Thursday Recipe - Oriental Casserole

This is one of those oldie-but-goodie recipes out of those old neighborhood cookbooks. The only reason it's called oriental is because soy sauce is the main flavoring. Try it sometime. It's quick and easy and not too expensive.

Oriental Casserole

2 c. rice
4 c. water
1 t. salt
1 T. butter
1 lb ground beef
1 T. soy sauce
1 t. ground ginger
2 16 oz cans green beans, drained
1 8 oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained
Chow mein noodles or chopped peanuts (optional for garnish)

Put rice, water, salt, and butter in a 2 quart saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until rice is done. (If using brown rice, it usually takes 35-45 minutes to cook.)

Meanwhile, crumble ground beef in a large frying pan. Cook over medium-high heat until meat is cooked through. Drain off excess grease. Stir in soy sauce and ginger. Cook for a minute to let the meat absorb the seasoning. Stir in green beans and water chestnuts. Stir just until hot through. Serve over rice. Garnish with chow mein noodles or chopped peanuts if desired.

Flash Fiction Award!

Announcement! Soul Windows is now available as a print book as well as an ebook - 137 pages of great SF/F short stories by yours truly, including three brand-new ones.

I entered a flash fiction contest a couple of weeks ago. For those who don't know, flash fiction is really short fiction, usually 100 words or less. For this contest, it was even shorter. I won an honorable mention for my romance story - 69 words or less to tell a complete romance story.

Here's my entry:

“April Fool’s, honey.” Bill laughed as Carol spit out the salty cake.
“Forty years of marriage, you’d think I’d learn.” Carol rinsed her mouth with water. Except the glass had been laced with vinegar and pepper.
Bill giggled at his deception.
Carol leaned over the sink, gagging at the taste. She waited until she heard him walk over to the coffee pot before smiling. It took two to play.


Check out the other entries here.
My other entries didn't place, but it was still fun to write them. What do you think? Could you write a complete story in less than 69 words? I'd love to read what people come up with.

Thursday Recipe - Greek Salad My Way

This is not authentic. No way, no how. But it's very tasty and satisfying on a hot summer day. It's easy to whip up, too.

Greek Salad My Way

1/2 c. red wine vinegar
1/3 c. oil (this is salad dressing so go ahead and use that olive oil or other fancy oil, I just use canola)
1 T. fresh parsley leaves OR 1 t. dried parsley
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ground black pepper
1/2 t. paprika

6 c. mixed salad greens (I love the baby spring mix)
1 large cucumber, peeled and sliced
1 sweet bell pepper, red or yellow are prettiest but green works, too
1 c. pitted olives, black or kalamata
1 c. crumbled feta cheese

Put first six ingredients in a blender or small food processor. Blend until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

For the salad - put greens in a bowl, arrange cucumber, bell pepper, and olives on top. Sprinkle with feta cheese. Serve with the dressing.

Romance vs. romance

It's a nebula, not a Romance cover. But I love this picture.

It's weird how life gives you coincidences. I just started graduate school and the only class I'm taking (started last week!) is discussing academic writing, i.e. the thesis and dissertation, in context as a genre. Many of the differences between genres can be reduced to a difference in style - what is accepted within the audience for that genre. The whole situation that triggered this post could have been avoided if both parties had been clear on what genre they were writing and editing.

I don't write Romance with a capital R. I'm not sure I could. I was involved in a situation a couple of months that really brought home the differences between Romance and other genres. It's a matter of style.

Long story short, I had a story accepted for an anthology. I thought the anthology was for the whole spectrum of writing, from other genres with a strong romantic element all the way to Romance. My story was definitely on the romantic element end of the spectrum but it wasn't written as a Romance. It wasn't intended to be.

The editor wanted to rewrite my entire story. She didn't want me to add sex-plumbing scenes or anything erotic. She wanted me to change the focus of the story from the action to the inner monologue and emotions. She wanted me to change my word choices and sentence structure. My writing wasn't bad. The story had a few plot problems that needed addressed. But those weren't mentioned. I had neglected to make the characters' inner voice and emotions the main thrust of the story. I had written it as a science fiction adventure story, not as a Romance.

Lessons I learned from this include some stylistic differences when writing Romance:

1. The attraction between characters should be the central focus of your story. Everything else that happens is supporting or conflicting with that emotional connection.

2. Inner voice monologuing is appropriate and expected.

3. Emotions are more important than action or description.

I also learned I don't enjoy writing Romance. For me, a good story has a solid plot and lots of external action. It was a tough decision to pull my story from the anthology, but ultimately I have to do what is best for me and my writing. I wish the editors and authors in the anthology all the best of luck with the endeavor. We just didn't see eye-to-eye about my story.

Most of the people involved in the project are from the Romance side of publishing. I'm coming to the group from the opposite side. I write science fiction and silly horror. Romance is a sub-plot at best in my work. I was hoping to find common ground with them and I have in some areas. But in others? They're a foreign species.

Different genres have different writing styles. If you're going to cross genre boundaries, you'd better know the accepted styles. If you deviate too much, it can lead to issues with your work not being accepted by either publishers or readers. I'm beginning to wonder how to reconcile science fiction and Romance. Or even if it's possible. The two styles are mutually exclusive in many areas. Fantasy Romance works. The two genres are closer stylistically and romance is expected, at least to some degree, in fantasy stories. Same with Romantic Suspense and Romantic Thrillers.

I may have to sample more SFR books. I've read plenty of SF, from hard SF to space opera, and plenty of Romances, historical to contemporary to suspense. But the few SFR books I've read so far tend to leave me unsatisfied. The SF doesn't ring true, and the Romance feels contrived. Must be time for more research...

Do you have a favorite science fiction romance book or story that you've read? Did it satisfy both the science fiction reader AND the romance reader in you? Why or why not? I'm curious how other people feel about this.

Thursday Recipe - Banananana Bread

I keep thinking, I'm sure I posted this recipe somewhere on this blog. But then I can't find it so I must not have posted it. The older I get, the less I can remember anyway.

So here's a great recipe for banana bread. Dress it up or leave it plain. We like to serve it with cream cheese.

Banana Bread

3 - 4 medium-size very-ripe bananas
2/3 c. sugar
1 T. baking powder
1 t. salt
2 T. softened butter
3/4 c. milk
1 egg
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. white flour

Cream bananas with sugar until smooth. Add baking powder, salt, butter, milk, and egg. Beat on low speed until well blended. Stir in flours by hand.

Grease 1 large loaf pan or several smaller ones. Scoop batter into pans, filling them about halfway. Bake at 350° for 55 - 65 minutes for large loaf, 40-50 for smaller pans, 20-25 for muffins. Cool 5 minutes, turn out on rack to cool the rest of the way.

Variations:
Orange spice - Substitute orange juice for the milk. Add 1 t. nutmeg, 1 t. cinnamon, and 1 t. orange zest with the sugar.
Spice bread - Stir in 1 t. cinnamon, 1 t. ginger, 1/2 t. nutmeg, and 1 t. vanilla extract with the sugar.
Chocolate chip - Add 1 t. vanilla extract with the sugar. Stir in 1 c. mini-chocolate chips with the flours.
Nut bread - Add 1 c. chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds) with the flours.
Choco-peanut - Add 1/2 c. cocoa and 1/4 c. peanut butter with the sugar, reduce whole wheat flour to 1 c. Omit butter.
Dairy-free - substitute your favorite milk-like beverage for the milk. Or use water. I wouldn't use cola, though it might give you an interesting taste.

Author Interview - Anna del C. Dye

Please welcome Anna del C. Dye to the Far Edge of Normal! After meeting Rodney, a native of Idaho, in her hometown, two years later, Anna traveled to Utah on Christmas Eve and married him two weeks later. Their love story, Why Him? was published by Covenant in the book entitled Tender Mercies. Anna and Rodney reside in Taylorsville, Utah and are the parents of three princes and a princess. They love to camp, canoe, explore ruins and have sword fights.

Tell us about your writing - What genre do you prefer to write? I love Medieval fantasy. That makes my series High Fantasy.

What books, stories, other publications that you've written are your personal favorites? The Elf series are my favorites of all my writings. I have written articles on Relationships, and one as a tribute to my mother-in-law, also a fairy short story—all for online magazines.

Anything new coming up?Yes “Shahira & the Flying Elfs” is book number six in the seven book elf series. In this book you will find secrets, twists, and love. My elf series is inspired by Tolkien but not a copy of his works.

What about you as a person? What do you do to relax? I go camping and take the canoe. My husband and I love the quiet and beauty of nature.

Favorite movies or TV shows? LOL, yes my most favorite movie is The Lord of the Rings and now “The Hobbit” second would be “Harry Potter” with Independence Day and Narnia as a close third. I don’t watch TV but like movies on the weekend especially after a hard day of work.

Hobbies?I love sewing and do costuming for live plays or book trailers. It is so fun and imaginative. I love the Renaissance Faire too. 
"All writers must have cats, especially if they write fantasy or speculative fiction." Do you have a stand on this one? Any cute pictures of your kitty or other pet?I love cats… but I didn’t know that was standard for authors. It sounds awesome to me. My kitty’s name is Honey for the color of her fur and eyes.

What organizations do you recommend for those wanting to become writers? Any advice you'd like to share about writing?I would suggest writing groups. They are the best, and meet usually every month to help you stay focused on your writing. If you get to do a class it will give you practice standing in front of people…something you will do a lot as an author. Utah has the League of Utah Writers. Perhaps other states also have similar groups.
Writer conferences are awesome, if you want to learn about the trade. They offer classes all day for two to three days and they are worth your time and money.
Anything from what should I know before publishing my book to world building, script writing, languages in the story, art in your book, and how to submit your manuscript for publishing. It is exhilarating to be there and socialize with the best and everyone in between.

What writers inspired you to become an author?Tolkien. Yes, he is the best.

If you could have dinner with any of your characters, which ones would you choose? What food would you serve?It would be Adren from The Silent Warrior Trilogy, book one, The Elf and the Princess.
She lost her kingdom to a massacre and yet stood alone against the world with her head held high. In a world that looks upon woman as things, she had kingdoms on their knees to her humbleness, respect, and love.
She and I have much in common as we both were uprooted from all that was familiar to us and were placed in a different place and race. We both made it work too.
We would have crumpets and lemon tea after a big garden salad with a side of deer meat.

If you could travel anywhere, on earth or off, where would you go?Any place with rich history and many castles. If they have a Renaissance Faire, even better.

What color would you wear if you had only one choice?Green. It matches my eyes and it is a great camouflage if you don’t want to be seen in a forest.

Describe your dream writing spot.A round tower with windows all around the wall. An old fashion mahogany desk facing outside, and a park outside the windows. Lots of light and people to watch.

You can find me here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaDelC
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnadelC

You can find all my books at:
My website: http://www.annadelc.com
Amazon: http://ning.it/19iThs3
Barnes & Noble. http://ning.it/1744E2U
 
Jaleta, it’s a pleasure to visit your blog this week. I would like to announce that all those who post a comment will be entered to the contest for a PDF of “Shahira & the Flying Elfs” Just leave an email address to be entered. There will be one free PDF for every stop of this book blog tour.

You heard her, readers. Leave your email in a comment to be entered to win. Thanks for visiting, Anna!

Thursday Recipe - Dairy-free Ranch Dressing

I did a recipe for low-acid Ranch Dressing a while back, but it's loaded with dairy. This is a dairy-free version. It takes a bit of work but the taste is delicious.

Dairy-free Ranch Dressing

2 c. coconut milk (canned, full-fat is best, but you can use lower-fat if you need to cut down. Don't use fat-free.)
2 T. cornstarch
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. parsley
1 - 2 t. salt, to taste
1/2 t. dried dill weed

Mix everything in a saucepan, making sure to work out any lumps with the cornstarch. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Cook for one minute. Remove from heat and let cool. Stir it every once in a while to keep it from forming a skin on top. When completely cooled, beat with a whisk until creamy.

Store in a covered bottle in the refrigerator. Best if you refrigerate it overnight before using. Keeps for about 2 weeks in the fridge.