Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Book Prize, Bowling, Blogfest. Supper.

Dragon of the Stars by Alex J CavanaughI won a bunch of books at Realms Faire a week ago, mostly ebooks, but today I got a review copy of Alex J. Cavenaugh’s Dragon of the Stars together with a few bookmarks, all marked with the Cassa books pictures. I have all these books already which is why I have got Dragon of the Stars. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be going to read this book shortly. Alex’s first three books were all excellent reads and I see no reason to suppose that this book won’t be the same. He tells us he is not going to write any more books, I and others like me, hope he will change his mind. His books fall under the classification of space opera and I personally enjoy space operas so it couldn’t be better as far as I am concerned.

Of course, it being Monday whilst I write, we went bowling today and I didn’t disgrace myself although my game was not one worth Mincemeat Tartboasting about either. Matt, after his brilliant showing last Monday dropped back to normal play this week. Thursday we go to Elmira with the Travel League (weather permitting) and have lunch at the Crossroads. Long time readers may remember that I buy mincemeat tarts from this restaurant, they are excellent and I bought two last year, popping them in the freezer until Christmas. I have been touting them to others so I think I had better call and make sure they will have enough.

SunflowersI was very flattered to be chosen, by L. Diane Wolfe, as one of the blogs she would miss in the Oh, How I Miss You Blogfest. The criteria was to choose three that have stopped blogging and three you would miss if they did so. Several people chose our beloved Tina Downey as one of the blogs they miss, we none of us can really accept that Tina is no longer with us. She was way too young to die. Tina loved sunflowers.

By the way, on Monday night I made the recipe for stuffed peppers which I posted last Friday. I changed it to use home made tomato sauce but other than that, it was the same. They were very good and we enjoyed them. Have two more for supper tonight.

L. Diane Wolfe talked about how she alters many of my recipes to make them vegan. Here is one I don’t think she will have to alter much if at all it is, after all, classified as vegan.

Apple Sweet Potato Bake

Apple Sweet Potato Bake

6 servings
WebMD Recipe

Sweet potatoes have all three of these antioxidants: vitamins A, C, and E. And they are the star ingredient in this side dish. You can make this recipe without peeling the sweet potatoes or the apples. Peel or don't peel, it's up to you.
Ingredients

  • 5 cups sweet potatoes or yams, thinly sliced (1 1/2 sweet potatoes)
  • 2 cups apples, such as pippin or Granny Smith, thinly sliced (2 small)
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons reduced-calorie pancake syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup apple juice, or orange juice
  • 1/4 cup walnut pieces, or chopped walnuts
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. In a large bowl, toss the sweet potatoes, apple slices, and brown sugar together. Spoon into a 9x9-inch or similar-sized baking dish.
  3. In a small bowl, blend syrup with cinnamon. Stir in the apple juice. Pour evenly over sweet potato mixture. Sprinkle walnuts over the top.
  4. Cover baking dish with lid or foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake about 15 minutes longer (or until apple and sweet potatoes are cooked throughout).
Have a great day
Jo_thumb[2]

14 comments:

  1. A review copy of Alex's book - that is wonderful!!! Lucky you. :)

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    1. Yup, I am lucky - I won a lot of ebooks too.

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  2. Hi Jo - so pleased you won so many books .. and the Oh How I miss You Blogfest was good .. Tina deservedly coming up trumps - but so sad for her loss. Delighted Diane is using and adapting your recipes ... having you with us ..means there's always a recipe on tap!

    Cheers and enjoy the bowling ... Hilary

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    1. Thanks Hilary. I like to cook - a do you I think.

      Bowling wasn't bad.

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  3. Glad you're excited about the book! Hope it doesn't disappoint.
    Tina was mentioned many times yesterday. She was loved by many.

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    1. I am sure it won't disappoint Alex.

      You are right, she was loved by many. What a wonderful legacy. I wonder how her family are doing.

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  4. Nope, I won't have to do anything to make that one vegan!

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    1. It sounds delicious to me vegan or not LOL.

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  5. Missed your blog for three weeks. How would you define space opera? I need to give it a try. Why do I not read "future" books, I ask myself? Because I don't see myself being in the future? I wonder. . . .

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    1. Well, nice you are back now and, I hope, raring to go. Space opera usually involves space travel, several planets and so on. Star Trek for instance. Hubby couldn't be less interested in the future, I just wish I was going to be here to see how it pans out.

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  6. I do miss Tina. I go to her Facebook page every now and then....we were FB friends too....but it's so sad. I have been on the fence about unfriending her profile, but I know there's a way a deceased person's profile can be turned into a memorial page but I don't know if her family is aware of that option.

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    1. I didn't know that JoJo. I have a feeling her family are not that computer oriented.

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  7. I never meet or talked with Tina but she seems like a great soul. Sorry she got yanked from you (and her family), so soon.

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    1. We were all so very upset when it happened. She really was a wonderful person.

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