Celebrate the Small Things-December 5, 2014

It's Friday!  Let's Celebrate the Small Things with VikLit!

I'm happy to act as a co-host, along with these other amazing bloggers:

Diana Wilder
Katie @ TheCyborg Mom
CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse

Last week I mentioned that I'd like to get back to quilting as another creative outlet.  I don't yet have all the supplies I need, but I have completed several new designs, so that's a plus.  One of the new designs is geometric, and the others have holiday themes.  It should be fun once I can get things started.

My writing is progressing at a slow but steady pace.  The story I'm working on right now is a challenging one, but I'm determined.

I made an amazing batch of brownies this week.  I was running low on cocoa powder and didn't think I'd be able to make them, but then I remembered that I had a chocolate bar hidden away (don't judge me!) and decided to melt it down and use it for the brownies.  Best decision ever!  They were the best brownies I ever made, so I'll have to use the same method next time.  It's amazing how adapting to unexpected circumstances can yield great results.

What would you like to celebrate?

The Insecure Writer's Support Group: December 2014

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's time for the next meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group.  Our esteemed leader is the enigmatic Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh, and this month he is being assisted in his duties by Heather Gardner, T. Drecker, Lilicasplace, and Patsy Collins.

If you're so inclined, I recommend that you also pay a visit to the IWSG website.

This month I am insecure about the future of a novella I wrote.  I alternate between thinking it's a solid story and feeling like it's a piece of garbage no one will want to read.  I'm not trying to be dramatic when I say that.  My feelings are that extreme because it's written in a style I've never attempted before, so I'm not entirely sure if I've achieved the effect I was aiming for.  I also don't know if I want to try to self-publish it or take the chance and send it to one of the handful of small presses that consider novellas.  Decisions, decisions.

Okay.  Those are my neuroses.  Now I want to move on to the things that are going well.  I recently mentioned that I revived a story I started earlier in the year.  The story has promise.  I simply ran out of inspiration and temporarily shelved it.  I recommend to any writer that you keep everything you write, even if you don't think it's going anywhere.  You never know when inspiration may strike.  I've even mined unfinished stories for characters or situations that I felt would work elsewhere.  It's kind of like using a broken-down car for parts.  It's nice to see those elements take on new life in a different story.

What is your insecurity this month?

Express Yourself: Holiday Movies

The Express Yourself Weekly Meme is hosted by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests.

The question for this week is: What Holiday themed show/movie/book are you most looking forward to? Don't celebrate the Dec. Holiday-then name something you're watching/reading this month.

As a kid, I always watched It's A Wonderful Life, and if I don't watch it at some point, it doesn't really feel like Christmas.  I've always had a soft spot for Jimmy Stewart movies, so that probably has something to do with it.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is also a must.  Gotta have a few laughs, after all.

Also, my husband and I agreed on a new tradition within the last couple of years.  We have to watch Die Hard every Christmas.  It does take place during Christmas, after all, so it totally counts.

What holiday themed show/book/movie are you looking forward to?

Celebrate the Small Things-November 28, 2014

It's Friday!  Let's Celebrate the Small Things with VikLit!

I'm a co-host for this weekly blogging event, and so are these other lovely bloggers:

Diana WilderKatie @ TheCyborg Mom
CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse

It's the day after Thanksgiving here in the United States, so I've been focused on the things that I'm thankful for this week.  I had a great meal with my husband's family yesterday, and we're going to have a second Thanksgiving meal with my dad tonight. That's certainly worth celebrating.

I've resurrected a short story I abandoned a few months ago.  I was always happy with the premise, but for some reason, I just wasn't getting anywhere with it.  This week I found myself inspired to dig it up again, and things are going well so far.  Times like this are the reason why I never delete the stories I haven't been able to finish.  You never know when the muse will strike again.

I also want to get back into quilting.  I did some quilting in high school, and I kind of miss it.  If I can get my hands on a sewing machine and the proper materials, I plan to make and sell some things for extra money.  I already have some designs drawn out on graph paper.  Here's one of the many designs I have mapped out.

It never hurts to multiple ways to express yourself, right?

What would you like to celebrate this week?

Express Yourself: Favorite Recipe

The Express Yourself Weekly Meme is hosted by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests.

The question for this week is: What's your favorite family recipe/meal?

My favorite meal that I make for my family is one that I don't make all that often.  It gets a bit pricey, and it also takes between 2 to 3 hours to cook.  Still, when I do embark on the journey of making this delicious dish, it's well worth it.  What?  You want to know what this wonderful dish is?  Okay, I guess I'll tell you.

Lasagna.

There are numerous ways to make lasagna, but the version I'm going to share with you is the official family favorite.  I don't think my husband would want me to make a different version.  It's the kind of meal he dreams about.

Anyway, I'll share the recipe with you, because I'm nice like that.

Ingredients:

1 package lasagna noodles

Meat Sauce:

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 to 2 lbs. Italian sausage (depending on how meaty you want you lasagna to be, can be sweet or spicy-I tend to go the spicy route)

1 medium diced onion

4 cloves of garlic (crushed)

2 (28 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes

2 (6 oz.) cans tomato paste

1/2 cup water

1 1/2 tsp. dried basil

4 tbsp. parsley

salt (to taste)

ground black pepper (to taste)

Cheese Mixture:

16 oz. ricotta cheese

3/4 lb. shredded mozzarella cheese

3/4 lb. shredded Parmesan cheese

1 egg

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. salt

Topping:

1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, sautee diced onion and garlic.  Add Italian sausage, cook until well browned.  Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and water.  Simmer, stirring frequently. Season with basil, parsley, salt, and ground black pepper.  Remember, you're adding the salt and pepper to taste.  This means that you have to taste it without eating too much.  Difficult, I know, but it must be done this way.  Let the sauce cook for an hour to an hour and a half.  The longer the sauce cooks, the better the flavors mingle together.  Just don't forget to stir.  Sorry.  No leaving the kitchen for too long. (Note: Sometimes I add mushrooms to the meat sauce.  It just depends on my mood. And really, any vegetable you fancy could totally join the party.)

While the sauce is simmering away, you can pass the time by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil.  Because, hey, why not?  It'll keep you occupied and make it possible to cook your noodles.  Feel free to follow the package directions here.  I'm sure they know what they're talking about.

Then, once the water is boiling away and your arm is about to fall off from stirring the sauce (it'll be worth it, though, trust me!), you can take a break to make the cheese mixture.  Okay, so it's not a break, but it's a change of pace.  In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, egg, salt, and pepper.  Parsley would also work well in the mixture too.  Only if you want it there, of course.  Not forcing you to do anything.  Just make sure it's mixed consistently.

Prior to lasagna assembly, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

When it comes time, take a 9x13 inch baking dish and spread just a bit of meat sauce along the bottom.  Layer some of your scrumptious lasagna noodles on top.  Then spread some of your cheese mixture over that, followed by a layer of your meat sauce. Then more noodles.  Keep layering.  I could go into more detail about this part, but I'm sure you get the idea.  Save a little meat sauce, though.  After the last layer of noodles is down, you'll want to spread the little bit of remaining meat sauce over the top.  Cover your the lasagna with aluminum foil and stick it in the oven for 30 minutes.  Caution: the pan will be extremely heavy.  This is a massive amount of food, after all.  Don't drop it!  You've put in too much work at this point to have it end that way.

At this time, you can feel free to put your feet up.  You could also start to tackle the enormous pile of dishes now littering your kitchen.  I never do, but you totally could.

After 30 minutes, remove the foil and sprinkle remaining shredded cheese on top.  Put the lasagna, sans foil, for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.  Basically, you want to make sure your top cheese layer is melted.

Now you can eat!  Just remember, it's hot!  No one wants to ruin a good meal by being impatient and scalding the roof of your mouth with molten cheese.  Yikes!

What's your favorite recipe?

Celebrate the Small Things-November 21, 2014

It's Friday!  Let's Celebrate the Small Things with VikLit!

I am happy to co-host this weekly blogging event, along with these other wonderful bloggers:

Diana Wilder
Katie @ TheCyborg Mom
CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse

There's plenty to celebrate this week.  First of all, next week is Thanksgiving.  I love this holiday!  I'm also celebrating the fact that I am not currently on a diet.  I'm pretty certain I should be, but I'm not.  That's what New Year's resolutions are for!

The weather this weekend is supposed to warm up some.  Instead of the freezing cold temperatures we've been enduring, it's supposed to get up to the mid-40's.  It's not exactly a heat wave, but I'll take it!

I'm also celebrating having the ability to laugh.  Here are a couple of things that made me laugh this week.

What would you like to celebrate?

Express Yourself: 5 Fictional Characters

The Express Yourself Weekly Meme is hosted by Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests.

This week's prompt is: Name FIVE fictional characters you would want to have in your life.

It'll be tough narrowing it down to five, but I'll do my best.

Neville Longbottom-Harry Potter (book and film series)

     He's adorable.  He's kind.  He's loyal.  And, as it turns out, he can be quite the badass when the need arises.  Who wouldn't want someone like that in their posse?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard-Star Trek: TNG (TV series)

     He's intelligent.  He's logical and diplomatic.  I would also like to see how uncomfortable he gets around my two energetic children.

Marcus Cole-Babylon 5 (TV series)

     He's got great voice (and accent), and he knows how to be really annoying in a delightful way.  Yet he'll also go out of his way to make you happy, and he delivers the perfect amount of snark in tense situations.

Johanna Mason-The Hunger Games (book and film series)

     She's tough, and she says what she thinks regardless of the consequences.  Brave with a good dose of crazy.  She'll definitely keep things interesting.  I also wonder how she would interact with Picard.

Luna Lovegood-Harry Potter (book and film series)

     She's loyal, and she's the kind of person I could happily spend an afternoon with. You never know what she's going to say next, and as off-the-wall as she may sound sometimes, she also offers valuable bits of wisdom at the darkest times.

Which five fictional characters would you like to have in your life?