a foreign dignitary on the prowl, and a step-mother from hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plot is brisk, and the descriptions of
new Beijing are great, but something just feels a little lacking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s because we know some elements of
the story too well? Not sure, but I will say that I figured the ‘big secret’
from the word go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that made a lot of
the buildup irritating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, I’m a wee
bit pissy that this is a trilogy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just
felt like it could have been streamlined, but wasn’t because, hey, trilogies
are the way to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the whole, I would
say pick it up in paperback when the next one comes out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because what have we learned today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sometimes things get better as they go
along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #323232; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A note on Grading: on my Scale
A=I might buy the hardback; B=pay trade cover price; C=get it used or from the
bargain bin; D=used if you’re in to self flagellation; F=what, are you stupid?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-77865013373171419772012-10-29T20:18:00.000-07:002012-12-06T21:19:24.668-08:00Lemon Cupcakes with Salted Chocolate Ganache<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p>The most randomly good thing, maybe ever?</o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The best, and my-<em>everyone’s</em>- personal favourite boss’ last day was
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him I would make him
cupcakes and he requested chocolate and lemon.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Cricketts.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But, it turns out, he’s not as crazy as I thought he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These damn things are actually delicious and
in no way have I been eating the leftover frosting like it was . . .
frosting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Om nom nom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">BONUS: spent the whole prep time making up a song to <a href="http://journal.neilgaiman.com/search/label/lemon-scented%20sticky%20bats" target="_blank">Lemon ScentedSticky Bats</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you do.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lemon
Cupcakes</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">¾ cup sugar</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2 small, very ripe lemons</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1 cup plus 2 tsp unbleached flour</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2 tsp cornstarch</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1/8 teaspoon salt</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2 large eggs, room temperature</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1 ¼ teaspoons pure vanilla extract</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4 tsp unsalted butter, melted</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">¼ cup vegetable oil</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">½ cup milk, room temperature<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Zest the lemons into the sugar, mixing until sugar
becomes moist and starts to clump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allow
to sit for at least 10 minutes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a 12-cup muffin tin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Whisk the flour with the cornstarch, baking powder and salt.<b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Mix the sugar with the eggs and vanilla
extract at medium-high speed until smooth and thickened, about 3 minutes. Add
the butter and oil, then beat until incorporated, scraping the bottom and side
of the bowl if needed. Add the dry flour and milk in alternating batches,
beating well between additions. Carefully pour the batter into the lined muffin
tins, filling them about two-thirds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bake the cupcakes in the center of the oven for 25 minutes or until
springy and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Chocolate Ganache<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">½ cup Heavy Cream</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4 oz Bittersweet Chocolate</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4 tbs unsalted butter</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">½ tbs Pink Sea Salt</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Plus 2 tablespoons more salt to sprinkle as garnish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In heavy, heat proof saucepan on low heat, melt the butter and
cream with the ½ tablespoon of salt, stirring as needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crumble the dark chocolate into the hot cream
and swirl until mixed. Remove from heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Allow to cool until slightly thickened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dunk cupcakes into ganache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Allow to dry, 20-30 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dunk
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sprinkle the sea salt over the
tops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Serve and accept accolades with
grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-15484402202015286712012-04-27T10:00:00.001-07:002012-12-06T21:19:35.665-08:00Make Ahead Enchilades<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is another staple recipe that I like to make in big batches,
then freeze in smaller (individual or small group) containers to finish baking
when needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically, I designed it so
that while it might take an hour or two to put it all together on a Sunday,
next Wednesday it should take all of 20 minutes to heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As always with basic recipes, variations are
encouraged. For instance, sometimes I throw in a tablespoon of chopped cilantro to the chicken mixture.</span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<i><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Enchiladas:<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3 ancho chiles shredded</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1 medium onion, peeled & quartered</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3 tbs minced garlic</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2 tbs cumin</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1 1/2 tsp coriander</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1/2 tsp oregano</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 1/2 cups canned tomato sauce (20
ounces)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3 tbp tomato paste</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Salt and freshly ground pepper</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3 tbs extra-virgin olive oil</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1 large onion, thinly sliced (3 cups)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4 cups shredded cooked chicken (I
recommend the cheap supermarket variety</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/4 cup chopped cilantro</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3/4 pound cheddar cheese, shredded (3
cups)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Salt and freshly ground pepper</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vegetable oil for frying</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">16 tortillas</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Chopped onion, hot sauce
and/orsour cream optional for serving.)</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">SAUCE </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Add Chile, quartered onion, garlic, 1
tbs of the cumin, coriander, oregano, tomato sauce and paste, and 2 tsp of the
olive oil to a blender; season with salt and fresh pepper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Puree until smooth.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Spoon about 3/4 cup of the sauce into the
bottom of each of two shallow baking dishes.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ENCHILADAS <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Preheat the oven to 350°. In a skillet, heat the remaining 1 tbs of olive oil. Add the diced onion and cook
over moderate heat, stirring, until lightly browned, 10 minutes. Transfer to a
bowl to cool. Stir in the chicken, remaining cumin, cilantro and half of the
shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heat 1/4 inch of vegetable oil in a
large skillet. Add the tortillas 1 at a time and fry over low heat just until
pliable. Transfer to a paper towel–lined platet
and pat dry. Spoon 1/4 cup of the chicken filling into each tortilla then roll
up. Place the doobies in the baking dishes, seam side
down. Spoon the remaining chili sauce on top, spreading it to cover the
enchiladas. Dust with remaining cheese.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cover with foil and bake
for 45 minutes, until bubbling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I typically remove the foil halfway through
cooking to brown the cheese a bit. Let the enchiladas cool about 10 minutes. Can
be served with chopped onion, hot sauce and/or sour cream, if you
want to look all fancy.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong>This can be frozen prior to
baking and thawed out as need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or popped
into individual portions & put in the fridge for quick lunches. Just tack
on a extra 10 minutes to the bake time if freezing.</strong></span></span></span></div>
amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-43135515943190379982012-04-24T09:49:00.000-07:002012-12-06T21:19:49.687-08:00Lasagna<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently, a
friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, did the whole chemo and surgery thing,
and was recovering at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made a
couple of dishes that are super easy, super basic a very re-heatable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The types of things that can be portioned individually,
frozen or put into the fridge, and whipped back out as needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They aren’t staggering, life changing
versions of classic dishes, just good templates to start with, so feel free to
play around.<o:p></o:p></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<i><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Basic Lasagna:</span></span></u></i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1/2 pound ground beef chuck</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/2 pound ground sirloin</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">4 teaspoons minced garlic</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1/2 teaspoon dried oregano</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">32 oz crushed tomatoes</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2 cups chicken stock</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Salt and freshly ground pepper</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2 pounds fresh ricotta</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1 tbs parsley</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1 tbs basil</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1 pound whole-milk mozzarella, shredded
(3 cups)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1 large egg, beaten</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12 No-boil (or fresh) lasagna noodles</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat a TINY amount of olive oil until shimmering. Add the chuck and sirloin and cook over moderately high heat, breaking up meat, until no pink remains. Add the garlic, oregano and crushed red pepper then cook until fragrant. Stir in the tomatoes, add stock and season with salt and pepper then bring to a boil. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced to approximately 8 cups (about an hour.</span>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In a large bowl, combine the ricotta with the parsley, basil and 1/4 cup of the parmesan. Add two-thirds of the shredded mozzarella and season with salt and pepper. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fold in the egg.</span></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Preheat the oven to 375°. Spread 1 cup of sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. Line the dish with 4 overlapping noodles. Spread one-half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, and then top with one-half of the meat sauce. Repeat the layering with the remaining noodles, ricotta, and 1 ½ cup of the sauce. Top with 4 noodles and cover with remaining sauce. Toss the last cup of mozzarella with the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan and sprinkle over the lasagna.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bake the lasagna for about 45 minutes, or until the top is golden and crisp around the edges and the filling is bubbling. Let the lasagna rest for 20 minutes before serving.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><em>The lasagna can be refrigerated overnight (or frozen) before baking, or it can be baked ahead and then reheated in a 325° oven.</em></span></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-60551749847184805042012-04-23T11:28:00.001-07:002012-04-24T09:50:46.304-07:00Veggie Spaghetti<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is my basic,
quick and dirty on a week night, recipe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I never tell people about the anchovies replacing salt, (and they never
notice) but it deepens the flavor so very much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I make mine vegetarian, but beef or sausage is a great addition as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span>
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<br />
<i><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Spaghetti:</span></span></u></i><br />
</div>
1 <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">pound spaghetti</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3 tbs extra virgin olive oil</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 small sweet onion, minced</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 clove of garlic, minced</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 fillets of anchovy</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24oz crushed tomatoes </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">freshly ground pepper</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 tsp oregano</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">½ tsp rosemary</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2 tbp capers</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1/2 cup black olives, chopped</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 tbs fresh basil</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Bring a pot of well salted water to boil, add 1tbs of olive oil to pot. Toss in the spaghetti and cook until al dente; drain, reserving 1/3 cup of the pasta water.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the onion, garlic and anchovies and cook over medium heat until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, pepper, oregano, rosemary, capers, and olives and heat until just shy of boiling.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Add the pasta to the skillet along with the reserved cooking water and toss. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle with the basil and serve (Hopefully with garlic bread :)</span></span>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-38301930245066204822012-04-22T20:27:00.001-07:002012-04-22T20:27:03.187-07:00Lime Cream Tart with BlackberriesAh, fresh blackberries. Nothing in the world is better. But if you've decided that you can't just stuff them in your mouth until it turns deep plum anymore, this is a fantastic way to impress the crap out of people with surprisingly little labour.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><strong>L</strong></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><strong>ime Cream:</strong></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">1 cup sugar</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Zest of 3 limes</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">4 eggs</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">¾ cup lime juice</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">2 sticks + 5 tablespoons
unsalted butter</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">In a large saucepan, rub
zest into sugar until sugar is moist and aromatic. Whisk in eggs, then
lime juice.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Over medium heat CONTINUE
WHISKING. Cook until lime curd reaches 180 degrees by candy thermometer.
Don’t pretend you’re cool and leave this alone; it will die—WHISK
constantly as it thickens. It can take as long as 10 min. Remove
from heat. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Strain mixture into blender
(heat proof is a must on this one.) Discard zest. Let cream stand
until it cools to 140 degrees. Turn on high and add the butter 5 pieces
at a time, scrapping as needed. Once the butter is all in, keep going for
about 3 minutes. If your blender starts to stink like burning, go
in intervals.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Put cream in container and
cover with cling film flat to cream surface. Refrigerate for at least 4
hrs or overnight. When ready to use, whisk lightly and spoon into tart
shell.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Tart Shell:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">1 ½ cups flour</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">½ cup confectioners’ sugar</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">1 tsp candied ginger</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">¼ salt</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">1 stick plus 1 tablespoon
frozen butter in tiny pieces</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">1 egg yolk</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Chuck flour, sugar, ginger,
and salt into a food processor and pulse to stir. Scatter butter over dry
ingredients and pulse until butter in cut in—like looks a little like oatmeal
with peas in. Stir yolk to break apart and pour into machine, then pulse.
Pulse in 10 second intervals until dough starts to clump up (the machine
will change noise, and as soon as it does, stop.) Turn dough onto counter
and knead gently. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">PAM a 9 inch tart pan.
Press dough into pan, paying attention to edges. It shrinks during
baking, so I go up over the top a bit. Freeze the crust for at least 30
minutes prior to baking. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Heat oven to 375 degrees.
PAM a piece of aluminum foil and fit it against the crust. Put tart
onto baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil. If it
puffed up, press it down gently and cool on rack. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Topping:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">1 pound blackberries</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">1 tablespoon sugar</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">1 tsp ground ginger</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I used frozen, put them in
a dish with a bit of sugar and ginger and let them warm up on the counter. </span><span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>To complete</u><strong>:</strong></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Spoon cream into shell.
Smooth cream. Toss on blackberries. Serve.</span>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-48376289417187308912012-04-11T13:26:00.001-07:002012-04-11T13:26:40.883-07:00The Great Book Back-Log, Part ISo, I may have been bad and super AWOL for a while. So sorry, scuzi, scuzi. But I'm back! So let's catch up! First up on the roster: BOOKS, and coming soon: More Books! <br />
To Begin:<br />
<br />
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sins-Shadows-Lyn-Benedict/dp/0441017118/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334165475&sr=8-1"><span style="color: blue;">Sin
and Shadows</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><img src="http://www.angela-spencer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Sins-and-Shadows-Lyn-Benedict-Paper16-med.jpg" /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by
Lyn Benedict<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A-<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is an intriguing blend of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033870/" target="_blank">Maltese Falcon</a></i> style noir and paranormal elements, and I was
generally pleased with the brisk plot, interesting characters, and reasonably
surprising ending. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t totally
prepared for how dark the tone was, and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mis
en scene</i> start caught me a bit flat footed, but once the ground settled I
was drawn in and will certainly pick up the next in the series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really, the only drawback was a tendency to
whine on the part of the lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this
is a complaint that can be leveled at 99.9% of Urban Fantasy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this flaw was more than accounted for by
the fact that our heroine had all of no superpowers that magically downloaded
while her enemies swarmed her-unless you count being willing and able to kill
things/people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically, the possible
demi-god of justice hires/blackmails our lead Sylvie into helping him hunt his
missing lover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along the way the plot
smacks into the story of Lilith and exile from Eden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All sorts of supernatural creatures pop up
and no one, from Sylvie to any of the extras is wholly good or evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which gets a gold star from me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some unwelcome Angels in the Outfield
bits, but I enjoy that, like in <a href="http://www.tv.com/shows/supernatural/"><span style="color: blue;">Supernatural</span></a>,
they’re dicks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Firelight-Darkest-London-Kristen-Callihan/dp/1455508594/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334165637&sr=1-1"><span style="color: blue;">Firelight</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbruwMTUNV9FE98bRtHVCdBmVd-yVFIrt8Nlb9ksqHjn2taX4JMxcSkw6aG9ntY64LVqf3Irt-exSfuZG4wwiyoD60dzKO3QjqhZy6qfCuZFec2Cc0cOWNZn1fOSaeV2qvIG0QsbMk2qY/s1600/firelight.jpg" /><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by
Kristen Callihan<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B+<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">such</i>
a random buy, and boy were my expectations low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a paranormal regency romance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has enormous fun with the tropes of both genres and creates a froth
that tastes a bit like syllabub and is just as enjoyable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The characters are engaging, recognizable as
both Regency and Urban archetypes (not a bad thing when done purposefully and
with an agenda) and the plot moves swiftly and maintains interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A man who’s been cursed with eternal life and
a girl who’s a pyro fall in lurv and are stalked by a crazy cultist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Magic and/or lurv save them. And the heroine is
surprisingly kick ass without seeming ridiculous for regency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, there are a lot of twists that a
careful reader will see coming, but I didn’t really feel too irritated by
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This isn’t fiction to change your
life, but strangely, I feel that way too many straight up Urban Fantasy writers
should be taking notes on how to craft entertainment without resorting to cheap
sex scenes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The romance novel does it right, how weird is
that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Demon-Kara-Gillian-Book/dp/055359236X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334165686&sr=1-1"><span style="color: blue;">Blood
of the Demon</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<img src="http://scooper.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/bloodofthedemonroland.jpg" /><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by
Diana Rowland<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is an improvement over the first book, make no
mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something is sucking out souls
in our tiny Louisiana township and our resident demon summoner and her FBI pals
are on the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which involves rich
dead folk, an increasing amount of weird from her BFF partner, and the looming
threat that her aunt’s comma will become permanent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meta-narrative is starting to shape up
nicely as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There seems to be a lot
more going on with her Demonic Lord then just smexy times and snarky small
talk. Or even world domination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll admit
to being intrigued. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plot is still
brisk, the characters deeper and their interactions both believable and
seemingly related to the plot and each other. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve
still got a ways to go on making the mystery believable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The villain is still easily spotted, the
mystery not all that compelling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hell,
even a few of the set piece ‘dangers’ are pretty familiar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What bothers me most, however, is the weird
sense I get that our lead, Kara, is being punished for being sexually
active.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like it’s naughty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dunno, maybe that’s all in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it’s still interesting enough that I
read it fast and wanted to read the next one, so complaints aside, a solid
second entry.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sliver-Shadow-Abby-Sinclair-No/dp/1439198349/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334165728&sr=1-1"><span style="color: blue;">A
Sliver of Shadows</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<img src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1321566850l/11929939.jpg" /><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by
Alison Pang<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wait, you mean I paid <u>the monies</u> for a sequel to A
Brush of Darkness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After slamming it mercilessly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And this is one of those rare instances where a crap-tastic first novel
is followed by a pretty darned enjoyable second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many, many of the problems that I despised
in the first are fixed or absent in this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And honestly, I can’t even say to pick up the first in discount or used
bins though, just skip it and jump straight in with this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time we’ve got another round of AWOL
Moira, but now it’s complicated with ½ angel babies, imposter regents,
the closing of the gates between Faerie and our world, and Abby’s Past with a capitol
P.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The snark works, and the dialogue is
snippy, fast and really enjoyable-to the point of actually being funny at
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once our heroine gets into
faerie, things get interesting I enjoyed the depiction of the court system and
(maybe intentionally, maybe not) LOL’d lots at the depictions of the demon army
as goth rock skater types.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone’s
back story gets deeper, murkier, and stronger, and even the succubus ex isn’t entirely
irritating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the cliffhanger ending,
while super convoluted and I’m still not 100% on board with it, did leave me
wanting more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall, a pleasant
surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Black-Howl-Wings-Christina-Henry/dp/1937007332/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334165774&sr=1-1"><span style="color: blue;">Black
Howl</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<img src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1319081401l/11617031.jpg" /><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by
Christina Henry<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B-<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the <em>less</em> pleasant side, the Black Wings novels
seem to be heading in the other direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While the first book was interesting and novel, the subsequent ones have
been less and less so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This outing,
Maddie Black is still dealing with her new role as Lucifer’s favourite, and now
ghosts are walking around without an approved and time stamped agent of death
to aid in the transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the
werewolf pack she befriended last time is in trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plot moves quickly, but there are few
surprises, including the fact that the two big twist are so obvious that any close reader, or one familiar
with genre tropes will see them coming from miles off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The villains are villainous, mostly just for
the sake of being evil, and the good guys are as often annoying as they are brilliant/resourceful/fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what’s most depressing is that this book
could function as a master class on why actual human speech, or even emotional
head space is NOT THE SAME as well written dialogue or exposition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just because I obsess about stupid shit, or
have the same conversation six times with my roommate before she gets the point
doesn’t mean I want or will enjoy reading that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just because it’s real doesn’t mean it’s good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fine line between real and realistic was
lost here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the point that one conversation repeated
every time our heroes did anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
isn’t belaboring the point obnoxious? </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may have hit the point where I get the next
one used and see if there’s any improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A note on Grading: on my Scale
A=I might buy the hardback; B=pay trade cover price; C=get it used or from the
bargain bin; D=used if you’re in to self flagellation; F=what, are you stupid?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-47990029944216227412012-02-14T21:49:00.000-08:002012-02-14T21:49:00.346-08:00Today Did Not Suck<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">[Warning:
Contains Soap Box]<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s Valentines’ Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Insert derision here:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> _______</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More importantly, I feel pretty today, oddly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like my makeup (variations on a theme of
pink chocolate) and my hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s cold,
truly cold, for like the second time this year, so I’m proving that I still
know how to build a layered outfit (grey knit knee highs, brown cargos, pink
bra, grey tank, pink thermal knit long sleeve, blue merino sweater, blue
skullie, brown boots.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I'm eating a quickie lunch w/ my friend-boy, at his house, and the word "steak" has been bandied about. Yum. OVerall, a low key, low stress duck and dodge of a day. Except.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The boy, whom I
have said multiple times is more for our mutual convenience than for any kind
of romantic love, has pulled off a minor key, major holy-shit coup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My Day:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8am: @<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/neilhimself"><span style="color: blue;">Neilhimself</span></a>’s
Harlequin Valentine audio: because this is my gift to myself for an inherently irritating
holiday of angst and faux.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11:00am: Explain to boss-again-that I need to leave
for lunch early so I can have 5.7 seconds in the same place and time as my
murse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12:00pm: Arrive at boy’s house to nearly done
ribeyes and <a href="http://www.lecole.com/"><span style="color: blue;">L’Ecole 41</span></a> Syrah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.hulu.com/fringe?src=favnav"><span style="color: blue;">Fringe</span></a>’s “Welcome to Westfield”
is already queued up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12:10pm: Oh holy cats do I love Fringe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LOVE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lovelovelove.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12:45pm: Clean up his kitchen (He cooks, I
clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, we’ve only got a 30 minute
overlap to work with here, okay?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12:55pm:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get
in car only to realize that at sone point he’d ganked and returned my keys in
order to get in my car and put the new <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/jan/23/leonard-cohen-old-ideas-stream"><span style="color: blue;">Leonard
Cohen</span></a> in my sound system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1:05pm: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Late
getting back to work because I was listening to new Leonard Cohen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5:02pm:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get
CD out of car, only to realize that he’s actually burned me a copy and titled
it “Crazy to Love You” thereby eliminating all the angst that had been building
about my “friendboy” maybe trying to become a “boyfriend.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I’ve listened to that song, and I’m
okay with being that girl. And he is too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Best Over Commercialized Holliday EVA!<o:p></o:p></span></div>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-20037955776862726632012-02-13T20:31:00.000-08:002012-02-13T20:34:27.932-08:00MOAR Books!<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Okay, so I’ve been crazy post holidays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I got my reading fix in, sometimes
I didn’t even get a run in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve had
insanely nice weather, so that last part hurts my heart a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But things are settling, or they will as soon
as I get back from Vegas (assuming I don’t die (always possible the way I do
Vegas.))<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the books I managed
to get read in late December/January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span>
<br />
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<br />
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Good</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:</span></b></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Anna-Dressed-Blood-Kendare-Blake/dp/0765328658/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329192839&sr=1-1"><span style="color: blue;">Anna
Dressed in Blood</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<img src="http://kendareblake.com/images/anna-cover.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Kendare Blake<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In a sea of utter and depressing sameness this stands out like a shiny,
gore drenched scalpel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I went looking
for a book in YA over the holidays and got lost because 90% of the titles had
the exact same cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Black binding. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pretty girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Falling/blood/feathers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve seen them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ve taken over EVERYTHING.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A boy with a legacy of ghost hunting ends up
in a town with a big, nasty ghost via a tip and his own obsession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea of a kid living on the edges of
society is handled remarkably well, as are the High School interactions and
budding friendship/sidekicks angle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything
is familiar to genre fans, and rings bells for Supernatural fans as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The joy is that the author knows this, and works
it, not for post hipster irony, but for fun snap-changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the thing that resonates most deeply is
the relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mother-son
dynamic which starts out false and weak and gradually changes to fierce and
believable; the ghost/hunter soap opera, which consistently and surprisingly
resists <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">becoming</i> a soap opera, and
the reactions of all of the side characters which struck true to the bone
without fail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall, solid proof that
YA is not just a wasteland of Twi-hard knockoffs and well worth picking up,
even at hardcover prices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bite-Me-Story-Christopher-Moore/dp/B005ZO59AM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329192898&sr=1-1"><span style="color: blue;">Bite
Me</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<img src="http://thebookpedler.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/bite-me1.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Christopher Moore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A-<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh how I love Christopher Moore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He writes: I buy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The very first book I ever got of his was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blood Sucking Fiends,</i> and I never looked
back—but it also means that I have a warm fuzzy spot in my heart for Jody and
Tommy and to be fair I did not love <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You
Suck: A Love Story.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This mostly
redeems that, though the original is still ever so much better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s funny, it’s fluffy, and it makes a fair
number of salient points more than willing to sneak up and bite you if you let
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While not as BuymeBuymeNOW as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dirty Job</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lamb,</i> it’s still enjoyable, especially for long term fans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><br />
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shaedes-Gray-Shaede-Assassin-Novel/dp/0451235290/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329192929&sr=1-1"><span style="color: blue;">Shaedes
of Grey</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEgpD980LM_VY-8bXI1-rA68yjfn_Yi04mzSm5v4Xg9WkrHmT3g3PdDsbzv5mzNxCeRKrkUvyxKkHm3J5v_CSMMJqydjxGm-7XXRl9bvTWPT5gB5MGvX0JlYLUEyLJoofiXWqO4bW8x0/s1600/shaedes.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Amanda Bonilla<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A-</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is paranormal romance, pay no attention to the
fact that our lead is an assassin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
graded on that curve, it’s really enjoyable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A girl who is more than human and the only one of her kind is hired to
kill a man who may be just like her and this sets her on a journey to discover
her own heritage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our lead is saved from
being irritating by the author’s bold choice to make her wrong about just about
everything, all of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
probably unsustainable for future books, but it balances her certainty about
life nicely this go-round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The romantic
lead/s are fun and intriguing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The villain
is less of a guessing game and more of a suspense thing, but still motivating
enough to make a fast read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bits of the
ending could have been less obvious, hence the minus, but overall, still a
brisk, solid start to a series that promises to be an excellent distraction and
time suck.</span></div>
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<br /> </div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Demon-Kara-Gillian-Book/dp/0553592351/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329192414&sr=8-1"><span style="color: blue;">Mark
of the Demon</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHfLqV_1ZaX3sTDzyMeia3MrNaAIHwUWznnNseUD5pSH6tKtZtOEGfenDamNNNiQmAB_BKktJj9GD5Qim0QSmL3kc0xsc3zOlJ-WEt_UwdTh4W1XFrDDUHAERtowplrSpPKIXEdwb7bFz/s1600/Mark-of-the-Demon_Rowland1.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Diana Rowland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was a bit of a surprise for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Based on the covers and back blurb, I spent
years assuming this would fall on the unfortunately icky side of Paranormal
ROMANCE, but recent additions to the series changed to a more intriguing cover,
so I picked it up again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And sure
enough, can’t judge by covers, because it was actually light on romance, long
on paranormal and for a first time author, quite solid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did fail my sex in the first book test
rapidly and spectacularly, but redeemed itself by having the protagonist slowly
realize that she’d been manipulated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
biggest drawback is that the villain is instantly recognizable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some twists, and I read it
fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall, a good enough start that
I just bought the second one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At cover price
even.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Romances</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I just want to shut out the world; when I’m
overwhelmed by life, or when I just want to turn off my life, I reach for
romances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I admit it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Typically I go in for Regency, but occasionally I pick up a ‘save me’
rescue fantasy, which so often involves a serial killer as a villain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I actually like the ‘oh my god this
is dumb’ moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to some family
being extra gold star over the holidays, I went into my local used book
store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Duke-Mine-Eloisa-James/dp/0062021281/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329192960&sr=1-1"><span style="color: blue;">The
Duke is Mine</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<img src="http://romanceaddict91.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/the-duke-is-mine.jpg?w=470" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Eloisa James</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B+</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I liked this book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just to be clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed it,
and won’t mind reading more by the author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Have to get that out there, because I am about to jump on my soap box
and rant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book should have been an
A+.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The leads are flawed, but really
likable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The obstacles are both
realistic enough to buy into and silly enough to still be a vacation from real
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are tear jerk moments, and
funny moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is also a
secondary romantic obstacle that the author straight up tells us in the notes
is named after Forest Gump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because he’s
mentally slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this is NOT handled
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the edges of the text are hints
of what might have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reality of
being a mentally handicapped first born son in the age of primogeniture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reality of being engaged to one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have given this book to every single
person I knew if it had gone in for making him the real lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s almost a joke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then he dies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normally, I hesitate when people say that
killing characters who transgress boundaries is indicative of secret hate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time I see the logic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish our lead had married him, and that
this had been that book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oddly, the
author seems capable of writing that book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe I’m wishing too much into it, but I swear moments of that book are
in here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barring that, I wish the heroine
had simply broken it off with him rather than had him die a hero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole final few chapters feel like
something out of a very different book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t even know what to
say, really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Missed opportunities,
mostly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Killer-Jaci-Burton/dp/0778312593/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329193152&sr=1-3"><span style="color: blue;">Heart
of a Killer</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<img src="http://badassbookreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/The-Heart-of-a-Killer.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Jaci Burton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">D+</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A detective’s high school flame returns for his
adoptive parents’ anniversary after vanishing for years in order to be a super
spy only to have the past catch up to them both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>. . . so silly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not just the
super easy game of Spot-the-Villain, or the tired plot, or even the ‘a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">4 year old</i> could write that’ plots
points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really bad characterizations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the ridiculous idea of what cops are
like, or how they talk, or what their work environment is like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might not like cops on a general level, but
I do know a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hell, even if I just
used the show “COPS” to base off of (always a bad plan) I’d call Bullshit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, the special ops hero gets a fake FBI
badge—and then an offer to join the FBI for realsies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the love of suspension of disbelief
people!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything about the plot is
arbitrary, a because the author says so irritation that is so damn sloppy that
it takes all of the So Bad it’s Good fun out of my reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why isn’t this a D- then?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because it’s fairly hot, and balanced with
sweet, and I know a lot of people are into that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, if that’s your kink, this may be for
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole reunion of sweethearts
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go team that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your thing is mystery or suspense though,
look elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pick it up used if you
do bother.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A
note on Grading: on my Scale A=I might buy the hardback; B=pay trade cover
price; C=get it used or from the bargain bin; D=used if you’re in to self
flagellation; F=what, are you stupid?</span></span></o:p></span></div>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-46749362831116335552012-01-19T20:55:00.000-08:002012-01-19T20:55:52.761-08:00Pumpkin Curry<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love curry, and I love pumpkin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This isn’t a riddle, it’s just, well, new
math?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dunno, it’s delicious is what it
is.<o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 pound chicken thighs (or breasts if you’re that
person)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ tablespoon olive oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 cup jasmine rice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 ½ cup chicken stock (I use homemade turkey; if you’ve
got it, flaunt it)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ cup dry white wine</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ cup water</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">¼ of a medium white onion, diced</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 cloves garlic, minced</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3 small carrots, diced</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3 large celery stalks, cut ¼ inch thick</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ cup canned pumpkin purée</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ cup coconut milk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 tablespoons curry powder (I recommend hot to balance
the sweet)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ teaspoon smoked sea salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fresh cracked pepper to taste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Sauté chicken in the
olive oil over medium heat until just done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Set aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile, bring the
stock, wine and water to a boil in a large sauce pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add rice and simmer until al dente.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the pan used for the chicken, caramelize the
onion, adding a little more oil if needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Add the garlic and the carrots and stir until carrots are just beginning
to soften.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add the pumpkin puree and the
milk, stirring well until combined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
add the salt and pepper, and the curry powder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I strongly suggest that you add the curry slowly, and taste as you
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heat of the curry counters the
sweet of the pumpkin, but if you’re at all leery of over spicing the dish,
taste it as you add.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring to a simmer
and add celery, chicken, and rice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leave
on heat for about 2 minutes and then serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And great for leftovers!
Okay, so I’m the only person I know who gets excited for leftovers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But still, yum. </span>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-44579480281672671012011-12-31T09:20:00.000-08:002011-12-31T09:20:17.064-08:00Self Indulgent Year End Fun<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Year end best of lists are cliché and
<em>mandatory</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What can I say? I’m wildly original.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5
Albums I’ve had on Repeat<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was a lot to like in music this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I limited it by album because while any band
can put out a great single, a full album of awesome has become pretty rare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Joy Formidable, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Big Roar<o:p></o:p></i></span></u></b></div>
<img height="300" id="il_fi" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416du8A8htL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="300" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was late to this game, brought in by a remix of “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgF6_u7OZ40"><span style="color: blue;">Cradle”</span></a> that I couldn’t get
out of my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as soon as I found
my way in, I got so utterly lost that I put it on all of my mix tapes, sought
out tour dates, and pretty much listened to it until my roommate yelled at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bon
Iver, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bon Iver</i><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<img height="450" id="il_fi" src="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/state-of-the-arts/Bon-Iver-Album-Cover1.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="450" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Um, so I guess some people hate this? Whatever,
their issue, not mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love it, especially
“<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo6lKQYVUBU"><span style="color: blue;">Perth</span></a>” but also all
the rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even love that one night,
just before drifting off, I realized that some songs sound an awful lot like
the soundtrack to Labyrinth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, there
are worse things out there than David Bowie comparisons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Kills, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blood
Pressures<o:p></o:p></i></span></u></b></div>
<img height="300" id="il_fi" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51W9SN%2BFJxL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="300" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I <3 The Kills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This might not be the best album ever, but by golly is it
enjoyable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hniPVDz12bc"><span style="color: blue;"> raucous</span></a>, and also<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC3dgkpOrEg"><span style="color: blue;"> sad</span></a>, and while it is immediately
recognizable as theirs, it still steps them forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I likes it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tune-yards
,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> WhoKill</i><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<img height="260" id="il_fi" src="http://c438342.r42.cf2.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/tune-yards-who-kill-260x260.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="260" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first song I heard was “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ1LI-NTa2s&ob=av2e"><span style="color: blue;">Bizness</span></a>” and
I was equal parts weirded out and impressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then I heard “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbkMPHW67xM&ob=av2e"><span style="color: blue;">Gangsta</span></a>” and
it was a game changer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told everyone I
knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I became that irritating friend on
Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry friends (or un-friends
as the case mightn’t be.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is unlike
anything and utterly wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So long
as you like your* wonderful a little on the wild side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">James Vincent McMorrow, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Early
in the Morning<o:p></o:p></i></span></u></b></div>
<img height="400" id="il_fi" src="http://www.coverdude.com/covers/james-vincent-mcmorrow-early-in-the-morning-front-cover-66744.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I really had this dude pegged as a one song wonder
with “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR3HRMO7nZg&ob=av2n"><span style="color: blue;">We Don’t
Eat</span></a>,” but the album as a whole snuck up on me and became me go-to What do I
Want to Play Today choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, it’s
Indie/Pop/Folk and yes, there’s a debt to Bon Iver in there, but damned if it
isn’t worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perfect lazy afternoon
soundtrack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*This is why spellcheck is evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wants me to spell a possessive as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YOU’RE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Idiots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5
Books that Blew Me Away<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was a good year for my reading habits (i.e., I got
a lot in) and many of the best weren’t even published this year and are thereby
disqualified (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Drood</i> (A+) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Palimpsest</i> (A+) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord of Light</i> (is there a A++?))<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Genre books saw a resurgence of authors willing to tamper with boundaries
and come up with truly new and occasionally profound ideas, and the mainstream
market kept stealing from fantasy and then shamefacedly denying that it had
done any such thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are my personal favourites:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><em>1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></em></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780307276681-7"><span style="color: blue;"><em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swamplandia!</em></span></a> by Karen Russel<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<img height="400" id="il_fi" src="http://images.indiebound.com/995/263/9780307263995.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="270" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes, I know it’s everyone’s number
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a reason for that and I
tell you now, you will know that reason within the first few pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book is all kinds of magic and worth every
penny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><em>2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></em></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780756406837-0"><span style="color: blue;"><em>One Salt Sea</em></span></a><em> by</em> Seanan McGuire</span></b></div>
<img height="452" id="il_fi" src="http://www.fantasybookcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/OneSaltSea.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="280" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">McGuire’s always been a step ahead of the game, but
with this book she took leaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lyrical,
hard hitting and deeply affecting, she blends myths, noir, humour, and the
personal attachment readers get to long running characters, to build something
that is much more than the sum of its parts, or even the sum of its plot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well done indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781599290591-0"><span style="color: blue;">Spectrum 18</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<img height="540" id="il_fi" src="http://www.openlettersmonthly.com/issue/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/spectrum-18.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="413" /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love art because I am totally inept at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also why I like dancing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started picking these up to remind myself
about all the pretty book covers I’d read between, and kept at it because they
are filled with amazing illustrations and crazy cool art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Browse through one first-they’re an
investment piece, and if it’s your cuppa, pay the real cover price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These people work hard, and aren’t making
much back out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like to see them
continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><em>4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></em></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781597800655-1"><span style="color: blue;"><em>Grey</em></span></a> by Jon Armstrong<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<img height="500" id="il_fi" src="http://www.strangehorizons.com/2007/20070402/grey.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="323" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This book is just great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Punkish, frank, frightening, and absolutely
fresh, it looks at the dystopian future in a new light—fashion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wow</i>
does it work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a challenging piece,
and won’t be for everyone, but if you like a little grit and a lot of high
concept mixed with a liberal dose crazy, you’re in for a treat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><em>5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></em></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9780316041232-0"><span style="color: blue;"><em>The Midnight Mayor</em></span></a> by Kate Griffin</span></b></div>
<img height="540" id="il_fi" src="http://www.orbitbooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Griffin_Midnight-Mayor-HC1.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="357" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Speaking of both new and series, this is another
instance where a standing series leaps forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have no shame in my love of Matthew Swift, his neon angels, his gritty
London, and his deserves-accolades author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But in the second book in the series, everything is flashier, faster and
just <em>more</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a wonderful series and
such a welcome addition to the Urban Fantasy scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, I cannot express how happy I am that
next year will bring me MOAR.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5
Amazing Time Sucks<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Funny or Die</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some of them are dumb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I tell myself, stop this madness, and
then I stumble on <a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/d044421cd6/drunk-history-christmas-with-ryan-gosling-jim-carrey-and-eva-mendes"><span style="color: blue;">Drunk
History “The Night Before Christmas</span></a>” and hours later I emerge, blinking in
the natural light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Click at your own
risk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://theoatmeal.com/"><span style="color: blue;">The Oatmeal</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Always good for a giggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And also a fellow runner (though this freak
does ultras, so extra crazy points.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://thebloggess.com/"><span style="color: blue;">The Bloggess</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The internet phenomenon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one, the only, the actually funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon you too will follow her on twitter and
Friend <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beyonce-the-giant-metal-chicken/245571305466603"><span style="color: blue;">Beyonce.
</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chicken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/"><span style="color: blue;">People of Walmart</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is my Sunday morning lay in favourite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stay in bed and laugh at my fellow
idiots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://damnyouautocorrect.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Damn You Auto Correct!</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The best thing Steve Jobs never did, but still
secretly had a hand in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not updated all
that often, but worth it when it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t even care if some are faked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
are wondrous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5
TV Shows I Get Home on Time For<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TV is for lazy people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also for tired people, sick people and
people who just need to hit pause for a minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are shows like
make me feel better, even when they make me feel worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.tv.com/shows/justified/"><span style="color: blue;">Justified</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<img height="300" id="il_fi" src="http://cdn.screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/Timothy-Olyphant-as-Raylan-Givens-Justified-season-3-FX.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="570" /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; tab-stops: 121.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Um, this is the best thing on
TV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is all.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.hulu.com/archer?src=favnav"><span style="color: blue;">Archer</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/313256/archer-what-would-archer-do-in-a-winter-wonderland"><img alt="Archer" border="0" src="http://assets.huluim.com/shows/key_art_archer.jpg" style="max-width: 920px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why are all the good things now on FX?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is so weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a love it or hate it thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lean to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And tea spitting giggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.tv.com/shows/the-mentalist/"><span style="color: blue;">The Mentalist</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<img height="250" id="il_fi" src="http://www.yidio.com/showimages/the_mentalist_186x250.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="186" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WHY are none of your episodes available online
EVER?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate that, because if I miss
even one, I’m pretty much F*ed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To recap
why it’s great? The episode where they let the viewer self congratulate on
figuring out the villain, get angry when they figured out the villain so fast, and then
turned us on our heads by how they “caught” the villain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go team Jane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8OmISLI5Ck"><span style="color: blue;">Grimm</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<img height="240" id="il_fi" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AL7DAZ5RL._SX320_SY240_.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All I can say is that in one episode, dude basically
gets murdered by a shake weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
all kinds of awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I may have a
crush on Monroe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a little.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.tv.com/news/the-vampire-diaries-my-mourning-racket-27155/"><span style="color: blue;">The
Vampire Diaries</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<img height="326" id="il_fi" src="http://www.vampire-diaries.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/foursomepromo.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="436" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Um, so I really tried not to put this on my list,
but not to would be LYING.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just
started watching this season and somehow ended up buying the first 2
sight unseen on Black Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may
or may not* be why I was out at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure,
they’re a guilty pleasure, but they may also be addictive like crack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tasty, tasty crack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*MAY<o:p></o:p></span></div>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-87968923824171695552011-12-29T15:40:00.001-08:002011-12-29T19:33:01.947-08:00Book Binge<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">I</span>’ve been a little more choosey since Borders went
under and there’s no longer a <em><u><strong>SINGLE</strong></u></em> book store on my side of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you feel the bitter hatred?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s there in spades, believe me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which means there’s a little less snark on
this go round, but I think <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might be
grading a little more harshly too, with no true stinkers to balance things out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also means that I’m reading a bit less because
I’ve having to a) drive b) wait until I can find time to spare & c) budget,
because, hey, aren’t we all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway,
this is what I’ve been wasting my time on this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780425237519-1"><span style="color: blue;">Grave Secret</span></a></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;"> by Charlaine Harris<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">A<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
<img height="500" id="il_fi" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51E4VozoVZL.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="331" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">This is the fourth, and not sure, but maybe final (?)
book in </span><a href="http://www.charlaineharris.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Charlaine Harris’</span></a><span style="color: black;"> series
about a lightning struck southern girl whose special ability is to find the
bodies of dead people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the last book
some inevitable plot spoilers took place, and in this one the audience gets the
reward of everyone being just about as awkward about it as we would be in their
shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author would have had to jump through
some pretty impressive hoops to ignore this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is also the book we all knew was coming,
the one where Harper finally finds out what happened to her sister all those
years and white trash wonders ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
a doozey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was perfectly pleased by the
way the relationships developed and unraveled, came together and fell
apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plot(s) are entertaining and
well crafted, and Harris puts her background as a mystery writer to good use in
giving us just enough clues to put it together while still managing to
surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the whole, if this is the
last, it went out on a strong and satisfying note, and if it goes on, I have
reasonable hopes of them continuing to entertain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While neither as swooningly romantic nor as
funny as the </span><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780441020157-0"><span style="color: blue;">Sookie
Stackhouse</span></a><span style="color: black;"> books for which she is better known, these are highly rewarding
never-the-less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But do yourself a favour
and start at the beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781937007010-0"><span style="color: blue;">Shadow Reader</span></a></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;"> by Sandy Williams</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">A<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
<img height="484" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoAc1mgkFWP4KNqW6-Qqw8gWROjr7apoOaaIW4z8Vgln3bD_LLCqM0qEFg4uk6V1_8tHnNM3UiVjHAnkzXL2KG-_iLeOtPsw2aI-kENZYig2_FQjikU7BgTvAQEdhNA7NFm8ivseVuqc/s1600/the+shadow+reader.JPG" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="299" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">This gets a ‘A,’ really? Yes really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is what it is (paranormal romance) and as
that it excels well past much of the competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A college kid in Houston is all wrapped up in
Fey politics because she has the rare ability to see where the holes the Fey
cut in reality lead to, and since Faerie is at war, it’s a handy talent that
both sides want to control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked
this up because I lived briefly in the city and was excited to see a fresh
local (I love Seattle, but, seriously.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s nothing of the city to be had here,
though, as perhaps 6.6 seconds of it occur there and it’s a real generic there
when it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book, however, is pretty
great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as our lead gets
kidnapped by the “bad” guys the plot moves briskly, and the characters unfold
in realistic ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good and bad get
obscure fast, though our heroine earns my respect by consistently trying to
save herself and get back to her love, even when she begins to doubt him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The political and economic backdrop, as well
as the cold fact that neither side of any war is without blame are well thought
out and intriguing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he romance part
of the paranormal is at the forefront to be sure, but I was entertained thoroughly
and WAIT FOR IT: there is zero sex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hip-hip-hooray!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, the angle
is <em>romance</em>, not smexy time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall,
worth your time if you enjoy the genre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Side note: why does the chick on the cover have a sword? Totally
misleading.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780316054683-3"><span style="color: blue;">Mr. Shivers</span></a></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;"> Robert Jackson Bennett</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">A-<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
<img height="540" id="il_fi" src="http://thebooksmugglers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Mr.-Shivers.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="359" /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">Let’s just say that I ended up making a station on
Pandora for this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s clues were </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9mhsW5aWJM"><span style="color: blue;">Tom Waits</span></a><span style="color: black;">, </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSl4KX7zBTQ"><span style="color: blue;">Nick Cave</span></a><span style="color: black;"> and </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k35haKwqY14"><span style="color: blue;">Gillian Welch</span></a><span style="color: black;">, and this
trio pretty effectively sums up the feel of this slow moving but deeply
creepifying novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A man who's lost
everything<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hitch hikes across the bleak
and all-on-its-own horrifying landscape of the great depression searching for vengeance
against a mystical figure who kills seemingly at random.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The afterwards acknowledges a debt to </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Waits"><span style="color: blue;">Waits</span></a><span style="color: black;"> and to </span><a href="http://journal.neilgaiman.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Neil Gaiman</span></a><span style="color: black;">, and I have to say they’re
well warranted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times I can actually pick
out the song that inspired the image, and the whole mystic road trip thing
strongly resonates with </span><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9780062059888-0"><span style="color: blue;">American Gods</span></a><span style="color: black;">,
although avid </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sandman_(Vertigo)"><span style="color: blue;">Sandman</span></a><span style="color: black;">
fans will see the end coming from a mile off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This pastiche/homage is why it gets the minus, and maybe because of the
pacing too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a slower read, but the
odd, disturbing atmospherics build to an inevitable conclusion that rewards the
effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780441020867-0"><span style="color: blue;">Fate’s Edge</span></a></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;"> by Ilona Andrews</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">B+<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
<img height="540" id="il_fi" src="http://www.ilona-andrews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/FatesEdge2.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="334" /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">This is the third books in husband and wife writing team’s
Edge Chronicles about people who live in the boundary between the world as we
know it and the word where magic works like science works here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somewhere, they describe the series arc as fried
appetizer, meaty entrée, desert, and the next as coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one is the fluffy desert and on that
level it works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, I was
expecting something more like a meaty entrée.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
A reformed theif and a con man turned spy get roped in to retreiving a stolen mystical object before it causes an international kerfluffle and have hijinks along the way. This </span>really needs for you to have read the first two books, which is
fine, and to not mind some rather forced and occasionally random plot
diversions, which isn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the whole it
all works out, but honestly I’m a little annoyed that our villains give us less
than their best and yet aren’t truly vanquished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grr. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Argh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are, however, moments of true humour and it reads fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They absolutely nail family and sibling dynamics,
and do a well above average "long term results of drug addiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> " </span>I liked it, but I wanted more after the high
bar the previous book set.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781591027348-0"><span style="color: blue;">Midwinter</span></a></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;"> by Matthew Sturges</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">B<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
<img height="400" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4S5tlIiGx1gMM3mi47LUGYIeP7ezM4zpWAwHmnA84uc_rLRjI0PtQQZ7lEbVe8cZuXugjtbKDmXQqxQbpCbpzT2qr_lcEHre5LxmBR-ymNlSuK88otCqi1pqFR7dc7zK8icS2YCEtjny/s400/Midwinter.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="266" /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">This is an older book that I’ve been putting on the
back burner for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may know
Sturges from the comics world, since he’s the guy behind the fabulous </span><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781401227562-0"><span style="color: blue;">House of Mystery</span></a><span style="color: black;">
and has worked on </span><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781401212223-3"><span style="color: blue;">Fables</span></a><span style="color: black;">
among other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put it off because
I’m not much for war/quest tales and every time I picked at it, the writing seemed
to lean cliché.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But once I dove in from
the beginning, it flowed much better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
an odd blend of High Fantasy quest and Urban Elf changeling saga.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It bears some marks of a writer doing his
first switch from a largely visual medium, but on the whole it’s satisfying and
rewards patience with the occasionally episodic narrative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As always, I despise villain narrative
interludes, but this one works to make our villain complex and relatable rather
than as a vehicle to live vicariously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book may have its challenges, but let’s
just say I’m not against picking up the sequel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The world is well built, the characters both flawed and believable, and
the bad guys are never the cackle in their lairs kind, but more the doing the
best they can kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though Mab and her
floating city are truly fearsome creations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not totally sure it’s worth 14.99, but it’s all over the web for
less, and it<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> is</i> worth anything under
10 if you enjoy quests/faerie tales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781439188231-1"><span style="color: blue;">Beauty Dates the Beast</span></a></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;"> by Jessica Sims</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">B-<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
<img height="359" id="il_fi" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/120000000/120009515.JPG" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="300" /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">Having just said that I can only hold a book to its genre
standards rather than those of great literature, it seems harsh to slap this
one with a B-, but it still deserves it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shadow Reader</i> is on the
romance side of PNR, then this one tips the scale so far that it tips over the
edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A girl whose sister is a werewolf in
the closet works at a supernatural dating agency (a sadly underutilized goldmine
of an idea) who’s strong armed into accepting a date with a were-cougar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some genuinely enjoyable moments,
and the author shows potential in the fun diversion market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s fluffy, silly and utterly forgettable,
but it is far from the worst way ever to waste an afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, no faux rape scenes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah! (It’s sooo sad that this is a thing
that I can be happy about now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yowzers.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plot is severely
predictable however, and the the villain/s so obvious it’s a little sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, a few of the plot obstacles are hackneyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a
pick it up it you like the romance angle best (but don’t mind a little gore
splattered around the edges) and get it used if you’re able.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #323232; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A note on Grading: on my Scale A=I might buy the hardback; B=pay trade cover price; C=get it used or from the bargain bin; D=used if you’re in to self flagellation; F=what, are you stupid?</span></span></div>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-24170773536795941532011-12-13T12:38:00.000-08:002011-12-13T12:38:04.601-08:00Crepe Batter<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have a handful of weird Turkey Day
traditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of which is that, since
I live near the airport, I host a super early breakfast of crepes filled with
Thanksgiving themed goodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The batter
also makes a frabjous way to dispose of leftovers afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turkey crepes, stuffing crepes, crepes filled
with cranberry sauce or spiced sweet potatoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You get the idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This is also the foundation of my holiday French connection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this season, all of my cooking starts
to take on a bit of a French edge, and by French I mean full of unapologetic
butter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah butter!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I also add flax seed mill to almost all baking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me, it’s not healthy, it’s just
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 cups
skim milk</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8 tablespoons
unsalted butter, melted</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3 large eggs</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 1/2 cups unbleached flour</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ cup flax seed mill</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3/4 teaspoon salt</span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In a bowl, whisk the milk with the melted butter and
eggs. Mix the flour and salt in another bowl. Whisk the milk mixture into the
flour. I refrigerate the batter overnight, but you can cut it down to just an
hour if you need to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To cook, pour a scant ½ cup of the batter into a large skillet on
medium heat and slowly tilt pan to coat the bottom with batter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When crepe slides around easily in pan, flip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crispy or tender is a personal call, so how
long you leave them over heat is a bit of a learning curve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then just fill and roll. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sooo yummy</span></div>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-24975559025394509062011-12-12T18:20:00.000-08:002011-12-13T12:41:55.959-08:00Turkey Noodle Soup<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh the
leftovers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do I love thee? You don’t?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s the best part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just don’t
make sandwiches and you’ll be fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try
this instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love
this soup with unholy love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The broth
alone tastes like warm mittens and grandma’s kitchen and hugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus it’s pretty much like a flu-shot, because
it will kill a cold stone dead*.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
carcass of the beast: leftover giblets such as neck and heart, all bones, any
discarded skin</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 cups dry
white wine</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 3 ½ quarts
water<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4
carrots—2 coarsely chopped, 2 sliced 1/4 inch thick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4 celery
ribs—2 coarsely chopped, 2 sliced 1/4 inch thick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 sweet
potato, chopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">unpeeled</i> onion, quartered<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 large
garlic clove, smashed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 teaspoon
whole black peppercorns<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 large
fresh bay leaf<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6 oregano
sprigs (sticks? Pieces? The branch they come on, don’t work for it)</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 thyme
sprigs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 rosemary
sprigs</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 lemon,
halved</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kosher
salt</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ pound <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>noodles (Splurge on the good stuff or make
your own)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ½ pound
shredded turkey leftovers, mostly dark meat if possible</span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ¼ cup
finely chopped flat-leaf parsley</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a giant
stockpot pour the wine over the carcass and heat on medium high until fragrant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add water, chopped carrots and celery, onion,
garlic, peppercorns and herbs; bring to a boil. Cover partially and simmer over
low heat for 45 minutes to an hour. Place a strainer over a large heat-proof bowl
and spoon all large bits into it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Add the
sliced carrots, celery and sweet potatoes to the broth, cover and simmer until
just tender, about 12 minutes. Pour any juices that have accumulated in the
bowl back to the pot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add the noodles,
turkey and parsley to the pot and bring to a simmer for about 10 minutes. Ladle
the soup into bowls and serve hot.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*This
claim has not been verified by the FDA, or any legitimate study, or anyone but
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know it’s still true.<o:p></o:p></span>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-52160144110513377502011-12-12T18:15:00.000-08:002011-12-12T18:15:54.454-08:00Pumpkin Pie<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve tried exotic variations on this
plan, and my honest advice is this: Don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just do basic so god damned well people fall over with shock at how much
better yours is from what they expected (their mom’s-don’t lie.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first and most important part of
that plan is crust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crust is not hard if
you have a food processor, even a fairly crap one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me, I had a crap one for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one is designed to be shatteringly crisp
and meltingly buttery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 1/4 cups unbleached flour</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pinch of salt</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 stick FREEZING cold unsalted
butter, cubed</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1/4 cup ice cold bourbon whiskey,
from the freezer cold<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a food processor, pulse the flour
with the salt. Add the butter and pulse until the size of peas. Drizzle in the
whiskey and pulse until the crumbs are moistened; turn out onto a work surface.
Gather into a ball, flatten, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4 large eggs</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ cup sugar</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 tablespoon cornstarch</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 teaspoons cinnamon</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ teaspoon cloves</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ teaspoon nutmeg</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ teaspoon ginger</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ chipotle chili</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pinch of salt</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One 15-ounce can pumpkin puree (yes,
canned, making your own SUCKS & isn’t any better)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½ cup heavy cream</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Preheat the oven to 350°.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lightly flour a large, flat surface, then
roll out the chilled pie dough to a 13-inch round about ¼ inch thick. Fit the
dough into a 9-inch glass pie plate and trim the overhang to an inch. Fold the
dough under itself and crimp decoratively-the dough will shrink during baking,
so build it up over the edge more than you think it will need. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Refrigerate the pie shell for 10 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to cut the remaining dough into tiny
pumpkins (cookie cutter) and put them onto the center of the pie the last few
minutes of baking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s super cute and
impressive without adding that much more work</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Line the pie shell with foil and
fill with pie weights (I’ve also used marbles, lima beans and cookie
cutters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first 2 work, the last, not
a good idea.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bake in the center of the
oven until just set, about 25 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and bake until
the crust is pale golden, roughly 10 minutes. Let it cool down a bit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a bowl, whisk the eggs with the
sugar, cornstarch and spices. Whisk in the pumpkin puree, then the cream. Pour
the filling into the crust. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the custard is set.
Let the pie cool; enjoy the rave reviews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Note: I usually bake the custard
WHILE we eat lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It saves space,
makes the house smell delicious, and nobody’s eating it until later
anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me, they’ll be so full
they’ll need a breather while it cools. </span></div>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-55048629642099362992011-12-12T18:11:00.000-08:002011-12-12T18:11:59.294-08:00Crispy Skinned, Juicy Turkey<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No, seriously, this thing was
bad-assed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started the campaigning to
scale back turkey cook times when I came home from college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Less is really more, grandma!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first time I was in charge of dinner, I
spent A MONTH researching turkey recipes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve been perfecting this thing for four years, and this time was
honestly the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Typically, I’ve been
a dry-brine girl, but this time I mistakenly bought the wet kind and rolled
with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I’ll never go back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time and space consuming, but dear sweet
potatoes is it worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Buy the
brine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The math on the cost control
works in your favour, I promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 13-15 pound turkey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 pkg of brine prepared as per
instructions (with one key exception, I used pots of lapsang souchong (a smoky
tea) instead of ½ the suggested regular water.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 sticks of unsalted butter, melted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: center 3.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2
tablespoons baking powder<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 tablespoon fresh rosemary<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 tablespoon fresh thyme<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 tsp alderwood smoked sea salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 tsp fresh cracked pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4-6 strips of thick cut bacon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 granny smith apples, quartered<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 large onion, quartered<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brine turkey for at least eight
hours (I accidentally went in for 18, but that’s not necessary.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mix the baking powder (it’s what
crisps the skin) with the butter, add in the herbs, salt and pepper.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wash off the brine and pat turkey
dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carefully molest the turkey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This part makes me feel super dirty, but it’s
what makes everything taste better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You insert
your hand in between the meat of the bird and the skin, loosening it as you
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rub the butter mixture on and
underneath the skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be generous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to air dry the turkey for about an
hour at this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s always something
else that the oven can be baking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or you
can do what I did and join your area’s local Turkey Trot and run/walk a few
miles to justify all the calories you’re about to be stuffing down your
gullet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Preheat the oven to 400
degrees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drape bacon slices over the
turkey to add flavor and prevent over darkening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scatter the apple and onion pieces around the
bottom of the roasting pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are
just aromatics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roast the turkey breast
side down for 2 and a half hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remove
turkey and flip to breast side up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn
oven up to 475.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roast an hour and a half
longer, or until thickest part of the thigh registers 170 degrees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remove turkey from oven and flip breast side
back down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allow turkey to rest for AT
LEAST 30 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This is not a suggestion</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you skip this part, all of the work you just did will still net you a dried out
yucky turkey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leave it alone so the
juices redistribute before carving and you’ll be rewarded with the best turkey
in EVER.</span></div>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-57057403648068948252011-12-12T18:09:00.000-08:002011-12-12T18:09:22.900-08:00Spiced Sweet Potatoes<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I despise things with marshmallow topping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gross, eck, ewe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the opposite of sticky-sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are spicy, boozy, creamy and eat-them-till-you-vomit
delicious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I make them for holiday
potlucks, and people steal the recipe and make them for their own family get-togethers,
I make it for my own family and they whine about lack of marshmallows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philistines!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They’re great; enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2 large, evenly shaped sweet potatoes, thinly sliced</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">½ cup bourbon whiskey</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">½ cup heavy cream</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1 tablespoon cinnamon</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">½ tsp salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">½ tsp chipotle chili powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">½ tsp ancho chili powder</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">½ tsp cloves</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">½ tsp nutmeg</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">½ tsp allspice</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">½ galangal root powder</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1 tsp black mustard seeds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Preheat oven to 375 degrees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whisk cream and whisky, then whisk in
spices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a large baking dish, arrange
the potatoes in an overlapping concentric circle, building upwards into the
middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pour Spiced cream over top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bake covered with foil for 20 minutes, then
uncovered for 20 more or until sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with a
fork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they dry out during baking, add
more whiskey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Liquor makes everything
better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can also be made a day or
two prior and refrigerated until the big moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which makes it ideal for potlucks as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541158781852912586.post-86673245514373090582011-12-12T17:58:00.000-08:002011-12-13T12:44:00.852-08:00Chestnut Stuffing<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This year I went both adventurous
and cheater with my stuffing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Target
sells whole wheat bread bits for, like, two dollars, and while I normally make
fresh bread and dry it, this saved me so much time and effort I couldn’t help myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it was GOOD.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 1/2 pounds DRY wheat bread torn
into 1-inch pieces</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 1/2 tablespoons fennel seeds</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4 ounces thick bacon, sliced 1/8
inch thick and diced</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 small rosemary sprig</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 dried red chili, stemmed and
broken in half</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 small onion, chopped</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 small fennel bulb, diced</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Salt and freshly ground pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 tablespoon grated lemon zest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3/4 cup dry white wine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 1/4 cups chicken stock-Use SWANSON’s
if not using homemade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6 tablespoons unsalted butter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 pound of chestnuts, roasted as per
pkg directions (If, like me, you’re new to chestnuts, cut them <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deeply</i> before roasting and enjoy the
scent while they’re in the oven)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 large eggs, lightly beaten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf
parsley</span></div>
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<br /><br /> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Preheat the oven to 400°. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a skillet, toast the fennel seeds
over moderate heat until fragrant and lightly golden, about 2 minutes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the skillet, heat the bacon and
cook over high heat, stirring, until crisp, about 3 minutes. Lower the heat to
moderate, add the rosemary and chili and cook for 1 minute. Add the onion,
fennel, fennel seeds and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring,
until the vegetables are lightly caramelized, about 8 minutes; discard the
rosemary and chili. Stir in the lemon zest and add to the bread.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Set the skillet over high heat. Add
the wine and bring to a boil, scraping up the browned bits. Boil until reduced
to 1/3 cup, about 4 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring back to boil. Pour
the hot stock mixture over the croutons and toss well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Add the chestnuts to the stuffing and
let cool completely. Add the eggs and parsley and toss well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Transfer the stuffing to a
9-by-13-inch baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the
foil and dot the stuffing with the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Bake for
about 20 minutes, or until crisp on top. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Make ahead! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take the smart, oven freeing option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless you’re the proud owner of a giant Wolf
that can fit a 15 pound turkey plus sides, oven space will be at a premium on
the day of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So bake the stuffing,
covered with foil, for 30 minutes then refrigerate overnight the night before.
Then wait till the turkey’s out of the oven and is resting to pop the stuffing
back into the oven and heat covered until cooked through, about 20 minutes,
then uncover and bake for 20 minutes longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>amihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271656992034313396noreply@blogger.com0