Walking between the Worlds: Food and Drink

My favorite people

My bandmate
Larry - a genius, a technical writer, a father, and just all around great guy
My brother
My brother is an avid ballroom dancer, and this article is about his group in Prescott with a photo and a lot of quotes from him.
My maestro
one of the most successful,and most helpful, vocal and guitar instructors in the United States who has taught pop, rock, blues, hard rock, alternative, punk, emo, country, Latin and avant-guard styles.
My sister the Sister
My sister, a Dominican sister, creates a noted blog

Recently read

Philip Pullman: His Dark Materials
Still adding 2009, and going in a random order... I was very happy to read this triology... definitely a "I can't put it down" type of adventure, although I didn't like the ending... I won't spoil it for you. Would highly recommend to all fantasy fans. The Church portrayal didn't bother me, any more than did the portrayal of most grownups as being immature and hopelessly incompetent. It was all part of the story!
Sherry Argon: Why Men Love Bitches
A book I read in 2009 during my "read about dating" phase. This was the first book I picked up after Love: When It Hurts Too Much to Let Go by Susan Forward and Craig Buck which I read for a friend but found helpful, so I decided to dip into the dating book genre. I picked this up in the airport! It is very entertainingly written and nicely organized, with sensible advice. It isn't so much about being "a bitch" but more about having healthy boundaries. This is one I would loan out to a friend -- I think it's pretty good advice overall. (****)
Steve Hodel : Most evil : Avenger, Zodiac, and the further serial murders of Dr. George Hill Hodel
Written by his son, this story puts together a meticulous case file on why George Hill Hodel is most likely the Zodiac killer. Good true crime story, very detailed, with an interesting side that it was written by the son of the alleged killer, who was never brought to justice. I would've liked a little more insight into Steve Hodel and a little less of the handwriting analysis detail, but overall very fascinating. I had read of the unsolved killings and Steve Hodel makes a good case that his father was actually the killer. (****)
Mario Acevedo: X-rated Blood Suckers
a vampire noir mystery... this is the second of the series... the writing improves half way through. I picked it up in the store and started reading in the middle -- that's how I got hooked. Pretty entertaining and if the writing style of the next one matches or exceeds this one, I might read more. But on the whole I think the whole vampire as detective thing could "pale" on me (sorry for the pun) pretty easily. The sex is sort of sexy, the mystery is sort of interesting, the characters are sort of boring. The most interesting features to me -- the older and more experienced vampire known as Coyote, the mysterious vampire organization "Araneum" who communicated with Felix the main character by bird, were drowned out by a cast of sleezy cardboard villians, ex-porn-stars, and Felix's tepid and unfulfilling human romantic interest. Felix spends most of the novel escaping assasination attempts which disguises the vapid plotting and the blase twin mysteries (who or what is behind the human-vampire collusion that the Araneum wants stopped and who or what killed Roxy Bronze along with an ever increasing body count of victims). On the other hand, I am very interested in Coyote and even came to like Felix a bit, although, honestly, he was kinda dumb and not very hot. The use of super powers can make a detective very boring....
Sharyn McCrumb: Highland Laddie Gone
Enjoyable and wry murder mystery set at a Highland Games festival. I love the set up, the characters, the writing style... a little old fashioned of a writing style but not too verbose. A little romance, a little humor, a cast of interesting characters. This is an early McCrumb and she got better in some of her later books, but it is still a super fun read.
Sharyn McCrumb: If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O
As always good readable mystery from Sharyn McCrumb. (****)
David Zinczenko: The Abs Diet for Women: The Six-Week Plan to Flatten Your Belly and Firm Up Your Body for Life
Great ideas from Men's Health magazine... adapted specificall for women's life styles and needs. (****)
Gary Chapman: The Five Love Languages for Singles (Chapman, Gary)
Helpful but not as in depth as I would've liked!
Marilu Henner: Wear Your Life Well: Use What You Have to Get What You Want
Inspriational and informative! (****)
Dominick Dunne: Justice: Crimes, Trials, and Punishments
Listened to in audio book form. This was read by Dominick Dunne himself which GREATLY enhanced enjoyability. Dunne has a great voice -- both physically and stylistically. This was a collection of article written about trials he has covered (mostly for Vanity Fair I gathered) starting with the first sad trial of the killer of his own daughter -- who was acquited and still is free. He has channeled his rage into positive action and helped many people, notably the mother of Martha Moxley, whose case went unsolved for almost 20 years, but whose killer is now behind bars. The book highlights the different ways the justice system works for the wealthy and the indigent, and is sprinkled not only with personalities and name dropping, but also with honesty, forth-right and couragous pronouncements, and willingness to take a risk for what Dominick Dunne sees as Justice. He would indeed be a great dinner guest! Highly recommended to true crime buffs, people who love great writing styles, people concerned about social justice, people with a streak of loving gossip (not me, giggle), and any one who loves a good, gripping true story of any kind! (*****)

September 12, 2007

Spicy vegetable beef soup

I had fun with this crock pot concoction which I made to take over to Johnny and Hope's reception party at their home...

Dorothy, Hope, and John drumming at the party

Ingredients:

1/2 carton of natural vegetable broth
1/2 carton of beef broth
beef cut for stew (1 pound)
can o' peas
can o' gr. beans
can o' potatoes
fresh vegetables what were lying about
Zattarains' seasoning (added twice: once by me and once by Bill who doesn't trust me)
Cholula (hot sauce)
Old Bay seasoning
pinch o' salt

Cook for several hours on low.

Posted at 04:24 PM in Food and Drink | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

September 07, 2007

Another good crock pot concoction - Chicken cooked in vegetable broth with mushrooms

Hey, I merely put 3 chicken breasts in the crock pot with half a package of fresh sliced mushrooms (could've been a few more in there with no harm done) and covered it all with all natural vegetable broth, seasoned with salt and a soup seasoning mix, and cooked overnight on low. This chicken has been rated high by both myself and by Bill. The mushrooms and broth give the chicken a velvety texture; whilst the chicken and mushrooms give the broth a delectable richness. All this and it is low calorie too!

Posted at 12:15 PM in Food and Drink | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)