We've had an odd Rainy Season this year. Instead of our ever-predictable late afternoon storms, we've had days of dry followed by torrential rain, some lasting for hours or even all day. The pic below was taken on Nokomis Beach, just north of Venice, FL, where I lived for 25 years. The Beach Patrol is attempting to get everyone off the beach for obvious reasons. (Photo taken last week, but, alas, I failed to record the name of the photographer.)
My not-quite-fully-edited Regency, The Stone Soldier and the Lady, has a number of scenes set at Stonehenge. To my surprise, during my research I discovered the largest monoliths are sandstone. (I had actually written "granite" before I discovered the truth.) So naturally, I was particularly fascinated by a recent Facebook photo of sandstone in Arizona. I mean, how different can you get from Stonehenge, yet both formations are sandstone.
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| Sorry I missed this while RV-ing to scenic sites in the U.S. |
COMFORT RECIPE
Way back in the Dark Ages when I was fifteen, I attended a summer traveling tent camp that visited scenic spots in the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, including hiking parts of the Appalachian Trail. It was a fabulous experience, the only "camp" experience I truly enjoyed. Oddly, a recipe from that trip stuck in my mind, one I didn't use for umpteen years, but one day it popped into mind, and I gave it a try. Of course, it was never going to taste like the "mush" made over an open fire, but I seasoned my effort to taste, and below is as close as I was ever able to come. It feeds a family of 4-5, as long as none of them have a huge appetite.
Special note: This is the only recipe (besides hamburgers and meatloaf) which I recommend be served with a ketchup bottle handy.
HAMBURG & MASHED POTATOES
Heat oil in skillet until hot. Brown hamburg, breaking meat into small pieces as it cooks. About mid-way in the browning process, add the minced onions and garlic. (They will absorb some of the moisture in the meat drippings.)
When hamburg is browned, pour off excess drippings,** leaving enough to brown potatoes. Add mashed potatoes, breaking up clumps to as small as possible while stirring potatoes into hamburg. (Add sour cream, if you have any on hand.)
Brown mixture on both sides , as much as possible (warm brown, not burnt), using a spatula to flip portions of the mix like pancakes.
Et voilà, bring out the ketchup and you're ready to serve.
*preferably without chemical preservatives
**tongs & paper towels work well if the skillet is too heavy to lift
Heat oven to 425°. Cook beef over med-high heat 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in baked beans and BBQ sauce. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Pour into 2-qt casserole.
Meanwhile, in medium bowl, stir Bisquick, milk & butter until soft dough forms. Drop dough by 12 spoonfuls onto beef mixture.
Bake, uncovered, 18-22 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake about 3 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
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This week's featured book is a teaser for next week's blog when I'm going to tackle the tricky subject of the various sub-genres of Regency fiction. Below, my only attempt at "Alternate History"; i.e. a re-imagining of the history of the period instead of sticking to the actual facts (an absolute "must" that has been drummed into Regency authors for more than a quarter century).Airborne—The Hanover Restoration not only ignores the true history of the period, but adds Steampunk to the mix. Great fun to write, but for me, a one-time experiment. I'm rather attached to attempting to depict history as close as possible to reality.
Then again, Alternate History can really be fun. (I just don't care to write it.) If anyone is puzzled by what I mean, the hit Netflix series Bridgerton is Alternate History.
Miss Araminta Galsworthy encounters a number of surprises at the
home of her new guardian, an inventor like her father. In addition to a
host of strange machines and attacks by people who think her guardian's
invention, the airship Aurora, is the work of the devil, she is expected
to play hostess to a bevy of guests, all of whom seem to be engaged in
treason. And, oh yes, she is expected to marry her guardian.
Immediately.
Minta struggles to adjust to a new husband, new enemies, and new
friends—one a princess who must rise above her rivals for the throne of
England. When the day of revolution arrives, Minta plays a vital role,
but comes perilously close to losing her chance to live a life where
she, not the airship Aurora, is the center of her husband's life.
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