"A Charming Nightmare" Book Giveaway

A Charming Nightmare  by Marie Kammerer Franke Giveaway

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What would you do if one morning you woke up and found that you were a relic; a 40,000 year old artifact, all that remained of the movers, shakers, and candlestick makers? What would be your reaction to being informed that you are quite literally older than dirt? (And yes you will have to explain what dirt actually is) Would you cry? I still am. Would you feel ill? Would you instantly tuck your toes under the safety of a quilt; knowing full well that the monsters from under the bed can’t get you if you’re under the shield of a down comforter? Or would you do as I did? Get furious and start a big ol’ hissy fit sized war…
40,000 years after Earth’s demise we are still trying to settle. That’s what the survivors are called now, settlers. Survivor, by the way, is derogatory word. So are words like gadget, computer, and machine. Those are people. We evolve into them, and something in the mechanics that make up a human is killing. Killing our species off faster than the enemies we have made along our 40,000 year old journey.
That’s where I come in, not intentionally mind you, but forcibly by our distant descendants. You would follow him too, anything to get him to relieve the bruising on your wrists from his chains or the uncanny way of belittling you he has every time he speaks. Not to mention that his entire demeanor visually lists a million ways he could kill you. I’m their best bet in finding a cure. They could be a little more hospitable, a little less white coat-ish, and they could offer a tissue when telling you that your family, job, hairdresser, and newspaper boy are all dust. But they don’t. So you compromise; you study your home and translate children’s books for scientists who cannot read its written language in hopes of curing their diseased parts, and in return they back you up when you start a war to end all wars on their front lawn. Sounds fair, right? 

Root Beer BBQ Pulled Pork

This weeks "Try It", is the deluge of Root Beer BBQ Pulled Pork recipes for the crock pot I have been reading on Pinterest, in magazines and every where.  With a few tweaks of my own to many recipes, this crock pot version is a thumbs up!

 3 lb pork roast
1 can (12 oz,) Root Beer
1 chopped onion
1 cup barbecue sauce
1 Tablespoon brown mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar

I started by searing all sides of the pork in a frying pan before putting the roast in my crock pot with the chopped onions.  Then pour  root beer over the pork roast.
Cover and cook on low until fully cooked and it falls apart.  I cooked mine about 8 hours.
Drain most of the root beer. I left maybe 1/2 cup.
Using two forks, shred the pork.
Stir in the barbecue sauce, brown mustard and brown sugar and keep warm on low in the crock pot.  Serve on rolls of your choice.  

Fantastic!

Mango...seed to garden

A Mango will make my taste buds smile every time.  Mango smoothies in the am, mango slices for a snack, mango chutney on chicken...you get the idea, I am a fan.

I thought I would try one more time, I have many failed attempts under my belt, to take the mango seed and grow a tree.  Mango...seed to garden.

After devouring my mango fruit I cleaned the seed and set it to dry on the window edge.  two days later it was dry and I could "crack" it open and harvest the seed inside the husk.

The next step was simple, I wrapped the seed pod in wet paper towels and put in a sealed zip lock bag.  The seed pod went into a dark cabinet and I checked to make sure the paper towel stayed damp and waited patiently for signs of growth.  One week later I was surprised I had started a mango!

Unwrap the mango seed(s) gently and put into pot with soft soil, water, and more waiting... 

Eight days later I have Mango...seed to garden!

Another week of warm sunshine in the sun room and one of the Mango seedling trees are ready for garden.  The other mango seedling has a few more days before I can do so.

hmmm.... wonder how quickly they will grow and produce fruit....

Blueberry Cobbler

I love the simplicity of a cobbler, Blueberry Cobbler in particular.  This Blueberry Cobbler recipe is a family favorite.  

Blueberry Cobbler

8 x8 pan, Bake @ 350 degrees Fahrenheit

Ingredients:

1.5 cups AP flour

3/4 cup sugar

1.5 teaspoons cinnamon

dash salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup of butter, cubed

1 egg

1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract

Pulse above ingredients together until blended into crumbles.

Put half of crust mix in greased 8 x 8 pan.

In mixing bowl put 

1.5 to 2 cups fresh blueberries

sprinkle with 2 - 3 Tablespoons cornstarch, turn berries gently until coated in cornstarch.

Spoon the berries over the bottom crust evenly.  Top with the remaining crumb mixture.

Bake until top is golden brown 30 - 40 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Fresh from the oven!

Now, the only choice remaining...ice cream or whipped cream?

Yummmmm...........

Artisan Multi Grain Bread

Is there any aroma in the world that smells as good as fresh baked bread wafting through your kitchen on a rainy and cold afternoon?  Not...

I love homemade bread.  Multi grain bread tops my must gobble up baked bread list.  Multi Grain is easy peasy with Red Mill 7 Grain hot cereal or their Hot Cereal Muesli multi grain with raisins etc. 

Multi Grain Bread

makes two loaves

1 cup 7-grain Hot Cereal, such as Bob's Red Mill  (I used Bob's Red Mill Muesli)

2 ½ cups boiling Water

¼ cup honey

1 package quick rise yeast

1 Tbsp salt

3 cups flour (all purpose)

1 ½ cup whole wheat flour

4 Tablespoons melted butter

½ cup oatmeal

Non-stick spray

Directions:

1) Boil water, pour over Red Mill hot cereal. Stir and let set until temperature cools to 100 degrees.

2) In mixing bowl with dough attachment, put in hot cereal.  Add honey and yeast.  Combine on low setting. Add in melted butter. Slowly add in flour and salt.  Mix and knead until all ingredients combine in mixer.  Cover and let rest for 20 minutes.

3) Remove dough from mixer bowl, and put on a lightly floured surface. Flatten and knead until dough.  Spray down a large bowl with non-stick spray. Add dough to bowl and roll around bowl to coat with spray. Cover and set aside in a warm place for one hour.

4) Remove risen dough  and shape dough into a 18x12 inch rectangle. Using a sharp knife divide in half so it measures two 9" x 12"squares. Tightly roll each dough square into a log. Pinch all ends together.  Repeat with other dough log.  Set aside.

5) Sprinkle oatmeal out onto surface. Spray each dough log with non-stick spray and roll in oats to coat. Set dough loaves into two loaf pans. Cover and set in warm place to rise a second time for one hour.

6) Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the center of the loaves are golden brown.  Remove bread from loaf pans and let cool.  

The cool off period begins...

Artisan Multi Grain Bread to warn you from the inside out and soooo delicious.

Cauliflower "Mac and Cheese"

Nothing beats smooth, cheesy macaroni and cheese for comfort food.  We do healthy versions when possible now.  Or we try to do the healthier version : )  Just cutting the pasta out and replacing with fresh cauliflower qualifies as healthier for me.  Fresh cauliflower florets are the base of my new comfort food.  Add in the smooth, creamy cheese sauce and it is a perfection.

The healthier version of Cauliflower "Mac and Cheese" gets a thumbs up from all at the table tonight!

Cauliflower "Mac and Cheese"

Basic cheese sauce:

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup flour

whisk flour into butter to create a roux

add in 2 cups milk and 8 ounces of cheddar cheese

melt cheese into milk mix until smooth.

Stir in cauliflower.  Put in spray oiled pan and bake at 350 degrees 45 minutes until cauliflower is fork tender.

Mmm...healthier is sooooo good!

Banana Crumb Baked Donuts

When it comes time for a coffee break, nothing compares to these Banana Crumb Baked Donuts to accompany the cup of Joe.  In my humble opinion.  Mmm...

The tasty rings of yum easily become the lunch box snack favorite for the brown baggers in the house.

Banana Crumb Baked Donuts

2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large bananas
3 oz. cream cheese

Mix all together and put into greased baked doughnut form pans.

Banana Crumb Baked Doughnuts Topping:
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
Using a fork cut all ingredients together and make crumb topping.  Sprinkle over the top of donut batter.
Bake @ 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 - 14 minutes until done.