Political Warning & Recipes

 I am beinning this post on my birthday (Friday, the 19th), acknowledging that this is the one that tips me from being "old" to "ancient." A seer, perhaps—certainly I've seen a great deal of history flow past and, I hope, acquired a bit of wisdom along the way.

Due to recent dire events in Pennsylvania, I've been on a political moratorium this past week, biting my tongue on words I was poised to say before I saw blood running down the face of a candidate for the American Presidency. The result of a gun culture I abhor. The days of the Wild West should have been allowed an honorable death a century ago.

Today, I'm going to stick to the innocuous—a couple of tasty recipes before I gnash my teeth and plunge into the political fray.

 Gallery:

For pure fun, a video of my daughter Susie back when she was performing as Susie K, and her girls having a ball imitating Mom.

To view the video, https://www.facebook.com/1367214104/videos/10206825819748527 

 

Birthday-shopping at Sephora

 

Below, more funny than titillating - just keep reading.

 

 

  ~ * ~

Realizing I was so busy writing lately that I was sticking to same-old, same-old menus, I spent a bit of time going through lists I'd made of choice recipes in the past and came up with three I needed to resurrect. Below, the two I've enjoyed over the last couple of weeks. And, yes, they were worth the brief search of my "Good" file. (Actually, I'd marked the pork loin recipe, "Excellent!")

From Taste of Home's Back to School mini-mag, October 2015:

 

 ONION-APPLE PORK CHOPS

 Note:  Though perfect for a single like me, this recipe can easily be doubled.

 2 boneless pork loin chops (4 oz. ea.)

¼ teaspoon garlic salt

¼ teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 medium apple, peeled and thinly sliced

1 small onion, thinly sliced

1/3 cup chicken broth

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1. Sprinkle chops with garlic salt and lemon pepper. In a large ovenproof skillet, brown chops in oil. Remove and keep warm.*

2.  In the same skillet, sauté apple and onion in drippings until tender. Stir in broth and syrup. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-7 minutes or until liquid is almost evaporated. Return chops to pan.

3. Cover pan and bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until thermometer reads 145°.

*Microwave, Power Level 1 will do it.

******

 From Taste of Home Quick & Light, 2014:

Note:  Since this recipe was printed, the size of tuna cans seems to have changed. I use two 4-oz. cans and increased the other ingredients to fit. [Or you can use one can and cut the other ingredients accordingly—except you'd waste a lot of artichoke hearts that way. They don't come in super-small.) Or . . . you can use three 4-oz. cans, which doubles the original recipe. There are plenty of artichoke hearts, even in the smallest jar.]

1 can (6 oz.) water-packed tuna, drained & flaked

1/3-1/2 cup coarsely chopped water-packed artichoke hearts, rinsed & drained

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

½ cup shredded Mexican cheese, divided*

¼ teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning

1/8 teaspoon dried oregano

2 English muffins, split in half

In small bowl, combine tuna, artichokes, mayonnaise, ¼ cup cheese, lemon-pepper & oregano. Spread over English muffin halves.

Place on baking sheet.** Broil 4-6" from heat for 3-5 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; broil 1-2 minutes longer, or until cheese is melted.

*I use Kraft Pepperjack.

**I use a granite-ware broiler pan that hasn't aged a day in 30 years.

~ * ~

After having my first experience of being censored by Facebook on Saturday morning, I've chosen to feature the book that triggered a censorship battle with Amazon:  The Bastard Prince. Amazon was offended by the title; I countered that it was an accepted word for a child born to a couple who weren't married. After several go-rounds—I'd even gone as far as asking my cover artist to revise the title—Amazon gave in, okaying The Bastard Prince. 

[This morning's problem with Facebook? Evidently, their AI did not approve of my comment about a Trump rally, a comment I considered relatively mild and likely unintelligible to most of the audience, as it was aimed at those with some knowledge of WWII and the decade leading up to it. Sigh.]

The Bastard Prince is Book Three of the Blue Moon Rising series. Although this is K'kadi's book, he also appears in each book of the series and in the spin-off, The Crucible Kingdom.

 

 What to do with K'kadi Amund, the youngest of four royal children—the one who doesn't talk? The young man of almost twenty-one who can still lose himself in moments of beauty, or moments of disaster. "Unreliable" and "weird" are some of the kinder things said about him. So why does S'sorrokan, leader of the rebellion against the Regulon Empire, consider him one of his most vital assets? But even when K'kadi comes into his own and gets what was once his greatest desire, he discovers that growing up comes with a price.

Author's Note: The four books of the Blue Moon Rising series are a classic tale of rebellion against an evil Empire. But in addition to the usual variety of strong male characters—friend and foe—the stories feature multiple romances, brave and powerful female characters, and frequent female point of view. If you want romance (but not hot sex) with your adventure, these are the books for you. If you want only male derring-do and emotions turn you green, probably not.

 ~ * ~

 For a link to Blair's website, click here. 

For recent posts, scroll down. For Archives, see the menu on the right.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)