#NaPoWriMo – DAY 28 – IN THE WOODS

DAY 28 – IN THE WOODS

Crunch crack sounds warning

Hidden creatures sigh relief

Snow is in the woods

 

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#BlogFlash2013 – DAY 21 – SUCCESS (Haiku)

Hi Gang,

Well, this is it; today’s the last day of Terri Giuliano Long’s #BlogFlash2013- Part 1. I’m sorry for it to end, because BlogFlash is the one time that I force myself to write and publish something every day to my blog. It’s predominately haiku, which is a love of mine that I don’t concentrate on writing otherwise.

I thoroughly enjoyed popping over to everyone’s blogs to read and comment on posts. I feel a real sense of community and I’m going to miss it until Terri’s next #blogflash rolls around again. I will try to keep in touch with the new friends I’ve made. See y’all in August!

Since the warm weather has made me itch to go fish, here’s an encore piece on ‘Success’ from #BlogFlash2012:

SUCCESS = A GOOD DAY OF FISHING

Photo credit- Alison Sheeney

Sea bird spots target 

Throttled over sent lines down 

Dinner’s in the boat

My Challenge!

Choosing perfect words for a 17-syllable piece is challenging to say the least. Daily word prompts get my creative juices flowing, which pour into the rest of my day’s writing. I want to keep that creativity flowing, and I have a favor to ask y’all.

I’m asking my reader friends to leave one-word prompts in the comments section (leave more than one word if you wish). All I need is 22 different prompts to write weekday haiku/poems for the month of April. Go ahead…you know you want to!

Thank you in advance for helping me with my self-challenge. Terri, thanks again for a fun month’s romp! :0)

 

Super Crispy Superbowl Chicken Wings

Hi Gang,

Wouldn’t you know it, I decide to re-blog one of my first posts as a blogger, “Super Crispy Superbowl Chicken Wings,” and social media has created mass hysteria over a possible chicken wing shortage in America! I heard a stat which stated that there were 12.3 million less chicken wings available than there were last year.  Some knuckleheads have gone as far as stealing them from supply houses. Unbelievable.

Apparently, the reports were wrong, and there will be no shortage of chicken wings, BUT we will have to pay a bit more due to last summer’s drought. 

One glitch- It’s been suggested to buy your chicken wings early. The key ingredient is fresh chicken wings, so normally one would buy them a day or two before Superbowl Sunday because you need to prep them the day before you make them. 

Plan B- If you have to buy frozen chicken wings, defrost and toss them with salt and refrigerate for 24-36 hours instead of overnight as the recipe below suggests. Hopefully, the extra moisture from frozen wings will be drawn out given the extra amount of time.

Good Luck to all in our quest for chicken wings!

I don’t have a horse in the race, but my bet’s on the 49ers this year. Enjoy!

SUPER CRISPY SUPERBOWL CHICKEN WINGS

(This is a recipe that will have ‘em worshiping the ground you walk on

during football season…heck, for any season or any reason!)

With only a few days under my belt, this neophyte blogger is taking baby-steps and probably will be for some time, however; I don’t want a week to go by without posting. I promised little snippets of happiness and I’m pulling out the big guns today because it is my wish that you to ‘follow’ my blog and stick around!

Superbowl Sunday is fast-approaching, so I’m divulging my most prized recipe for the crispiest chicken wings ever. They come out perfectly seasoned and are so crispy and delicious you won’t even want to dip them…yet a smattering of bleu cheese never hurt anybody.

The KEY-

Fresh chicken pieces

Salting the chicken 12 hours or overnight to remove moisture

Twice-frying the chicken- 8 min. at 275° to poach, drain on wire rack, then 2 min. at 375° to crisp

…that’s it

Ingredients:

5 LBS. – Fresh chicken wings and drummettes (frozen wings contain too much moisture)

4 Tbsp. – Kosher salt

4 Cups- Canola or vegetable oil (Do not use olive oil as the smoke point is too low)

Directions:

Place chicken in a large bowl, then sprinkle with salt and toss to coat. Transfer chicken pieces to a baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 12 hours.

When ready to cook, remove chicken pieces from refrigerator, pat completely dry with paper towels, and brush away all the salt. Let chicken sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes.

Place oil in a large Dutch oven or stove top deep fryer fitted with a thermometer. Heat on medium high until oil is 275 F (140 C).

Divide chicken into batches so that the pieces won’t crowd your pot. One batch at a time, fry for 8 minutes and keep the wings moving using a wooden spoon. Transfer each batch to a wire rack set on a baking sheet.

Once all the chicken is done increase the heat to high and heat oil to 375 F (190C).

Again working in batches, fry chicken for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. The skin should be brown and crunchy and the meat should pull away from the bones with just a bit of resistance.

As each batch is transferred to the wire rack, season it with salt and pepper. Transfer the chicken to a large bowl and, while the wings are still hot, pour your choice of sauce over the wings to coat or leave plain. Transfer to a serving platter.

Serve with traditional bleu cheese dressing, celery sticks and carrots. Makes 5 to 6 servings.

So, you’ve got time to bring the ingredients in-house, and remember to salt your chicken on Saturday to present the most crispiest of crisp chicken wings you’ve ever had in your life on Game Day.

Have fun, enjoy the game, and please comment on how you made out with your wings. GO GIANTS!

Hey, this weekend would also be the perfect time to read a bedtime story to the kids in your life. Why not give LUCCI- THE NO SMOOCHIE POOCHIE  a go! E-mail me at dlsadd@gmail.com if you’d prefer the printed version.

[Credit: I found this recipe several years ago in a story titled “Want a great buffalo wing? Moisture is the enemy,” December 7, 2008 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Larry Crowe. The link is different, but the story's there.]

REMEMBER- SALT YOUR CHICKEN THE DAY BEFORE COOKING TO ACHIEVE THE BEST SUPER CRISPY SUPERBOWL CHICKEN WINGS! 

I’m Back!

Hi Folks,

It’s been a couple of months since you’ve heard from me. I attempted my first NaNoWriMo in November, but only got to about four thousand words. To be honest, I became overwhelmed, stressed, and depressed.  I began looking at all of my efforts in a negative light.

Exhaustive participation on social media sites did not translate into book sales. I made many friendships with fellow authors for which I treasure, however; the time spent tweeting  and posting to Facebook had taken my imagination hostage. When I sat down to write, I had nothing. Nada. Zilch. This went on for weeks.

I decided to step away from it all for a bit. No Twitter; no Facebook; no writing; instead, I baked and cooked and read and hung out with my family and my animals. I spent a lot of time working outside in the fresh air, appreciating the antics of my three pet goats and the nine adorably funny Guinea Hens that have newly adopted my front yard as their home. I rested. I remembered how grateful I am for my life and the wonderful people and experiences that fill it.

My children’s story, LUCCI-The No Smoochie Poochie was published on Amazon exactly one year-ago today, and I also embarked on building my author platform, so I thought it fitted that I claim my imagination back on this special anniversary. I’m up on the horse!

I followed constructive criticism and am having some of the illustrations in LUCCI revised, and I opened my NaNo story and went to work on it this morning.

Now, I’m posting to my blog. Whoopee! I’m still scared as hell, but quitting is not an option!

Jeff Goins wrote a similar post about stepping away from it all. Try it; you’ll be surprised. The nicest surprise I received was knowing that there were folks out there still supporting me, although it was not reciprocated for a bit.

Thank you friends, see ya’ll on Twitter and Facebook pronto!

Guest Post by Carlie M A Cullen- Ria’s Birthday Surprise

Hi Folks,

Week 2 of the HEART SEARCH: LOST BLOG TOUR is in full swing, and author, Carlie MA Cullen has been making stops on the tour doing GUEST POSTS, interviews and sharing juicy excerpts from the book.

Today Carlie is guest posting on my blog and, since I write children’s stories, I asked Carlie whether she had ever written for children.

Carlie’s reply: “I’ve only written one children’s story as an adult – until now. I’ve written one especially for your blog…”

Oh boy, a special kids story just for my blog; I am over the moon! Without further ado…

Ria’s Birthday Surprise

Ria jumped out of bed. She was so excited as it was her seventh birthday. She rushed downstairs into the kitchen to find her mum waiting to fix her breakfast. Opening her arms she said,

“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” as she gave Ria a big cuddle. Ria grinned up at her.

“Thank you, Mummy. Where’s Daddy?” Ria asked stepping away and looking around.

“He’s gone to pick up Nanna and Poppa. They should be back soon so hurry and eat your breakfast and let’s get you washed and dressed,” she replied, placing a glass of orange juice and a bowl of cereal on the table.

Ria finished her breakfast in record time and dashed upstairs to get ready. Just as she finished pulling the tangles from her long brown hair, she heard the front door open. A familiar voice drifted up the stairs.

“Is the birthday girl up yet or do I have to go upstairs with my tickle fingers?”

Ria giggled and rushed to the top of the stairs. “I’m up!” she declared looking down at her dad. He looked like a giant from where she was standing and he had a huge grin on his face. She rushed down the steps and launched herself at her dad.

“Ooof!” The noise exploded from her dad as she knocked the breath out of him and Ria giggled again. “Happy birthday, rascal,” he chuckled. He put her down and she ran into the lounge where her grandparents were waiting.

After lots more cuddles and kisses and birthday wishes, Ria noticed a pile of brightly wrapped presents in all shapes and sizes, complete with ribbons and bows, on the floor in front of the TV. She gasped and her face lit up like a Christmas tree.

“Are these all for me?” She asked excitedly, her eyes as big as a basketball.

“Go on, open them,” her mum said, chuckling at the expression on Ria’s face. Ria didn’t need telling twice and soon the floor was covered with torn wrapping paper as she ripped into each one.

“Thank you! Thank you!” Ria exclaimed as she uncovered each new gift. There was a pretty dress, the same colour as a summer sky, for her to wear at her party that afternoon, books, DVD’s, a doll, a board game, a CD and some other nice clothes.

At the very bottom of the pile was a very flat present which she hadn’t noticed before. She paused before picking it up and took some time feeling it before carefully tearing the paper away, a curious expression on her face.

Inside was a book. She turned it over, read the cover and gasped,

“It’s got my name on it!” she exclaimed. She opened the cover and to her surprise, the whole story was all about her and her family. Mum, Dad, her grandparents and even her dog, Misty, was in there. “Mummy, Daddy, look! It’s got all of us in here and Nanna and Poppa and Misty!”

Her parents moved closer so she could show them, smiling at her amazement. At the very end of the book was a message. It read ‘To our darling Ria, Happy 7^th Birthday, lots of love, Nanna and Poppa xx’. Ria got up from the floor and rushed over to her grandparents, hugging them both as tightly as her little arms could.

“Thank you. It’s the bestest surprise present I’ve ever had!”

That’s an adorable little story Carlie; thank you for writing it for my blog! :0) 

Please take the time to pop around to other blog tour contributor’s sites, as Carlie’s been hard at work delivering unique interviews and guest posts for all involved on the blog tour. For instance, here’s an informative GUEST POST by Carlie- “Wading through the Publishing River,” over at Michelle Birbeck’s blog “Short Sweet and Snappy.” Madeline Dyer hosts an info-packed guest post about characterization. So please check ‘em out; you’ll learn a lot.

Read Carlie MA Cullen’s bio, and visit the complete list of blog tour stops to catch all of the guest posts, interviews, excerpts, and ENTER THE FAB GIVEAWAY HERE.

Carlie, thank you again for stopping by to guest post on my blog and leaving us an adorable children’s story; I really enjoyed it and know my reader’s will too. 

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