1:11 Progress

The longer I spend on my book 1:11, the more it morphs into something so unrelated to the original concept that I wonder if this is something all authors experience, even the greats like Woolf and Dickens and Faulkner.

It's to the point where I don't like picking up my writing notebook because I'm afraid of what other changes might pop into my head.

I've already eliminated most of the original characters. What I haven't considered is bringing in my common thematic elements from other books, which might be the best route, since what I was interested in writing at 18 is not what I am interesting in writing at 26.

Comment on this 04.07.2008. 13:45

Winter Squash Soup

This is a beautiful soup I threw together on a really cold afternoon when I had zero food in the house. Its flavors are reminiscent of pumpkin pie. I made a sweet soup, but you could always use red pepper flakes or bacon crumbles.

12oz frozen cooked winter squash
2 cups chicken stock
2 tbs butter
2 tbs good maple syrup
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch of fresh orange zest
salt and pepper to taste
creme fraiche or sour cream, if it's your thing

In a medium sauce pan over low heat, warm frozen squash in chicken stock until it can be broken up with a wooden spoon. Turn heat to medium and add nutmeg, cinnamon, and orange zest. Stir and allow to come to a simmer. Temper with butter. Add salt and pepper to taste. Place a lid, partially off, on the pan and let simmer for a half hour or until thickened.

Serve with crusty bread or a toasted English muffin in a shallow bowl. Top with creme fraiche or a dollop of sour cream, if desired.

Serves 4.

Comment on this 04.07.2008. 11:52

Macadamia Nut Encrusted Chicken with Warm Cranberry Sauce

This arose from watching too much Food Network, and from Boyfriend insisting I experiment with chicken. I had a bag of macadamia nuts in the kitchen, chicken and cranberries in the fridge. This resulted, and it was a big hit. Boyfriend has requested I make it again.

4 chicken cutlets
handful of macadamia nuts, finely chopped
1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
1 egg
vegetable oil (your frying favorite)
salt and pepper to taste

For cranberry sauce
1/2 bag fresh cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water

In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water. Heat over medium until sugar dissolves, then add cranberries (be careful - this can splash you). Put a lid on the saucepan for the first two minutes, or until all cranberries have popped, otherwise you'll have red juice on your shirt and stovetop. Once the cranberries have popped, uncover and let simmer for another eight minutes, or until thickened slightly. Remove from heat.

In large frying pan, heat a thin layer of oil, generous enough for pan frying, but certainly not high enough to engulf the chicken cutlets. I use medium to medium-high heat.

In a bowl, combine breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and macadamia nuts. In a second bowl, whisk one egg with fork tines. Dip each cutlet in egg wash and coat both sides thoroughly with breadcrumb mixture.

When oil is hot, place the chicken in the frying pan (use tongs - you don't want to get burned by the oil). I fry the chicken for about four minutes on the first side, then turn it over and cook until the chicken is cooked through. Feel free to turn once more to complete cooking, if necessary. Once the meat is done, transfer to a clean plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.

Serve each cutlet with a spoonful of cranberry sauce.

Serves 2 or 4, depending on hunger level and side dishes!

Comment on this 04.07.2008. 11:51