Thursday Recipe - Hot Caramel Sauce

I needed caramel dipping sauce without corn syrup because of allergies. I played around with things and came up with this one. It tastes delicious, but it will eventually crystallize.

Use it for dipping apple slices or pretzels or other fun things. Or pour it over cake or ice cream.

Hot Caramel Sauce

1/2 c. powdered milk
2/3 c. hot water
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
2 T. butter
1/2 t. salt

Mix powdered milk and hot water. Stir vigorously until milk is completely dissolved.

Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Cook over medium heat, stirring the whole time, just until mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir for 2 minutes.

Serve warm.

Monday Spotlight - Claire Buss has a new book coming!

The Gaia Solution, book 3 of The Gaia Collection

AVAILABLE ON KINDLE PREORDER – mybook.to/gaiasolution

Releases 8^th November 2019 in paperback & ebook

The Blurb:

Kira, Jed and their friends have fled New Corporation and joined the Resistance, but their relief is short-lived as they discover how decimated the human race has become and learn of an environmental crisis that threatens to destroy their existence. Kira and Jed must travel up the mountain to the New Corporation stronghold, City 50, to bargain for sanctuary while Martha and Dina risk everything to return to City 42 and save those who are left. With the last of her reserves Gaia, the fading spirit of the Earth uses her remaining influence to guide Kira and her friends but ultimately, it’s up to humanity to make the right choice.

More about The Gaia Collection series

The Gaia Collection is Claire's hopeful dystopian trilogy set 200 years in the future after much of the planet and the human race have been decimated during The Event, when the world went to war with high-energy radiation weapons. In The Gaia Effect, Kira and Jed Jenkins – a young couple who were recently allocated a child – together with their closest friends, discover Corporation have been deliberately lying to them and forcing them to remain sterile. With help from Gaia, the spirit of the Earth, the group of friends begin to fight back against Corporation eventually winning and taking over the governance of City 42.

In The Gaia Project, Corporation fight back under a new, more terrifying organization called New Corp and Kira, Jed and their friends end up fleeing for their lives trying to find a safe place to live. They travel to City 36 and City 9 in vain and must go further afield.

In the final book, The Gaia Solution, the main characters have ended up with the Resistance and not only do they have to deal with surviving against New Corp but an extinction environmental event is looming on the horizon and they’re running out of time to save what’s left of the human race.

Book Buy Links

The Gaia Effect

The Gaia Project

The Gaia Solution

About the Author

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet based in the UK. She wanted to be Lois Lane when she grew up but work experience at her local paper was eye-opening. Instead, Claire went on to work in a variety of admin roles for over a decade but never felt quite at home. An avid reader, baker and Pinterest addict Claire won second place in the Barking and Dagenham Pen to Print writing competition in 2015 with her debut novel, The Gaia Effect, setting her writing career in motion. She continues to write passionately and is hopelessly addicted to cake.

Social Media Links

Facebook: www.facebook.com/busswriter

FB Group: www.facebook.com/groups/BussBookStop

Twitter: www.twitter.com/grasshopper2407

Website: www.cbvisions.weebly.com

Blog: https://www.butidontlikesalad.blogspot.co.uk

Pets in Space 4

Helping boost the signal  for the Science Fiction Romance Brigade.

Science Fiction Romance Helping Our Service Veterans

Pets in Space® 4 is Back!!

Who doesn't love a pet?! Now put that pet in space and watch the universe light up with joy! 

Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space® authors have donated over $7,100 in the past three years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans and first responders. Once again, 10% of all pre-orders and the first month’s royalties of Pets in Space® 4 will go to Hero-Dogs.org.

Each of the 13 authors in Pets in Space® 4 have given me an exclusive peek at what inspired them to support hero-dogs and write a science romance story for this year's Pets in Space® 4.

S.E. Smith - MADAS' FALLING STAR

Many of my family members all belonged to the military in one form or another over the years, serving with pride. When Pauline Baird Jones and Veronica Scott first approached me and asked if I would be interested in participating in an anthology that benefitted https://HeroDogs.org, I researched them and knew this was one way I could help support not only veterans, but first responders as well. Life is about giving. In a world that sometimes feels like we have forgotten, it only takes one act of kindness to help us remember that what we give is the legacy that we leave behind.

Anna Hackett - DARK GUARD

My father was part of the Army Reserve in Australia and he instilled in me a deep respect for the brave men and women who serve in the military. I have so many memories of attending dawn services on ANZAC Day – a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand to commemorate all those who served protecting our countries. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and during the first world war, the ANZAC forces landed at Gallipoli on the 25^th of April at dawn, and met with fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. To this day, Australians still hold services at dawn on that day in remembrance of all the heroes who have served.

I feel truly blessed that my fictional heroes can in some small way contribute to supporting our real-life heroes.

Tiffany Roberts - ENTWINED FATES

This year, our pet is a shape changing robot named Cypher who is the backbone of the love story between our main characters, and he was integral in the evolution of their relationship, providing much-needed support and affection when our characters needed it the most.

That support that is so often provided by the animals we bond with is integral to this anthology series and the charity it supports—Hero Dogs. What’s better than giving back to the people who put their lives on the line to keep us safe every day? Not only does it provide veterans and first responders with dedicated service animals, it allows those dogs to make bonds with their new owners that can run as deep as the romances we write about.

Veronica Scott - STAR CRUISE: IDOL’S CURSE

Pauline B. Jones and I loved the idea of putting together a fun set of stories including pets and scifi romance but we very much wanted to have a higher purpose as our guiding principle for why we were doing the anthology. We wanted to find a charity to support that had a strong connection to serving military veterans. We decided on Hero-Dogs, Inc., a small nonprofit doing great work providing service dogs to veterans (and first responders)

Pauline Baird Jones - CYBORG'S REVENGE

When Veronica Scott and I conceived the idea for our Pets in Space anthologies, one of the first things we talked about was supporting a charity that benefited our military and first responders—those who run toward danger when others are running away. And we hoped for some kind of pet tie-in. 

It was total serendipity when we found Hero Dogs. This will be our fourth year as proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org. Pets in Space ® authors have donated over $7,100 in the past three years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans and first responders. 

Laurie A. Green - SPYDOG

In addition to my family ties, I’m also about as military as you can get without actually ever having served in the armed forces. My career for over two decades was as a military budget director, working side-by-side with officers and enlisted personnel, many of whom were deployed multiple times. During that time, I saw many soldiers leave for overseas deployments and attended many a yellow ribbon ceremony when they finally—and safely—returned home. Not all came back the same as when they left. I know how much these men and women sacrificed to serve their country, and I love that Pets in Space® 4 will allow me to give something back to our veterans.

Writing SpyDog--a novella about a heroic StarDog and her agent-handler on a critical mission--seemed like a total win-win, and a great way to help support a truly wonderful cause, while also allowing me to expand my Inherited Stars Series. Huah!

Donna McDonald - NOTHING REMOTELY FAMILIAR

There are not enough words in the English language for me to describe how important it is that America’s military men and women are given the tools they need to heal from the price they paid while in service to our country. Organizations like Hero-Dogs.org are making a difference to our veterans in a profound way.

Regine Abel - DOOM

Hero Dogs is such an amazing program which I discovered through the Pets in Space Anthology. Anything that helps improve someone's quality of life is amazing. But to do so for those who have sacrificed so much in the defense and protection of others is beyond wonderful and well worth supporting.

While my books are sci-fi, with alien cultures and otherworldly species, my main focus is displaying how strong women can be, physically, mentally, and morally in the face of adversity. Even the most fragile, vulnerable-looking, or even damaged woman can rise when given the opportunity. Sometimes, you only need a nudge or the support of a friend to help you overcome the challenges that life has thrown your way and for your inner strength to shine. To me, that is the best part of the Hero Dogs program. Those veterans are not only getting a helper to assist them in toppling over life's hurdles, but they are also receiving the gift of unconditional love and friendship that only a pet can provide. 

Alexis Glynn Latner - WINTER'S PRINCE

A dear friend of mine with PTSD from a catastrophic car accident has a service dog. Rinnie is a 90-pound German Shepherd who came to my friend as a sick stray on the front steps. Taken to the vet and cured of heartworms, Rinnie turned out to be an undisguised blessing.  Someone with PTSD can be amazingly more at ease with a good dog at their side.

In Winter’s Prince, my unicorn turns out to be a rescue animal. With a free-wheeling interstellar fair ranging across the park where the unicorn lives, on a forested mountain inside a huge space station, Prince, the unicorn, is trained to find lost fair-goers and lead them to safety. 

JC Hay - HEART OF THE SPIDER'S WEB

For a person in need, service animals provide a sense of independence, of self-reliance, that might not otherwise be available. Being able to assist with this in some small way feels like a natural outgrowth of the stories in the TriSystems universe (specially the Rangers, but Barr’s relationship with his lizard-like goanna in this year’s Pets in Space is equally cathartic.) While I’ve never had a service animal, I know first-hand the soothing comfort a companion animal can provide, and how much I rely on that consolation to get through the rough spots. To help someone find an even deeper connection is a perfect charity for me. 

E.D. Walker - THE PRINCESS AND HER BODYGUARD

Growing up, I was instilled with a deep sense of pride for military service, and a healthy respect for the sacrifices our armed forces and their families make. I have several (non-military) friends who have service dogs, and I have seen what a huge difference it has made in their lives to have that kind of assistance available to them. Because I know how amazing the skills of a service dog can be, I am immeasurably proud to contribute in even some small way to helping Hero Dogs continue with their mission to place service dogs with veterans.

Kyndra Hatch - INTERRUPTING STARLIGHT

When Pets in Space® first came out in 2016, I was in love. Combining science fiction romance with furry companions was every bit as good as it sounds. The stories were fantastic! Then combining all of that to help Hero-Dogs.org and I simply had to be a part of it. What Hero-Dogs does for veterans has a special place in my heart. Many of my family members have been or are currently in the military. We see and experience first-hand what military service means, so my husband and I support all veterans and programs to help veterans. An organization that trains service dogs to help veterans is as wonderful as it gets. 

Cassandra Chandler - IMPORT QUARANTINE

My dad was stationed outside of Sicily while he was in the navy. He was lucky enough to serve during a time when the world was more or less getting along. It was still an experience that changed how we all lived. I know he was affected in deeper ways—ways he didn’t share with us. What he did share were the stories. PG versions of his adventures abroad. When I learned about Pets in Space®, the first thing that struck me was that it was an anthology that helps our veterans. The more I learned about Hero Dogs, the more impressed I became. I love animals, and know that working dogs need important jobs to be happy, and helping veterans certainly qualifies for me.

--------

Grab your copy of Pets in Space® 4 today! https://www.petsinspaceantho.com For a limited time, Pets in Space® 4 brings together today’s leading Science Fiction Romance authors to help Hero-Dogs.org, a non-profit charity that helps our service veterans and first responders. 

Journey to far off worlds with Anna Hackett’s House of Roan or board Veronica Scott’s Nebula Zephyr for another amazing Interstellar cruise. From S.E. Smith’s Lords of Kassis, Tiffany Roberts’ The Infinite City, to Pauline Baird Jones' Project Enterprise series, plus stories from Laurie A. Green, Donna McDonald, Regine Abel, Alexis Glynn Latner, JC Hay, E.D. Walker, Kyndra Hatch, and Cassandra Chandler, you’ll find the perfect story along with a few unusual pets. 

Thirteen incredible stories by thirteen of today’s bestselling authors. Don’t miss out on this limited time offer for Pets in Space® 4 and help a great charity! https://www.petsinspaceantho.com 

Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Pets in Space® 4 today so together we can continue to assist this worthy charity! https://www.petsinspaceantho.com

Thursday Recipe - Japanese Inspired Quick Pickles

My hubby and I were in Seattle at a convention a few weeks ago. We went out for dinner at a Japanese restaurant. It was quite the experience. Four courses. Fancy little dishes. Fun atmosphere.

I was quite enamored with the little dish of pickles they brought us with the appetizer course. I liked them enough to try to figure out how to make my own version. These are close. They'll keep in the fridge for a few days, but don't try to keep them longer than that.

A note about vinegar - Not all vinegars are the same. Rice vinegar tends to be milder and sweeter than white vinegar. The seasoned version just has some added sugar and salt. To make your own, mix 1/3 c. rice vinegar with 1/2 t. sugar and 1/4 t. salt. Stir until sugar and salt dissolve.

Japanese Inspired Quick Pickles

1 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
1/3 c. seasoned rice vinegar
2 t. sesame seeds

Put cucumber slices in a bowl. Pour vinegar over top.

Heat a small frying pan over medium heat until hot. Add sesame seeds. Toast for 2-5 minutes, just until they start to brown.

Sprinkle hot sesame seeds over the cucumbers. Set aside for at least 30 minutes.

Beer-Battered Shrimp for Cognitive Ruminations

My first ever Kickstarter project is live!

This is both exciting and terrifying. I'm asking people for money, something I hate doing. But it's the only way I'll be able to get Beer-Battered Shrimp for Cognitive Ruminations out into the world. I'm excited for the book. It's a wonderfully weird and quirky collection of extremely short writings. I'm working on getting each one illustrated and so far, it's pretty awesome.

But I need some way to pay the authors and artists and get them copies of the book. I'm learning that full-color books aren't cheap, not if you want a decent paper and finish on the pages.

So I'm asking for your help. Check out the project and if it sounds fun, please back it. Help me fund the project and launch my new publishing platform - Anthologies for Good. I'm thinking of doing one themed anthology every year, then donating all the royalties from sales to a charity. Beer-Battered Shrimp will benefit Heifer International.

Please take a moment and check it out. If it doesn't spark your fancy, at least consider sharing it.

Thank you!

FREEBIE!

Hey, everyone!

I'm in a great collection of short stories. The best news is that it is completely FREE! You don't have to sign up or give your email address or anything, just click the link and download, then enjoy!

https://bookhip.com/VLRCGG

Thursday Recipe - Nightshade-Free "Chili" Soup

Okay, it isn't really chili because it has no chili powder in it. Or tomatoes. Or green chilies. (Those are all part of the nightshade family, which I'm allergic to.) But it's a good enough version to replace it. It works great in a crockpot, too.

Use fresh squash or pumpkin in this soup. The canned pumpkin is too fine of a puree. I like to bake pumpkins after Halloween, then freeze the flesh in old whipped topping bowls. It keeps for months and is really easy to just chuck into soups like these. No need for thawing, just add an extra 30-60 minutes to the cook time. You can also use baked sweet potatoes, butternut squash (no need to pre-cook), or other yellow-orange flesh winter squash like acorn, hubbard, turban, banana, etc. I should do a whole post on squash...

We found a lovely Stripetti squash at the store the other day. It's a cross between delicata and spaghetti squash. My daughter had some as noodles, then we threw the rest into this soup. Tasty stuff.

To bake squash or pumpkin, slice it in half and scoop out the seeds. Large pumpkins may need to be sliced smaller, depending on how big the pumpkin is and how much your oven can handle. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Add 1-2 T. butter and 1/4 c. water to each half, just drop it into the center hole where the seeds were. I usually skip this with the pumpkin because it's usually larger and cut into flatter pieces. Cover the squash loosely with foil, mostly to keep it moist. Bake at 375-400°F for 1-2 hours, until it is easily pierced with a fork. Spaghetti squash should easily flake into strands.

Pull it out and let it cool, then scoop the flesh off the rind. You should have plenty of delicious squash flesh for use in pies, muffins, custards, or soups like this one.

Nightshade-Free Chili Soup

2 c. dried pinto beans
5 c. water

5 c. water
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 c. cooked spaghetti squash or fresh pumpkin (not canned pumpkin)
1 c. cooked, crumbled hamburger
2 t. salt
2 t. oregano
1 t. ground black pepper
1 t. cumin
1 t. celery seed

Rinse off the beans, then place in a 3-qt saucepan with the 5 c. water. Cover and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and let them sit for about an hour.

Drain beans. Rinse several times. Add 5 c. fresh water to the saucepan, bring to a boil.

Dump pan of beans with the water into a 4-qt crockpot or slow cooker. Add the rest of the ingredients. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours. Remove lid and give it a good stir. Add more salt, pepper, or cumin to taste. Cover and continue to cook for another 2-4 hours, until soup is thick and beans are tender.

Serve hot with plenty of sour cream, shredded cheese, or whatever you like to top your chili with. Half my family, the half that can eat tomatoes and peppers, added salsa to their soup.

New Story!

Hey! I know I'm not posting regularly. Too much life and I just had to let things slide. But I will post when I find great recipes or have news, like now.

My story, It's Always Sunny in the Fortress of Bones, is coming out in the anthology, Tales of Magic and Destiny from Inklings Press. Loads of great fantasy in this volume. It's up for pre-order!

Check it out - mybook.to/MagicDestiny

Thursday Recipe - Black Beans, Indian Style

I ran across a vegan slow-cooker recipe book at the library and decided to take a look. The book had recipes from all over the globe. I tried this one out on a whim. I'm glad I did.

Can you cook Indian food without peppers or paprika? Yep. And it's tasty, too.

Fenugreek seeds can be found at an Indian market, if you're lucky enough to have one around. You might be able to find them at your local grocery store, you could ask to see if they ever carry them. Or you can order some online. They give a distinctive flavor to the dish so it's worth trying to track some down. If you cook much Indian food, you'll want to have some on hand.

Black Beans, Indian Style

1 c. dried black beans
4 c. water
1/3 c. onion, chopped small
1 t. butter
2 t. salt
1 t. ground black pepper
1/2 t. fennel seed
1/2 t. cumin
1/2 t. ginger
1/4 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. fenugreek seeds

Put onion and butter in 2-qt crockpot. Cook on high for about 30-45 minutes. Butter should melt and onion should get soft. Add spices. Let cook for another 15 minutes.

Rinse dried beans. Put in a saucepan, cover with water. Bring to boil over high heat. Cover and set aside for 15 minutes.

Drain beans. Rinse with warm water. Add beans to crockpot. Bring fresh water to a boil; add to the crockpot to cover beans.

Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours, until beans are tender.

Thursday Recipe - No-Mato Sweet BBQ Sauce

Sweet and still tangy, it looks like barbecue sauce and tastes great as a dipping sauce for chicken nuggets. It's also tomato and pepper free.

It looks like a weird combination but it does come together as a nice sauce.

I used the cranberry jelly in a can, not the whole berry sauce. The whole berry sauce should work, but it will be a chunkier, lumpier sauce.

No-Mato Sweet BBQ Sauce

1/2 c. cranberry jelly
2 T. brown mustard (go mild or spicy, depending on what you like)
1 T. white vinegar

Mix everything in a small saucepan. Don't worry about jelly lumps, they will smooth out as the jelly melts.

Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sauce comes to a boil. Turn to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes, until the jelly is completely melted and sauce smooths out.

Serve warm or cold.

Thursday Recipe - Simple Fruity Frosting

I've found I have issues with food colorings. The all-natural ones in the stores are expensive and hard to work with. But sometimes you want more than just chocolate or plain white frosting.

The key to this recipe is finding a nice soft seedless fruit jelly with lots of color. I used a home-made black currant jelly and it made a lovely pinkish purple frosting. You could also use Hibiscus syrup to flavor and color your frosting. (hibiscus and mint or hibiscus ginger and lemon)  I haven't tried it with jams yet, but just be aware that if your jam or jelly has bits of fruit in it, they will be in the frosting, too.

Now I want to experiment with orange marmalade...

Simple Fruity Frosting

1/2 c. butter, softened
1/4 c. seedless jelly
3 c. powdered sugar
1-3 T. milk

Cream butter and jelly with powdered sugar. Beat for one minute.

If frosting is too stiff, add milk one tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition, until you reach the desired consistency.
If frosting is too soft or runny, add powdered sugar 1/2 c. at a time until you reach the desired consistency.

Whip for 2-4 minutes until very light and fluffy. Use on your favorite cake or spread on graham crackers or use on cookies or whatever you like to do with frosting.

Book Review - The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Alexander McCall Smith

First off, don't expect this book to be a mystery even though that's how it's billed. Yes, there is a mystery or two buried in the story, but it's mostly about the characters and the relationships. It's not a thriller, by any means. It's a slow, meandering, circle-within-a-circle type of story.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wasn't expecting to. It was a book I picked up cheap at the thrift store. I'd heard good things about it so I decided to give it a try. I'm very glad I did.

This isn't my usual type of book. It's about Mma. Ramotswe, a traditionally-built lady of African origin who decides to open a private investigator office in Gabarone, capital of Botswana. She doesn't want to handle big cases or criminal cases, just the small everyday problems of ordinary people, the kind of problems that police are too busy or too important to deal with.

So if you pick this up, be prepared for a different kind of storytelling. One that focuses on the people, on the countryside, on thoughts about life and family and love.

I enjoyed it so much I'm now on book ten of the series...

Five stars for a gentle, fun read with characters I actually like
G - no language or innuendo or anything objectionable

Thursday Recipe - Hibiscus Syrup, Take 2

Several years ago, when I first discovered dried hibiscus flowers, I posted this recipe for hibiscus syrup. Since then, I've experimented more and found new flavors to combine with the flowers.

You can order dried flowers online or check your local latino grocery store, if you have one.

Hibiscus Syrup

1 lb dried hibiscus flowers
1/4 c. chopped candied ginger OR 1/3 c. sliced fresh ginger
1 lemon, sliced
1 quart water
2 c. sugar

Combine flowers, ginger, lemon, and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, cover and let steep for 30 minutes.

Strain juice and return to saucepan. Stir in sugar. Simmer over medium-low heat for about an hour, until it has reduced to about 2 c. and thickened into a syrup.

You can use it like pancake syrup if you want. Or use it to flavor frostings. Or mix it with some lemon-lime soda to make punch.

Hibiscus Fizzy Punch

1 T. hibiscus punch
1 c. lemon-lime soda

Mix together, serve immediately. Makes one serving.

Book Review - The War of Art

The War of Art, Steven Pressfield

This is a short, succinct book about recognizing and feeding your inner creativity. Sort of.

I recognized a lot of truth as I read this book, but I also wasn't quite sold on all of his ideas. It's a good kick-in-the-pants, though, if you need it to get you out of a rut and working again.

Pressfield spends a lot of time explaining Resistance. The way he defines it, resistance is anything that stops you from doing what you really want to do. It's internal, sometimes expressed as external forces. It's those hours of surfing online instead of writing. Or watching tv and movies. Or playing games. Or cooking. Or cleaning. Or spending time with your family. This is where I don't agree. Writing is NOT my top priority, obviously. Family and my personal health come first. And sometimes laundry and errands and all the rest of the stuff that is on my plate. But, he does make a good point that you are unhappy if you push your creative outlets too far down your to-do list.

If you want to be a professional, at least in attitude and output, you have to make it your full-time job and treat it as such.

It was a good read. Now to put some of his advice into action.

Four stars
PG-13 for some strong language

Wednesday Words

Kuportik's forked tongue flicked over the claws on his front foot. So messy, those deer, so full of blood. But that haunch of venison had tasted all right. Not spectacular, but it was sufficient to satiate his hunger. Tomorrow, he'd have to try something new. Maybe fish from the lock. Shark was supposed to good for the scales and teeth.

His huge eyes slowly closed as he drowsed in his cave, tail tucked over his nose.

Tomorrow, next week, next year, it would bring more venison, not fish. His wing still ached and his bones grew weary as the centuries passed.

Kuportik the great dragon dreamed of his past glory, of that time when he was usually more adventurous in his diet.

Check out more flashfiction on this theme here - https://www.facebook.com/pg/WonHundredWords/posts/

#WednesdayWords #flashfiction

Call for Submissions!

I've been inspired to create a thought-provoking book of short quotations and really short stories. I'm titling it Beer-Battered Shrimp for the (something). (Someone brought up concerns over the trademarked series you-know-what-it-is, so the name will be shifting.)

What? You were expecting it to be a NORMAL book filled with NORMAL stories? Nope. Silliness and weirdness will abound. All I ask is that submissions be happy and silly and hopeful. Not dark or scary or disturbing. Well, maybe a little disturbing.

Details:

Deadline: May 31, 2019

What I want:Strange little stories or silly inspirational quotes of up to 125 words (this is not a firm count, but if it's longer, your piece had better be exactly what I'm looking for). I want something that will fit on a single page in a large and funky font.
Here's an example (used by permission from Michaelbrent Collings) -
I wish all rabbits were named Barry. That way, when you were out walking with your friend and you saw a rabbit and your friend said, "I wonder what that rabbit's name is?" you could say, "It's Barry," and you'd look very smart.

Multiple submissions are fine. Reprints are fine as long as you have the rights back for them.

Forgot to add: Please keep it G or PG. No profanity or explicit sex or violence, please.

What you get:
Right now, token payment of up to $5 per story/quote and one copy of the collection when it's finished. You can also have space for a bio and a website if you want it.
Basically it would be a charity collection. Any proceeds the book earns will go towards this fundraiser - https://www.heifer.org/gift-catalog/animals-nutrition/honeybees-donation.html
or one of their other animal gifts.

Why am I doing this:Because it sounds like fun. And I like silly books of uplifting quotations, inspirational stories, and weird things. The world needs more happiness.

How do I submit?
Write something, edit it, make it shine, then email it to me at jaletac@gmail.com. Make sure you put SUB and your title in the subject line. Please include your name and contact info.

Deadline is the end of May. It really depends on how many submissions I get by then.

Contract stuff:
I only want the right to publish your item in my collection. I don't want exclusive rights or anything else. Feel free to publish it elsewhere or send me reprints if you have them. You agree to let me have your writing in my collection. If you need something more legal than this, I'm sure I can come up with something.

Any questions?
Comment on this post or send me a message.

Thursday Recipe - GF Banana Cake

I found a lot of GF alternate flours at our local Grocery Outlet. The good? They were pretty cheap for GF flours. The bad? They expire soon. So we got baking and trying out recipes. Here is one that worked pretty well. It's gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and pretty tasty.

GF Banana Cake

1 1/2 c. sugar
4-5 very ripe bananas
1/4 c. softened butter
1/3 c. milk or milk substitute
3 eggs
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 c. GF flour blend (the stuff that you substitute 1:1 for regular flour)
2/3 c. banana flour

Heat oven to 350°. Grease a 9x13 cake pan and set aside.

Cream sugar, bananas, and butter until very creamy and smooth. Add milk, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat well. Stir in flours until well blended.

Spread in baking pan. Cook for 45-55 minutes, until cake is set and toothpick comes out clean.

Cool and frost as desired.

This makes a dense banana cake very similar to banana bread. You can add cinnamon or chocolate chips to it if you want.

Wednesday Words - Do You Find Me Shy Yet?

Do You Find Me Shy Yet?

She checked his profile one more time. Andre liked them shy? She'd give him shy. Her hands flipped through racks of silk dresses. Too skimpy, too short, too elegant. Did she even own anything that said, "Shy?"

Her hand closed over cotton. Plain white blouse, high neck, long sleeves. Plain black skirt that dangled almost to her ankles. If she kept her makeup light...

She checked her look one more time on her way out. Shy, definitely.

Her tongue flicked over her fangs as she smiled.

This was for all the shy girls hoping to meet a nice man. Andre wasn't a nice man. He'd soon regret his preference for shy girls.

But not for long.

I joined a group where we write a very short piece every week based on a prompt. I'm going to be posting almost every Wednesday.

Thursday Recipe - Oat Muffins

These turned out very tasty. They are wheat-free. They can be gluten-free if you use gluten-free oats, and dairy-free if you use oil and a milk substitute. Overall, they were crumbly and just sweet enough to be perfect with butter and jam. Eat them hot from the oven for the best taste.

Check your grocery store for alternate flours to find the garbanzo bean flour. Most stores now carry a full assortment of flours.

By the way, if you are used to store-bought muffins, these won't taste right. Store-bought muffins really should be labeled "cake" instead.

Oat Muffins

1 1/2 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. garbanzo bean flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1/3 c. oil or melted butter
2/3 c. milk or milk substitute (I like coconut milk or almond milk)

Heat oven to 400°F. Line muffin pan with paper liners.

Put oatmeal in the blender. Pulse until most of it resembles flour. Add in bean flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Pulse until well mixed. Since it's dry, you may have to stop and gently shake the blender container to get things to mix again.

In a separate bowl, beat eggs, oil, and milk until foamy. Add in dry ingredient mix. Stir until combined.

Spoon into muffin cups. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean and the tops are lightly browned.

Serve hot with butter, honey, and jam.