Okay, Listen Here

Okay, Listen Here

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Celebrating RWA & Another Sale

Just back from conference and jazzed about life and writing.  Why?  So many wonderful things are happening to those I care about and that makes me Snoopy Dance. 

First, Jean and Stephanie have their very first publishing contract with Crimson Romance!  (Welcome to Crimson, ladies!)

Second, my oldest daughter found out she's having a baby boy!  (Making that grandson #3 for me and LTC.) 

And third, I was offered my third contract at Crimson Romance.  This one for my first contemporary, LOST TREASURE, CAPTIVE PRINCESS.  I had only known about it barely 5 minutes before Jean called me with her amazing news.  We squealed on the phone together.  Dreams do come true.  (Right, Jean and Stephanie?)

But numbers 1-3 aren't all.  Life had more surprises for Lesia and me.  During the RWA Conference, we had the great fortune to meet some fantastic people, and not only meet them but get the opportunity to chat with them.  Big difference!

I had the honor of sitting with Shana Galen, Sarah MacLean, Sara Ramsey, fellow Crimson author Nicole Flocton and about 3 other writers on Tuesday night.  (Thanks for the invitation and the drink, Shana!)

Let me start by saying the Cocktail Guru presentation was a hilarious success and our table was the liveliest table in the room!  There, we were joined by Daco Auffenorde and new friend, Katherine Matzen, as well as 3 other great ladies who helped to make our vodka tasting a blast.  I had to bow out early as I had to attend a Crimson Romance gathering for dinner, but before I left, our entire table had pictures made with the Van Gogh Vodka Guru, who made us the Honey Pom Pom, Dutch Chocolate Desire and Best Billini Ever vodka drinks.  (My fav... the Honey Pom Pom, a combination of Pomegranate and Vodka.  Yummy!)  Of course, since I had to leave, I didn't see Lesia and gang drink more than one each.  LOL!



Thanks to Mary Moore's gracious invitation, we attended Nora Roberts' pre-Rita party.  We got to shake her hand and thank her personally, drink champagne, eat fabulous hors d'oeuvres and talk to Kerrelyn Sparks, Pamela Palmer, Rhonda Nelson and Vicki Lewis Thompson, among others, as we gazed out upon Anaheim's mountainous landscape.  Oh, and we shared an elevator with Heather Graham too.)

Again, thanks go to Mary Moore for inviting us to the Avon party in Newport Beach, where we had great conversations with Lorraine Heath, Patrick Brown from Goodreads, Carla Swafford (our Heart of Dixie & Southern Magic chaptermate), imbibed smoking/bubbling Lemon Drops, ate tender Salmon and Prime Rib, and watched ice cream transform before our very eyes.  Oh, and lest I forget.  We had our pictures made with a buff fireman too.  (Cinderella got his info.  I'll let Lesia explain her new nickname and shoe.)

And then, after we gave Kerrelyn Sparks and her daughter our seats when no seats could be found for the 50 or so guests without a seat at the Rita's, we celebrated an after-party in the bar, where Christopher Keeslar and Michelle Klayman, editor and CEO of Boroughs Publishing, and Boroughs' authors Stacy Weber and Sara Dailey (Jean & Stephanie's friends), Joan Bird, Lyn Austin and Christie Craig joined us at our table.  Plenty of laughs and stories were passed around until 1 a.m., Sunday morning.  It was a fantastic night, one I will remember for the napkin parlor trick I perfected to the astoundment of all!

And here's the proof!  Oy!



Sunday morning, tired and sore-footed, Lesia and I arrived at the airport for our flight back home.  With time to spare, we hobbled in search of sustenance at the Starbucks counter.  Then, knowing we had a couple of hours to waste, we sat in a pizza area to eat.  Lo and behold, but who should we sit next to?  The one and the only, exceptionally gracious and generous Christina Dodd, and her daughter, Arwen.  Later, we were joined by Susan Andersen, who entertained with 50 Shades of Baby and a wickedly funny comment about a blurb from one of her books that consisted of misspelled "shifting thighs."  Muahahaha!

Have you ever been to a conference?  Have you ever met someone you admire?

Monday, July 30, 2012

Dreams


I don't see myself as a cynic, but who does?  Maybe I am. I prefer to think I am pragmatic.

For instance, I don't believe in the muse. I don't believe in waiting to "feel it". I believe in putting your bottom in the chair and your hands on the keyboard. I believe in, when out of the chair, thinking about the characters and story (in that order) then going back to the chair.

 I also have never had time to worry about when (or if) the sale was going to happen or if somebody else was going to get there before me. Because it was going happen or not and somebody was always going to get there first and somebody wasn't. Move on.

Stephanie shares this philosophy. That's what you want in a writing partner.

Now Katherine Bone is not a cynic, not even close. She has put herself  in charge of keeping up the spirits of those she loves. I guess she had noticed that I don't have any of those little signs around my computer that lots of writers have. You know. Or maybe you don't. They say things like "Never, never, never give up" –Winston Churchill. "Believe", "The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places", "When the world says, 'Give up,' Hope whispers, 'Try it one more time.'" 

I have bought quite a few of these things—mostly for gifts for Kathy. Some for gift baskets and such. None for me. None for Stephanie. 

So I think Kathy felt a little sorry for me that what I've got around my desk are plotting charts, maps of my towns, and pictures of my characters that I've torn out of magazines. The only thing close to inspirational I have taped to my monitor are some reminders to write the scene in the point of view of the character who has the most to lose and what my current hero and heroine need from each other. 

So Kathy brought me a little doodad that says: "Dream: All dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." Walt Disney. 

"Walt Disney was a wise man," Kathy said.

Because I enjoy picking on her a little, I answered, "Walt Disney is a frozen man. And, dream or no, that is not likely to change." 

She tsked at me. (She does that.)  I then explained the flaws in Disney's philosophy. Let's say for instance that I want to be a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. No matter what, no matter how hard I try, they are not going to let me be a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. (Nor should they.) And let's be honest. There is a point when courage crosses the line into pure stupidity.  Kathy maintained it was a moot point since I have no aspiration to be a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. 

But you know what? That little doodad was smiling down on me two days ago, when I got The Call—the one that said Stephanie and would be  published authors.  It sat there while Stephanie and squealed at each other like, well, cheerleaders.

I am going to keep that little doodad forever—or at least until Walt Disney comes back to life.

But still. 

"The best way to make a dream come true is to wake up." Muhammad Ali. 

I believe that. But let's go ahead and factor in a little courage--as long as it's realistic.

What is your view on dreams?

Friday, July 27, 2012

Recipe Friday--Beans for Days

This recipe makes a lot of beans, hence, Beans for Days. They are so good they won't really last for days unless you have absolutely no sense and make the whole thing for two people.

But. from time to time, we all need a recipe for a family reunion, potluck, or holiday meal. Wait. Have I been redundant?  I guess it depend on who you associate with.

Anyway, you can certainly cut this in half and use three cans of beans. That ought to fit in a 9X13 inch pan.

If you are  good at math, you can cut it down even more. Good luck with that. 




Beans for Days

1 number 10 can (or 6 regular size cans) French Cut Green Beans
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. (two sticks) butter
4 oz. shredded cheddar

Soften butter and cream cheese. Beat until light and fluffy. Stir in cheddar.

Heat beans and drain. (You want as little liquid and possible, or you are going to have one big mess.). Stir cheese mixture into hot beans. Spread in a shallow pan and run under the broiler until it browns a little bit.

Serves 25.

Note—Do not be tempted to use regular cut beans. It just isn't good.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

New Website Reveal

Greetings from the RomanceWriters of America conference, Anaheim, CA!

If you only knew the hoops we've jumped to get to blog here this week.  Misinformation from a hotel employee.  Several wrong choices made on the t.v. in order to get Internet connection, which resulted in porn pictures displayed on the t.v.  Ack!!!  (You'd understand if you knew me.)  Finally being able to blog, only to notice today there was a High-Speed Internet access card with directions propped on the desk in our room.  (smacks head!)  And feeling tremors underfoot.

What a difference a morning makes.  Lesia and I are chalking this experience up to one more ditzy thing we've done here.  LOL!

I'm having a great time though, no matter how badly my brain may be working.  I spent all day yesterday at my beloved Beau Monde Historical Conference and learned amazing things I didn't know about the Regency era.  I've seen lots of friends I communicate with via Facebook and Twitter, not to mention the different loops I frequently hear from.  And, of course, there are those sightings of authors you recognize from the books they write. ;)

Today, however is a GREAT day of celebration and appreciation for me!!  My new website is going live, folks.  Yes, the day has arrived!!!  My darling youngest daughter has created a new website for me, targeted toward the Regency era and the books I've signed for, DUKE BY DAY, ROGUE BY NIGHT  and THE ROGUE'S PRIZE at Crimson Romance.

So stop by my website:  http://www.katherinebone.com/ and take a look to see what a blessing my daughter has been to me.  I hope you LOVE it as much as I do!

In the meantime, I'm meeting with an agent today, Chelsea Gilmore, Maria Carvainis Agency.  Even though she's not been acting as my agent, Chelsea is the real reason DUKE BY DAY, ROGUE BY NIGHT found a home at Crimson Romance.  Her guidance and input into the book made it better through and through.  I owe her a debt of gratitude and want to thank her publicly for everything she's done for me. 

There's another agent I want to thank, Cheryl Ferguson.  Her call came to me at a time when I had hit rock bottom.  The two hour conversation we had lifted me from the abyss and gave me the confidence to keep going.  Just a few weeks later, I got the offer from Crimson Romance on DUKE BY DAY. 

God puts those in our path who will carry us through the sand.  We may never see them or know their purpose.  But we shall surely feel the lightening of the load we carry.

I'm thankful for so many things today, family, friendships, good health and a step into forging a career in writing.  I hope you'll check out my website today.  DD#2 will be loading today.  This is her final project for this Graphic Design semester.  Make sure to let her know what you think.

Tootles!!!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

RWA 2012

Sorry for the delay today.  We had a morning walk through TV Internet that took us to some alarming places before finally arriving at Okay, Listen Here.  I wish there were pictures, but you really don't want to see them.  (For realz!)  But here we are and your patience is admirable! 

We're here!  Woot! 

After Kathy getting three hours of sleep prior to leaving and me one hour, we made it to Anaheim all in in one piece.  There was a bit of country music entertainment on the plane via the cell phone I forgot to turn completely off.  MybAd!  And we're finding we lack a few things....we have the camera charging cord, but no camera (moO?) and the attachments to the hair dryer but no dryer!  (mooMOO?)  But alas, we are here, rested and ready to soak in as much workshop fun as we can!  Yay!  : D

Monday, July 23, 2012

Home


"Ma'am, I want to make clear to you this is not a performance issue. He is excelling." That was what an Air Force Academy Colonel told Godson's Mom when they called to say Precious Angel had changed his mind.

Thomas Wolfe said, "You can't go home again."

Robert Frost said, "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in."

Jon Bon Jovi said, "Who says you can't go home? There's only one place they call me one of their own."

Over the next few days, that Colonel threw around some other words: Leader. Credit to his squadron. If we cannot persuade him to stay, we hope he will come back to us as a Chaplain.

See, this was not the first time the ministry had come up. When he was fifteen, he said he was going to be a Lutheran pastor. By the time he was sixteen, he wanted to go to one of the Academies and become a Chaplain. But by seventeen, he was going to fly jets, come hell or high water. None of us ever said to him, "What about that seminary idea?" Maybe we should have but I don't think so. When he was four, he wanted to be a "garbage truck man" and nobody brought that up.  Kids—and some adults—change their minds about what they want to be when they grow up.

Still, we—the adults who have stood him in the corner, coddled him, and told him yes and no—didn't know whether to potty or go blind.  This is a child who has never done anything—I mean anything—unexpected. This is a child who has never quit anything. Even when it became clear there was no room in his life for football, tennis team, band, church work, and his accelerated International Baccalaureate academic program, he warned the band director in plenty of time that he wouldn't be back the following year.

Meanwhile, back in Colorado.

Days passed. He saw councilors at the Academy. He talked to Chaplains. He continued to do pushups, run multiple miles, and look at the eagle on his plate while he ate. And he continued to pray for guidance. In the end, he insisted, "I am not homesick. I have not failed. I can do this. But I am convicted by God to do something else—something I should have never become distracted from."

And what do you say to that? I'll tell you what you say, "I am proud of you for making this hard decision." You say, "I know it would be easier to stay that come back." If you are his parents, you say, "I support you, but you are going to have to work this college thing out--and you don't have much time."

You say, "You come on home, baby."

So he did. We met his plane mid-morning, gave him a kiss, and told him we loved him. Shortly before eleven that night, he called me. (He knows he can call this house that late, as no one ever goes to bed before midnight.) He had written an essay that he needed me to look over the next morning. This is a road we had been down before.

By the time he ambled in my door the next day about one, he had seen a guidance counselor, applied to four private colleges, had transcripts and ACT scores faxed, been to the gym, and secured  promises from two schools for full tuition.

He stood in my kitchen and said, "I am so glad y'all were behind me on this." Because he knew what he had given up. He had lived though the small town hype of attaining admittance into two of the most elite institutions in this country. He'd stood there on the stage of Decatur High School to thundering applause and a standing ovation—with the adults in his life in the first and second rows.

"Behind you?" I said perplexed. "Where else would we be?" This time there would be no coddling, no standing in the corner. This time we hadn't told him yes or no.

He shrugged. "A guy who left the same I day did—his mother won't let him come home."

Then he ate two plates of barbecue, a tub of hummus, and half a box of Wheat Thins. After that, he collapsed on my sofa, cuddled up with the cat, and slept three hours straight.

Some things never change.

Since that day, some other offers have come in. He and Godson's Mom have driven a lot of miles looking at a lot of campuses and spent a lot of time on the phone reporting their findings to Godson's Dad. Precious Angel has promised various institutions that he will make a decision this week. 

And you know what? If he makes another mistake, he can still come home. He can always come home. He can't sit on the sofa and play video games. But he can come home to try again until he gets it right. 

Because, who says you can't come home? 


Friday, July 20, 2012

Recipe Friday: Lemon Meltaways

I have never made these but I am gonna. I don't usually put up a recipe that I haven't made, but if I do I always tell you. However, I can recommend them. Highly. I ate these when I went to Dr. Great Smile's house last week for book club. Baby Great Smile made them.

We are going to miss her when she goes to Ole Miss in the in fall.


Lemon Meltaways
Yields about 15 sandwich cookies

Ingredients
  •        1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  •        1/4 teaspoon salt
  •        1/2 cup confectioners sugar
  •        1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  •        1/2 cup cornstarch
  •        1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  •        zest of one lemon
Filling
  •        1 cup confectioners sugar
  •        1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  •        juice of one lemon
Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
In a large bowl cream the butter, salt and sugar until light and fluffy on medium speed for 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and add the vanilla and lemon zest, scraping down the sides. Sift the flower and cornstarch into the mixture and beat on low until just combined.
Roll the dough into 30 evenly matched balls.
Place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and  press gently with your fingers.
Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool completely.

For the filling:

 Beat the sugar, butter and lemon juice on a medium setting until incorporated. Ice one side of half the cookies top with remaining cookies to make a sandwich.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Monkeys Talk and Chickens......Sing?


Yesterday I had a great time with Katherine Bone and Jean Hovey.  We met for lunch then meandered over to an art shop Jean wanted to show us.  And Jean may not consider herself artsy, but she knows how to pick a store!  Yes she does!

So here we are in this store of pretty things…paintings, pottery, glass objects and such.  I found myself leaving the ladies behind and entering that place of me and art as I wandered.  There was whimsy everywhere and upcycled this and that.  Beautiful woolen bags and blankets and pillows tossed over a bed.  And then the lights of heaven shown down on me and illuminated the wall of art before me.  It was that moment I was waiting for, though I didn’t really know it until it happened.  There before me was a wall of art just for me (in theory) like Jean’s Monkey Art was for her.  I was in awe.  And I heard bells ringing in the distance.  

Now you have to understand.  I didn’t know I needed Monkey Art, had never even contemplated the idea of it until I saw Jean’s living room walls that first time we had lunch.  But those Monkey eyes stirred something inside my soul.  They pulled at me and taunted me to find my own.  “Go on!  GIT!”  They said to me.  And I heard them in a distant faraway place inside my mind.  But not until I stood before this art shop wall did I understand their kick to my behind.  

Truly, though (while I’m doling out the credits list), You are my assistants in this mission of “GIT!”.  See, had it not been for these wonderful Southern women inviting me to join them on the blog and for you the readers pulling at me to write, I would never have realized the greatness of my own inner art love.  I mean, yea, my background is art.  We all know that.  But I’m talking here about that topic of art that calls to me.  Jean is called by her Monkeys, you know.  They need her for their story to be told!  Well because I have written to y’all about mine so much lately, I was able to recognize the art that calls me while standing right there in front of that gleaming art wall yesterday.    

So now I am on a mission.  I will find my art that calls to me.  I have announced this epiphany to my family and friends and you my peeps.  No one can find this art for me.  It is a mission I must bear on my own so that I may recognize in the eyes of the art itself the calling it sends to me.  And I must pull it to my home (or paint it myself).  And what is it that calls me to exhibit its whimsy and heartfelt connection between us two?  It is what moves me, you know.  It is…. My GiRLs.  My bell wearing, grass eating, meandering soul GiRLs!  MooOOOoooo COWS!  Jingle!  Jangle!  Can’t you see it now?  Cows laughing!  Cows singing!  Cows mooing, chewing, reading and stampeding!  Whimsical Seusical Cows for my walls!  And the pigs and the chickens sang…..

 

♪ ♫ ♪     Hallelujah!     ♪ ♫♪

 

 

 

 

Have you ever had monkeys talk to you?  Did they speak country?  How about lights shining from heaven…ever seen that? 

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Cajun Yum!

Cheryl's out for a bit so we’re sending her some love by way of some Cajun Yum today.  And y’all know how Cheryl loves her Cajun men! Tehe!  And le'me tellya!  Cajun men LoVe to eat!   

Now it’s too hot outside for cooking up gumbo or creole.  If y’all want that I’ll dish it up later when it cools down.  But in this heat, I don't know of anything better than some boiled shrimp dipped in a fresh homemade Remaloude Sauce.  That’s good eatin’ there, Cher!  At my house, it’s good for more than dipping shrimp in or drizzling over a Po Boy sandwich.  Heck it’s good on a salad, french fries, fried green tomatoes or even a fried egg sandwich! 

I’ll tell you right now, Paul Prudhomme’s recipes are my favorite.  I know, he gets pretty complicated on you.  But if you cook like me….throw in a little of this and a little of that….you can use his recipes as a guideline, not the law.  (Unless we’re talking his Strawberry Pie…then it’s by-the-book yum!) So as wonderful as his Remoulade recipe is (and I have made it to the letter, once, a long time ago), I tend to cheat and start out with a cup of store bought mayonnaise.  Then I throw in all the other goodness and call it yum!  It doesn’t have to be perfect.  Add or take away as you like.  Believe me!  There’s as many variations on this recipe out there as there are Jon Boats in Louisiana!  The bottom line is flavor.  My daddy made it with mayo, ketchup, yellow mustard, horseradish, Worcestershire, and Tabasco and we called it good just like that!  

Remoulade Sauce  

2 egg yolks (delete if you use mayo)
1/4 cup vegetable oil (delete if you use mayo)
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup prepared grated horseradish
1/4 lemon, seeded  (I delete this)
1 bay leaf, crumbled (I delete this, too…it’s too crunchy)
2 tbsp. Creole mustard or brown mustard
2 tbsp. ketchup
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. prepared mustard
1 tbsp. white vinegar or lemon juice (add a touch extra if you delete the ¼ lemon above)
1 tbsp. Tabasco Sauce (I’m loyal)
1 tbsp. minced garlic
2 tsp. sweet paprika
1 tsp. salt


Mr. Prudhomme says, In a blender or food processor, beat the egg yolks 2 minutes. With the machine running, add the oil in a thin stream. One at a time, blend in the remaining ingredients until well mixed and lemon rind is finely chopped. Chill well. Makes 1 1/2 cups.

I say, start with the mayonnaise and fold it all in together in one bowl, chill and enjoy!  It makes more than 1 1/2 cups and it lasts about a week in the fridge..... if you can keep it that long!  Y’all enjoy!


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Never Give Up, Never Surrender






Much of the U.S. is in a drought right now.  Thankfully not to the point of Dust Bowl phenomenon.   However, crops are struggling or have failed, leaving farmers in the red.  In the interim, thousands of firemen have been battling wildfires in Colorado and Utah that have destroyed homes and countless acres of coveted forrest.  Where is the rain?  You don't have to look far.  Floods and storms, lightning strikes, and fireworks which ignite in a 15 second blitz, are taking place all over the world leaving collosal damage in their wake.  How does one rebuild when catastrophy robs you of everything you cherish, when sails are lax and your ship appears to be dead in the water?

The answer.  Rain and wind CAN and DOES come.

I started writing in 1992, when a story about two Army scouts rode into my head.  I spent years researching post-Civil War, the West, Native American Indians, the Sioux, the Army and on and on and on.  (In what I like to call the Black Hole of Research.)  Years went by as I learned the process of writing without any direction.  Through it all, my characters wouldn't leave me alone, even after I put them on hold for years at a time.  Those were frustrating years, when my children came first and  writing had to wait.  With LTC gone on TDY constantly, I had little time on my hands.  And with four little children looking to me to be both parents, I could not afford to put them off.  I made sure they never felt like I would.

My creative drought continued, but I finally wrote that first book, all 220,000 words of it, filled with enough plots for 5 books and a new writer's flaws.  Of course, the book got rejected.  I trimmed it down.  Rejected.  The writing wasn't strong enough.  (I beat my head against the wall.  What did that mean?)  I rewrote the book with a new plot, new villains and turned it into a paranormal historical.  Rejected.  But here a slight breeze began to tickle my sails - I was starting to get feedback.

Parched earth repels heavy rain, but a slow mist encourages absorption. 

Years passed.  I wrote other books, joined my local writing chapter, worked on craft, took online classes, went to workshops and conferences.  And more importantly, applauded and watched from the wings while those I respected signed publishing contracts.  Most of the time, I felt abandoned on that windless sea, blistered by the heat, my stomach roiling with salt water.  Many times I entertained the notion of quitting, that I was talented and could do more productive things with my time.  But when writing is in your blood, all you CAN DO is write.

I entered contests which tore out my vitals, needling my body with new holes I didn't want or need.  And yet, I still entered.  Why?  Because of that tiny seed of hope that one day I might succeed.  In 2010, I finaled in the RTTA contest.  In 2011, I finaled in the RTTA Legend Award contest.  I did not win, but finaling was the goal.  (The parties alone were worth it, right my southern friends?) 

Here's the most important thing I learned about contests.  If you don't send your ship out, your ship cannot come in.  And as with any submission, persistence pays off.

I'm so glad I kept submitting and sailing with my weathered eye on that horizon.  Today, the book of my heart is going to be published by Crimson Romance, thanks to my fabulous editor Jennifer Lawler.  Crimson has opened my sails.  The wind is now at my back.  My helm is steered toward a distant shore and new adventures lay ahead.  But none of this would have happened, had I packed it in during the long drought or cowered in the corner during the storm.  None of it would have happened without the help of my friends, critique partners, and professionals who helped along the way. 

We hold our futures in our hands.  We can lay seeds of doubt in rocky soil or weed infested earth or we CAN hold onto hope as we till the ground until our hands bleed.  The important thing is to plant one good seed after another.  Our ultimate reward, through drought or diluge, will be that coveted harvest.

C - create
A - activate
N - navigate

D - determination
O - override

Develop a CAN DO attitude.  Keep going whenever the heat rises and there's no end in sight.  The world is BIG ENOUGH for all of us.  And success isn't more than a wish away.

"Never, never, never, never, never give up."  Winston Churchill

Who or what keeps you going when drought or storms cross your path?


 







Monday, July 16, 2012

To Pinterest or Not.

Pinterest Logo

Pinterest. I don't get it. I am not saying I am never going to do it. I have already been admitted to the Eat Your Words Club on too many counts (sushi eating, cell phone having, Kindle loving, and laptop owning) and I don't want to become the president on account of Pinterest.

I made an account. I made two boards. I put up two pictures. Now I have many, many followers. Why, I could not tell you.

Those who know say this is the social networking tool.   Maybe it is. Maybe I will see the light and catch up.

But from where I sit now, it seems like a huge time suck. I don't really need to look at Christmas decorations I am not going to do, recipes I have no business eating and houses I am never going to own.

It seems like fruitless daydreaming to me. Yet, a lot of smart productive people love Pinterest.

What's your take?

Friday, July 13, 2012

Recipe Friday: Scones

It's hard not to love a scone. Or two. This is a good basic recipe, and so easy. You don't even want to work hard at it because if you overwork the dough, you will have yourself a pan full of tough scones--a gang or a military unit so to speak. While we like our heroes tough, you just don't want that in a scone. You can leave the currants out if you don't like them. Throw in a few nuts if you've a mind to. I have used dried cranberries instead of the currants and added a little orange zest. I don't believe I have ever had to throw away a scone. Enjoy!


Scones

Ingredients

  • 2 cups plain flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup currants
  • 1 cup heavy cream

Instructions

1.    Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees.
2.    Place flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in large bowl or workbowl of food processor fitted with steel blade. Whisk together or pulse six times.
3.   If making by hand, use two knives, a pastry blender, or your fingertips and quickly cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal, with a few slightly larger butter lumps. Stir in currants. If using food processor, remove cover and distribute butter evenly over dry ingredients. Cover and pulse 12 times, each pulse lasting 1 second. Add currants and pulse one more time. Transfer dough to large bowl.
4.   Stir in heavy cream with rubber spatula or fork until dough begins to form, about 30 seconds.
5.   Transfer dough and all dry, floury bits to countertop and knead dough by hand just until it comes together into a rough, slightly sticky ball, 5 to 10 seconds. Using a sharp knife, cut scones into 8 wedges. Place wedges on ungreased baking sheet. (Baking sheet can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 hours.)
6.    Bake until scone tops are light brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on wire rack for at least 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.