Happy Hallow-Reading!

Halloween is my Christmas. I wait all year for it. Nothing makes me happier than the sound of fake skeleton bones clicking in the breeze, light up ghosts hanging from porches, and little witches and ghouls grabbing for candy out of plastic pumpkins. 

Halloween 2013,
Red-headed Katniss
(the wig was itchy)

I gravitate towards the light-hearted parts of Halloween. Not the serial-killer-slasher-guts-blood-torture horror that seems to be popular with the theme-park turned gore-fest crowd. 

What gets me excited about Halloween are the subtle scares, the heartbroken and lonely ghosts, the misunderstood monsters. This, combined with my passion for reading, means I end up devouring a lot of middle grade and YA books around Halloween.

So for those of you who want to be spooked but not disgusted (at least, only occasionally), and who value plot over body count, here are my top 5 spook-tastic recommendations (in no particular order and pictures link to amazon).

 

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

A group of friends are led by the spirit of Halloween to discover the spooky holidays true meaning and to save their friend. 

Confession: I have an irrational, unexplainable love for this book, and the movie made after it. To me, this is quintessential Halloween. I know I said these books were in no particular order, but I'm a dirty liar, in this particular case. If you only read one book to your children this October, Bradbury's tale is an unbeatable choice. 

“When you reach the stars, boy, yes, and live there forever, all the fears will go, and Death himself will die.” 

 

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

A young boy is raised by ghosts and starts to wonder what's beyond the graveyard. 

Spoiler alert: Danger. 

Need I go on?

 

Doll Bones by Holly Black

Is growing up as scary as a haunted China doll?

From experience, yes. 

Scare level on this one is low, creepy level medium-low. Great for kids who may not be ready for spookier tales but want to get in the Halloween spirit. 

 

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A lonely kid discovers an island full of strange and gifted children, emphasis on the strange. 

Fair warning: the pictures are pretty creepy. I can't look at them in the dark (and I'm an adult...kind of). 

 

The Witches by Roald Dahl

Child-hating witches try to turn them into mice using spell-laden soup.

My take: would've worked better with candy.

Sorry, the description is kind of lousy. I read this as a kid and never re-read it because it scared the bajingles out of me. I have a distinct memory of loving it though, so into the recommendation pile it goes. 

Bonus book (aka currently reading and haven't finished but enjoying):

Nightmares! by Jason Segel and Kristen Miller

A witch threatens to escape a grieving boy's nightmares and enter his real life. 

Truth: I'm only 75 pages into this one, as its my Halloween read this year, but so far it is creeptitilating. 

How to Date Dead Guys: An Interview with Ann Noser

   How to Date Dead Guys is Ann Noser's debut book in the series "Under the Blood Moon." I was lucky enough to get Ann to answer a few questions about writing, food, and life in general. Enjoy and please check out her book!

Amazon US: http://amzn.com/1620075199 

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1620075199

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-date-dead-guys-ann-m-noser/1119938862?ean=9781620075197

 1. 1. I know that you are an avid reader. What books helped inspire “How to Date Dead Guys,” and what books made you become a better writer in general?

 What a great question, but I'm afraid my answer might suck.

 Every book I've ever read has made me a better writer, whether I liked it or not.

 An obvious choice of a good book for the aspiring writer would be Steven King's On Writing. I remember his bewilderment when his first newspaper article got slashed and hacked to pieces. How wonderful that he was so honest about that.

 I was also left with the idea that a true writer lives as Steven King does, reading every morning and writing every afternoon, with a mind-cleansing walk in between. But I'm not so sure I want to leave veterinary medicine behind. Perhaps I want too much from life. I work and play, then write when I can. I start too many books, then scramble to finish. Somehow, it works for me, although at times I get frustrated with the constraints of the day.

 Although I do feel like I'm letting Steven King down when I'm "too busy" with editing and haven't read anyone else's book in a while.

2.    2. Emma is a strong, smart, talented, but very vulnerable character. What inspired you to write her, and when did she come to life for you?

Emma came to life for me the very first night I thought of her. Although I'm no longer this way, many of her characteristics were based on the awkward, shy, socially stilted individual I was at that age. People in college always believe they are so much more mature than they really are. I wanted to show college life as I remembered it, filled with flawed, work-in-progress characters.

I've loved the UWEC campus my whole life. My father taught Physics there in the Science Hall. As a child, my parents took me to university plays and concerts, followed by ice cream. We hiked along the trails. We bowled and swam there. It was the logical setting for the story.

Emma's mom and dad started in my head as shadows of Elle Wood's parents from Legally Blonde, but (as readers will see in books 2 and 3) appearances can be misleading.

3. Publication stories of the frustratingly magical variety are rampant in the writing community. “I submitted to only one publisher, and poof! My story was bought for a million dollars and became a New York Times best seller overnight! And oh yeah, now I can poop butterflies, too!” These stories can be very discouraging for hopeful writers. I know you worked hard for your success; can you talk a little about how you got to this point?

I've always wanted to be able to poop butterflies. Sometime you'll have to tell me your secret. J

 But to answer your question, my route to publication was less than magical. If I wasn't such a stubborn, determined person, it never would've happened. More logical people might have quit a long time ago.

 Once upon a time, I began penning a monthly Pet Vet column for the Post Bulletin newspaper. Then I published articles in RunMinnesota magazine, the DVM360 journal, and The Wagazine.

 I found querying HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS a rather frustrating process. The elation of a partial or full request thrilled me for days. Deflation would set in during the long wait, which ended in a revise/resubmit request, rejection, or sometimes complete silence from the other end.

 Some wouldn't agree with my tactics, but I did query both agents and publishers at the same time, basically because I joined Twitter¾the land of on-line writing contests.

 Everyone's journey to publication is different. It's easy to get frustrated and jealous when others surge ahead while we are paddling in the middle of the pool, just treading water. Try not to become bitter.

4. I know you have a very busy life between family, running, yoga, and your successful vet career. And oh yeah, writing! So tell me, is there anything that you’re dying to write about that you haven’t had time to yet?

I have so many projects in my head and so little time to get them all down on paper, plus the editing and revising left to do on a few projects. I have a weird idea for a horror story I'd like to try, but it might just end up as a short story¾which would suit me fine. It would be nice to write something without the full-out commitment a 70,000 to 90,000 word novel involves.

5. Since this is a mostly a food blog (with books thrown into the mix), can you share your favorite recipe? (Bonus points if it’s gluten-free!) (And yes, margaritas count!)

Now you'll know what an amateur cook I am. I like to keep things simple.

Here's a yummy pasta hot dish (oh no, did I just say "hot dish"? Hey, I am from Minnesota…) that I love to eat, partly because my kids will chow down without complaints. I swear we eat it once a week during the winter. It's so easy to make.

PASTA HOT DISH

1) 1 box (1 lb.) gluten-free pasta, shape of your choice, already cooked

2) 1 jar (24 oz.) of your favorite spaghetti sauce

3) 1 bag (1 & 1/2 cups) of shredded mozzarella cheese

  (sometimes I mix in some parmesan as well)

4) pepperonis, quantity to your taste

stir ingredients together well

bake at 375 degrees

40 minutes (30 covered, 10 uncovered)

But my favorite meal of all consists of popcorn and ice cream shakes with our Friday night movie. That counts as gluten-free, right? J

I made it and it was awesome!

How to Date Dead Guys--The Spooky Synopsis:

College sophomore Emma Roberts remembers her mother’s sage advice:  “don’t sleep around, don’t burp in public, and don’t tell anyone you see ghosts”.  But when charming Mike Carlson drowns in the campus river under her watch, Emma’s sheltered life shatters.

Blamed for Mike’s death and haunted by nightmares, Emma turns to witchcraft and a mysterious Book of Shadows to bring him back.  Under a Blood Moon, she lights candles, draws a pentacle on the campus bridge, and casts a spell.  The invoked river rages up against her, but she escapes its fury.  As she stumbles back to the dorm, a stranger drags himself from the water and follows her home. And he sn't the only one.  

Instead of raising Mike, Emma assists the others she stole back from the dead—a pre-med student who jumped off the bridge, a desperate victim determined to solve his own murder, and a frat boy Emma can’t stand…at first.  More comfortable with the dead than the living, Emma delves deeper into the seductive Book of Shadows.  Her powers grow, but witchcraft may not be enough to protect her against the vengeful river and the killers that feed it their victims.

Inspired by the controversial Smiley Face Murders, HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS will ignite the secret powers hidden deep within each of us.

All About the Amazing Ann M Noser:

My to-do list dictates that I try to cram 48 hours of living into a day instead of the usual 24.  I’ve chosen a life filled with animals.  I train for marathons with my dog, then go to work as a small animal veterinarian, and finish the day by tripping over my pets as I attempt to convince my two unruly children that YES, it really IS time for bed.  But I can’t wait until the house is quiet to write; I have to steal moments throughout the day.  Ten minutes here, a half hour there, I live within my imagination.

Like all busy American mothers, I multi-task.  I work out plot holes during runs.  Instead of meditating, I type madly during yoga stretches.  I find inspiration in everyday things:  a beautiful smile, a heartbreaking song, or a newspaper article on a political theory.  For example, a long drive in the dark listening to an NPR program on the SMILEY FACE MURDERS theory made me ask so many questions that I wrote HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS to answer them to my satisfaction.

I’d love to have more time to write (and run, read, and sleep), but until I find Hermione Granger’s time turner, I will juggle real life with the half-written stories in my head.  Main characters and plot lines intertwine in my cranium, and I need to let my writing weave the tales on paper so I can find out what happens next.

Social Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Tasty Tilapia Topped with Lemon-Dill Dressing

Herb Garden Looking so Fresh (and so clean clean!)

Dill dressings are most commonly paired with salmon, but although I didn't have salmon, I had a LOT of fresh dill growing in my garden that was ready for the harvest. 

Not being one to waste, I decided to pair my dill with what I had in my fridge—tilapia—and it worked great! Here's what I made:

Ingredients: 

1 lb tilapia

3 teaspoons lemon juice (separated 2 + 1)

2 tablespoons butter

3/4  teaspoon garlic salt (separated 1/2 + ¼)

½ cup sour cream

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon fresh dill weed

1/3 teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon canola oil

Directions: 

1. Prepare the dressing first because it will take 30-60 minutes to marinate for the full dill flavoring! In a small bowl mix mayonnaise, dill weed, ½ teaspoon garlic salt, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, and sour cream. Set aside if you’re immediately preparing tilapia, or refrigerate if preparing your meal for later.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a pan with tin foil, and lightly grease with canola oil (or grease of your choice!). Place tilapia on foil, and sprinkle remaining lemon juice (1 teaspoon), onion powder, pepper, and ¼ teaspoon garlic salt. Top with butter (cut into small chunks).

3. Cover the tilapia with tin foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover tilapia (carefully, it will be full of steamy goodness!) and turn oven to broil. Broil uncovered for an additional 15 minutes, until flaky but not dry!

4. Let tilapia cool for five minutes before serving, with dressing either poured on top of fish or for dipping on the side. Put a fresh sprig of dill on top of your fish for extra fanciness.

Every time I make a recipe that sounds questionable but turns out great I'm like: 

Jaycee Dugard’s Tomato Dumpling Recipe

“I don't believe in hate. To me it wastes too much time. People who hate waste so much of their life hating that they miss out on all the other stuff out here.” 

I read “A Stolen Life” when I was a community education and outreach volunteer speaker for an anti-sex trafficking of minors non-profit.  Although I’d read many books about sex-trafficking at the time, Dugard’s story was especially moving. I think her writing is so powerful because she is so brave and open in the way she shares her story. I really admire her courage, and the way she has transformed her life is nothing short of phenomenal. Her spirit is undeniable.  

I remember being surprised when I saw a recipe towards the back of her book. It didn’t really seem to fit in with her story, but then, after I thought about it, it was so reflective of her wonderful character. Most of her story is heartbreaking, but the end is full of hope. I think its such a genuine and thoughtful thing for her to want to share something she loves with her readers—in this case, a recipe she made with her grandmother.

So I tried it out. And honestly, I’m not sure it translated that well to gluten-free (due to the nature of the dough). But I will say this, it tastes much better than it looks! It was different than anything I’ve ever made, that’s for sure, and it was a fun experience.

My hope is that whatever brought you here, be it pinterest, twitter, facebook, google, whatever, that you will take a moment to learn more about the huge problem of sex-trafficking and sexual slavery, both domestically and internationally.  Here are some links to some great resources:

http://jaycfoundation.org

Jaycee's foundation, check it out!

http://polarisproject.org

http://sharedhope.org

http://mission21mn.org/ 

(the organization I volunteered for)

Summer Food Reads: Stacey Ballis "Good Enough to Eat"

“I hate those books where the heroine faces loss and desperation with a total lack of appetite.” 

As a self-professed lover of chick lit, Stacey Ballis has been on my radar for a while now, but “Good Enough to Eat” was my first experience with her writing. And I’ve got to tell you, she lives up to her master-of-chick-lit reputation.

When I look forward to a book and its better than I hoped:

I read GETE in one sitting--a plane ride full of spit-your-drink-out-laughs, lots and lots of tears, and plenty of salivating over delicious descriptions of yummy eats…come to think of it, that’s a lots of bodily fluids expelled in a very confined space.  I’m sure the person sitting next to me was very happy when that plane finally landed.

But anyway, let’s talk about what made GETE so great. First, the concept behind the book is original and slightly mind-blowing. Living in a culture that has a “get skinny and all your happily ever after will land right in your lap” attitude, it was so shocking and refreshing to read about a protagonist who worked her ass off (literally) to get into shape, and then her life promptly falls apart because of it. And I definitely cared about Melanie’s life falling apart, because she was such a full and loveable character for me.

Melanie really drove this novel. I felt completely invested in her and her struggles with heartache, food, and creating the life that was right for her. And creating the life she wants isn’t easy. My biggest pet peeve is when a protagonist in a chick-lit books flaw is “clumsiness.”

Please.

Real girls have real flaws.

Ballis doesn’t try to feed us (no pun intended) that clumsiness shit. Melanie is flawed. She gets grouchy, she has a bad attitude sometimes, and she is honest. One of my favorite ‘Melanie moments’ is this, “I pull into my parking lot of my gym, and am immediately irritated that the only parking spaces are at the opposite end from the entrance. Because lord knows that just because I’m about to work out for forty minutes doesn’t mean I want to walk an extra fifty steps if I don’t have to.”

I’m pretty sure Melanie is my spirit animal.

Melanie works hard on her life, and things don’t come together in a typical-chick-lit way for her. I don’t want to give too much away, but I admire a character who pushes for her own happiness, and doesn’t rely on a knight-in-shining-armor or a streak of good luck to solve all of her problems. Because ladies, life isn’t like that.

The message I took away from GETE was that you are the chef of your own life. You don’t always get to choose the ingredients you’re given, but you choose what you do with them and what kind of culinary masterpiece you create out of your life.

Okay, I’m getting sentimental here.

And hungry.

Speaking of hungry, Ballis adds recipes from the book as an afterward, because she clearly loves her readers and wants us to be happy (and well-fed).

I had the "Macaroni and Cheese for Every Day" for lunch and it was incredible. I'm going to make the Turkey Meat Loaf tomorrow! 

Macaroni and Cheese for Every Day
(should probably have been called "Amaze-Balls Mac and Cheese")
(made with gluten-free pasta of course!)

If you want the recipes, here is where you can buy Ballis’s book. Trust me, its “Good Enough to Eat.” (Although don’t actually eat it. Especially if you buy it on kindle.)

I read Stacey Ballis's "Good Enough to Eat" as part of my summer "food books" reading list. Feel free to read along with me!

***Note: Not all of Ballis's recipes are not gluten-free, but easily adaptable. 

Cover Reveal: How to Date Dead Guys: My Most Anticipated Book of the Year!

"Dead people don't scare me. 

At least, not as much as live ones do."

Alright, I admit this isn't a gluten-free blog post, but I couldn't help but share my excitement for this incredible new book, out July 15th, 2014.

Ann Noser is an extremely talented author (and dear friend) whose debut novel is the first in her new-adult, urban-fantasy series "Under the Blood Moon," published by Curiosity Quills Press. 

Find out more about this can't-put-down series in my interview with Ann, which I'll post August 5th as part of her blog tour. And yes, we'll definitely talk about food!

In the meantime, check out the How to Date Dead Guys Goodreads page for more about the book, and follow Ann on Twitter for up-to-date information!

How to Date Dead Guys--The Spooky Synopsis:

College sophomore Emma Roberts remembers her mother’s sage advice:  “don’t sleep around, don’t burp in public, and don’t tell anyone you see ghosts”.  But when charming Mike Carlson drowns in the campus river under her watch, Emma’s sheltered life shatters.

Blamed for Mike’s death and haunted by nightmares, Emma turns to witchcraft and a mysterious Book of Shadows to bring him back.  Under a Blood Moon, she lights candles, draws a pentacle on the campus bridge, and casts a spell.  The invoked river rages up against her, but she escapes its fury.  As she stumbles back to the dorm, a stranger drags himself from the water and follows her home. And he sn't the only one.  

Instead of raising Mike, Emma assists the others she stole back from the dead—a pre-med student who jumped off the bridge, a desperate victim determined to solve his own murder, and a frat boy Emma can’t stand…at first.  More comfortable with the dead than the living, Emma delves deeper into the seductive Book of Shadows.  Her powers grow, but witchcraft may not be enough to protect her against the vengeful river and the killers that feed it their victims.

Inspired by the controversial Smiley Face Murders, HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS will ignite the secret powers hidden deep within each of us.

All About the Amazing Ann M Noser:

My to-do list dictates that I try to cram 48 hours of living into a day instead of the usual 24.  I’ve chosen a life filled with animals.  I train for marathons with my dog, then go to work as a small animal veterinarian, and finish the day by tripping over my pets as I attempt to convince my two unruly children that YES, it really IS time for bed.  But I can’t wait until the house is quiet to write; I have to steal moments throughout the day.  Ten minutes here, a half hour there, I live within my imagination.

Like all busy American mothers, I multi-task.  I work out plot holes during runs.  Instead of meditating, I type madly during yoga stretches.  I find inspiration in everyday things:  a beautiful smile, a heartbreaking song, or a newspaper article on a political theory.  For example, a long drive in the dark listening to an NPR program on the SMILEY FACE MURDERS theory made me ask so many questions that I wrote HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS to answer them to my satisfaction.

I’d love to have more time to write (and run, read, and sleep), but until I find Hermione Granger’s time turner, I will juggle real life with the half-written stories in my head.  Main characters and plot lines intertwine in my cranium, and I need to let my writing weave the tales on paper so I can find out what happens next.

Social Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

That Time I Made Recipes from the Titanic Menus

Like every other girl from age 12 to 20, I spent the winter of 1997 pining over Jack Dawson and desperately wishing I’d been able to sail on the Titanic (minus the whole iceberg thing). I was into everything Titanic that year—the real passengers, the construction of the ship, the food, the fashion—if it was titanic related, I “asked jeeves” the hell out of it.  And when that video finally came out on VHS--don’t even get me started. I think my sisters and I wore it out in mere months (as well as our Titanic soundtrack). I especially loved the first half of the movie, and rarely watched the second, because there was always that brief, misguided hope that the ending would change. Alas, it didn’t, and eventually my heart did go on, as teenager hearts tend to do.

Then Titanic came out on 3D and I had to take advantage of seeing it in theaters again, if no other reason than to find an excuse to wear jellys and strawberry flavored lip gloss again.

Its kind of funny to watch that movie as an adult. Suddenly Jack looks less great boyfriend material, and more like a man who is dangerously impulsive, scarily obsessive, unemployed, and inclined to prostitutes… 

Harsh, I know. 

Age has made me jaded! Still a good movie though, in case you were wondering. And even as an adult, I still wished in a corner of my heart for a happy ending.

After all this time, I still find the Titanic fascinating. It has all the wonders of a great story—man versus nature, man tempting God, the wealthy versus the poor, luxury juxtaposed against destruction. So when I saw a Titanic cookbook on goodreads called Last Dinner On the Titanic: Menus and Recipes from the Great Liner, I knew it was something I had to read for my summer food reading list.

Now I’m not an expert chef by any means. I still manage to burn gluten-free toast every once in a while, even though I think I’m a decent cook. And although it was master chefs working on the Titanic, a lot of the recipes were easy enough for me to follow. So don’t let the extravagance of the Titanic turn you off from trying this cookbook—the second and third class menus have recipes that even beginners can achieve.

If you’re wanting to know what it must have felt like to dine on the Titanic, this book creates that experience for you. From descriptions to the formal wear, the layout of the dining rooms, and the food (oh man, that glorious food), reading this book feels like being a guest to dinner on the Titanic. But if that isn’t enough for you, the book has instructions on how to throwing your own Titanic dinner party (I would love to do this, but am WAY too lazy), or simply making your own Titanic themed meal (Bingo.).

So many recipes looked amazing, so it was a hard choice where to start, but like Rose’s mother said, “We’re women—our choices are never easy” (hardy har har).

(click the picture to go to the amazon listing if you want a copy!)

I ended up making a handful of the recipes, some turned out okay, but some were so good that even fancy Rose couldn’t turn up her nose to them. I’m not posting the recipes here, because I believe in supporting artists and encourage you to buy the book yourself. 

The unexpected favorite? Minted Pea Timbales. I NEVER would have come up with this combo (mint…plus peas???). But as Rose said, “It doesn’t make any sense. That’s why I trust it.” And it definitely worked.

The other recipe I really enjoyed was Vegetable Marrow Farci. This one was absolutely delicious, and I kind of love that they are “vegetable boats.” (No, the book doesn't call them boats. The book is much classier than I am...)

The Spring Asparagus Hollandaise was tasty as well, but I couldn't get the sauce right (very runny) and I followed the directions precisely, but oh well. I’d make this one again, but buy the hollandaise from the store (or try different instructions).

Lastly, I made the Roast Sirloin of Beef Forestiere. Although I did enjoy the gravy, I am definitely a plain steak kind of girl, and I didn't feel like the time I spent on this one was worth the outcome. Give me a grill over an oven for my steak any day. 

Overall, it was a really fun experience reading from the Titanic menus and impressing my spouse with Edwardian delicacies. I’m a history buff, so a history food fusion is something I’d love to try again. Any suggestions?

Here are the other books on my summer food reading list, feel free to read along!

Food Books on My Summer To-Read List:

(you're welcome to read with me!)

The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory by Carol J Adams

Gluten Is My Bitch: Rants, Recipes, and Ridiculousness for the Gluten-Free by April Peveteaux

Good Enough to Eat by Stacey Ballis 

Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health by William Davis 

Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef by Shauna James Ahern, Daniel Ahern

Last Dinner on the Titanic: Menus and Recipes from the Great Liner by Rick Archbold