Eva Pasco's Blog, page 14
April 12, 2023
Eva’s Byte #415 – Popovers
During our Easter holiday get-together, a topic popped up during a conversation between my mother and me: popovers.
A light roll made from egg batter which swells or “pops” over the top of the tin while baking, the popover can be topped with butter. Versatile at any time of the day—why not top it with jam, fruit, or whipped cream?
My mother and I recalled enjoying our popovers smothered in butter, straight from the oven. Servers at two of our favorite bygone restaurants, Cock n Kettle and Anthony’s Pier 4, table-hopped more than once to prop a popover on your plate.
For those adventurous in procuring a recipe to bake your own, some baker’s tips I’ve come across:
A muffin tin will do. But, a popover pan will yield popovers with a taller base and a more defined cap.
Some bakers claim that resting the batter overnight, covered and refrigerated, enables the popovers to rise higher and they’re less prone to collapsing when you remove them from the oven.
Preheating the oven to 425 degrees creates the steam necessary to make the popovers pop. Finishing halfway at a cooler temp of 350 degrees ensures the outside doesn’t overcook before the inside stabilizes. It’s tricky!
And, it goes without saying—serve hot!
In the capacity of a writer, I’m hot to trot along the trail of drafting chapter 30 (1468 words thus far) in my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us be ready to strike when an opportunity is hot.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
A light roll made from egg batter which swells or “pops” over the top of the tin while baking, the popover can be topped with butter. Versatile at any time of the day—why not top it with jam, fruit, or whipped cream?
My mother and I recalled enjoying our popovers smothered in butter, straight from the oven. Servers at two of our favorite bygone restaurants, Cock n Kettle and Anthony’s Pier 4, table-hopped more than once to prop a popover on your plate.
For those adventurous in procuring a recipe to bake your own, some baker’s tips I’ve come across:
A muffin tin will do. But, a popover pan will yield popovers with a taller base and a more defined cap.
Some bakers claim that resting the batter overnight, covered and refrigerated, enables the popovers to rise higher and they’re less prone to collapsing when you remove them from the oven.
Preheating the oven to 425 degrees creates the steam necessary to make the popovers pop. Finishing halfway at a cooler temp of 350 degrees ensures the outside doesn’t overcook before the inside stabilizes. It’s tricky!
And, it goes without saying—serve hot!
In the capacity of a writer, I’m hot to trot along the trail of drafting chapter 30 (1468 words thus far) in my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us be ready to strike when an opportunity is hot.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
April 5, 2023
Eva’s Byte #414 – Unfrozen in Time
Having previously alluded to those somethings that gotta give living the life of a writer, mine is cooking. If I’m not dining out or grabbing takeout, heating up a frozen entrée will do. Barring a once-in-a-blue-moon venture in the kitchen, it’s how I roll.
My doozy of the week involved one of those frozen entrees which was nowhere to be found when unpacking my groceries. Searching high and low in all of the wrong places one might logically rummage for such an item, it never turned up. My search even included checking inside my vehicle, thinking I might have left a bag behind. Nope. So, I dismissed the unsolved mystery.
A few days later, bringing my mother back to her place of residence after one of our outings, she headed to her room with two bags of weekly provisions. You can imagine my surprise when she called to let me know she discovered that entrée “unfrozen in time,” which she discarded.
Sheesh!
In the capacity of a writer, I’m forging through the draft of chapter 30 (1034 words thus far) in my Contemporary work in progress. You might say I’m frozen in time depicting the early 1970s at this juncture of the story.
*May each of us prioritize what is important to pursue on any given day.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
My doozy of the week involved one of those frozen entrees which was nowhere to be found when unpacking my groceries. Searching high and low in all of the wrong places one might logically rummage for such an item, it never turned up. My search even included checking inside my vehicle, thinking I might have left a bag behind. Nope. So, I dismissed the unsolved mystery.
A few days later, bringing my mother back to her place of residence after one of our outings, she headed to her room with two bags of weekly provisions. You can imagine my surprise when she called to let me know she discovered that entrée “unfrozen in time,” which she discarded.
Sheesh!
In the capacity of a writer, I’m forging through the draft of chapter 30 (1034 words thus far) in my Contemporary work in progress. You might say I’m frozen in time depicting the early 1970s at this juncture of the story.
*May each of us prioritize what is important to pursue on any given day.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
March 29, 2023
Eva’s Byte #413 – An Easter Indulgence
While honoring the significance of Easter and spending time with family during dinner, my sweet indulgence is “rice pie”.
Rice pie (pastiera di riso), is an Italian dessert consisting of eggs, rice, ricotta cheese, and citrus. After baking, it becomes a bottom layer of chewy rice topped with a separate layer of creamy custard.
My maternal grandmother who emigrated from Naples, Italy to Rhode Island made her “crustless” rice pies from memory, as did my mother who finally scribbled the recipe on a card for posterity. I have merely reduced the ingredients from the original recipe to yield one pie rather than six.
Ingredients
9 eggs
1 ½ cups white sugar
1 (32 oz.) ricotta cheese (may use skim, fat free, or reduced fat)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups light cream
1 cup cooked white rice (River Rice for starchy consistency)
1 (15 ounce) can, crushed pineapple—drained; or the juice of two squeezed lemons with lemon zest (depending on your flavor preference for pineapple or lemon)
¼ teaspoon cinnamon for dusting the top of the pie before placing in oven
Directions
Beat eggs in large mixing bowl. Add sugar, mixing well. Stir in ricotta and vanilla until smooth. Add cream and stir. Fold in cooked rice and either crushed pineapples or lemon juice/zest.
Pour mixture into a Crisco greased, lightly floured 9 ½ by 13 ½ in. Pyrex dish. Sprinkle cinnamon on top.
Bake at 325 degrees F for one hour—top should be golden brown; toothpick test. Refrigerate until thoroughly cooled.
Tastes best served at room temperature right from its baking dish.
In the capacity of a writer, I’m hopping along the trail, drafting chapter 30 (347 words thus far) of my Contemporary work in progress.
*May the Easter season grant each of us the means to indulge in hope and spiritual renewal.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
Rice pie (pastiera di riso), is an Italian dessert consisting of eggs, rice, ricotta cheese, and citrus. After baking, it becomes a bottom layer of chewy rice topped with a separate layer of creamy custard.
My maternal grandmother who emigrated from Naples, Italy to Rhode Island made her “crustless” rice pies from memory, as did my mother who finally scribbled the recipe on a card for posterity. I have merely reduced the ingredients from the original recipe to yield one pie rather than six.
Ingredients
9 eggs
1 ½ cups white sugar
1 (32 oz.) ricotta cheese (may use skim, fat free, or reduced fat)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups light cream
1 cup cooked white rice (River Rice for starchy consistency)
1 (15 ounce) can, crushed pineapple—drained; or the juice of two squeezed lemons with lemon zest (depending on your flavor preference for pineapple or lemon)
¼ teaspoon cinnamon for dusting the top of the pie before placing in oven
Directions
Beat eggs in large mixing bowl. Add sugar, mixing well. Stir in ricotta and vanilla until smooth. Add cream and stir. Fold in cooked rice and either crushed pineapples or lemon juice/zest.
Pour mixture into a Crisco greased, lightly floured 9 ½ by 13 ½ in. Pyrex dish. Sprinkle cinnamon on top.
Bake at 325 degrees F for one hour—top should be golden brown; toothpick test. Refrigerate until thoroughly cooled.
Tastes best served at room temperature right from its baking dish.
In the capacity of a writer, I’m hopping along the trail, drafting chapter 30 (347 words thus far) of my Contemporary work in progress.
*May the Easter season grant each of us the means to indulge in hope and spiritual renewal.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
March 22, 2023
Eva’s Byte #412 – The Umbrella
I’ve whittled down my stash of umbrellas to one. I’ve no idea why because I’m not saving it for a rainy day. As March winds give way to April showers, the hood on my rain slicker will suffice. If I’m caught unawares, I’ll walk through it and let the raindrops fall where they may. I’m not concerned if I look like a drowned rat in the process.
Open to my own interpretation:
Umbrellas have a tendency to become dastardly in strong winds, turning the apparatus inside out. If your umbrella has survived the trek in reaching your indoor destination for you to close the thing, it’s dripping wet. Then, what are the chances of finding a space to accommodate an open umbrella for it to dry out?
Besides the pitfalls of the umbrella itself, I’d find it extremely awkward to parasail it overhead while juggling my handbag and whatever else I need to carry to and from wherever.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall—the umbrella has always been an open-and-shut case for me. I cringe just thinking about the added nuisance of dealing with its snap-on carrying case. The more power to those who’ve mastered the grace and dexterity of handling an umbrella.
Under the umbrella of a writer, I finished drafting chapter 29 (1374 words) of my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us weather life’s storms at our own discretion.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
Open to my own interpretation:
Umbrellas have a tendency to become dastardly in strong winds, turning the apparatus inside out. If your umbrella has survived the trek in reaching your indoor destination for you to close the thing, it’s dripping wet. Then, what are the chances of finding a space to accommodate an open umbrella for it to dry out?
Besides the pitfalls of the umbrella itself, I’d find it extremely awkward to parasail it overhead while juggling my handbag and whatever else I need to carry to and from wherever.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall—the umbrella has always been an open-and-shut case for me. I cringe just thinking about the added nuisance of dealing with its snap-on carrying case. The more power to those who’ve mastered the grace and dexterity of handling an umbrella.
Under the umbrella of a writer, I finished drafting chapter 29 (1374 words) of my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us weather life’s storms at our own discretion.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
March 15, 2023
Eva’s Byte #411 – Inner Peace
On the road again (no Kerouac pun intended), my furthest trek of the week was to the car dealership for my vehicle’s six-month maintenance check. Prepared for the long haul in the waiting area, I brought provisions: bottled water, snacks, book of crossword puzzles, pencils, and a book to read. Other clients scattered about occupied themselves similarly or were preoccupied with laptops.
Since the television hadn’t been turned on, the quietude wafted its own inner peace as I resumed reading Jack Kerouac’s The Dharma Bums, where Jack (Ray Smith) relates his pursuit of Buddhist enlightenment and the building of an inner life.
While most of us may not have the wherewithal or desire to forsake our obligations through the abandonment of mainstream living, we can find inner peace by tuning in and dropping out on our own terms.
A three-hour sojourn at the dealership instilled inner peace through relaxation. Back on the road again, motoring along with a new battery under the hood, among other refinements, I experienced peace of mind.
In the capacity of a writer, I’m in the pursuit of drafting chapter 29 (717 words thus far) of my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us prioritize the pursuit of inner peace for our health and well-being.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page:http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
Since the television hadn’t been turned on, the quietude wafted its own inner peace as I resumed reading Jack Kerouac’s The Dharma Bums, where Jack (Ray Smith) relates his pursuit of Buddhist enlightenment and the building of an inner life.
While most of us may not have the wherewithal or desire to forsake our obligations through the abandonment of mainstream living, we can find inner peace by tuning in and dropping out on our own terms.
A three-hour sojourn at the dealership instilled inner peace through relaxation. Back on the road again, motoring along with a new battery under the hood, among other refinements, I experienced peace of mind.
In the capacity of a writer, I’m in the pursuit of drafting chapter 29 (717 words thus far) of my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us prioritize the pursuit of inner peace for our health and well-being.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page:http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
March 8, 2023
Eva’s Byte #410 – Spring Awakening
The birds I hear chirping outside my office window at the tail end of winter have inspired my spring awakening. Taking advantage of early March’s inclement weather coming in like a lion, I’ve begun cleaning and organizing closets and drawers. No time like the present to see what I no longer need, or don’t need any more of.
Like pairs of navy blue socks. Even though I tend to wear jeans when out and about running errands—unless the temperature is freezing or below—I don’t wear socks.
Until one of my handbags falls apart, I won’t be adding to the collection.
Suffice it to say, courtesy of the pandemic, I’m well-stocked on hand sanitizer and disinfectant spray.
In the capacity of a writer who is mindful not to sink a story with the dead weight of superfluous words, I’m springing forward along my Contemporary WIP. I finished drafting chapter 28 (1984 words) and have begun drafting chapter 29 at a crawl of 74 words.
*May the signs of spring awaken each of us to embrace new beginnings and transformations.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
Like pairs of navy blue socks. Even though I tend to wear jeans when out and about running errands—unless the temperature is freezing or below—I don’t wear socks.
Until one of my handbags falls apart, I won’t be adding to the collection.
Suffice it to say, courtesy of the pandemic, I’m well-stocked on hand sanitizer and disinfectant spray.
In the capacity of a writer who is mindful not to sink a story with the dead weight of superfluous words, I’m springing forward along my Contemporary WIP. I finished drafting chapter 28 (1984 words) and have begun drafting chapter 29 at a crawl of 74 words.
*May the signs of spring awaken each of us to embrace new beginnings and transformations.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
March 1, 2023
Eva’s Byte #409 – Cup Scout
An ice coffee drinker all year round, I nurse a 24 oz. mug while working at my desk. Last week, during a ditzy spell, I inadvertently disposed of its lid in the trash. Since there’s no way I’d ever trust myself not to knock over a mug filled to capacity, I engaged in a cup scout.
Not a simple task by any means to scout for the ordinary. Whether online or at a department store, I encountered mugs beyond my mechanical aptitude to comprehend.
Like those with a sliding lid. After all of my fiddling, I couldn’t get the darn thing open. If I had, I’ll assume the drinking hole it covered could accommodate a straw. Fort Knox aside, size matters to me—it had to be 20 – 24 oz. or nothin’!
Turns out there’s no such thing as a run-of-the-mill mug at prices you wouldn’t think twice about. Like the ever escalating price of a cup of coffee, it’s not unfeasible for a mug to fetch big bucks either.
Alas, I found a desk companion I can live with: a 24 oz. flip-top, lidded shaker mug for $11.99. When thinking of the other contraptions priced in the $25-range, I consider this find the crème de la crème.
In the capacity of a writer, I’m closing the lid on chapter 28 (1572 words thus far) in my Contemporary work in progress.
*Whatever we’re scouting for, let’s not settle for less than what we deserve.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
Not a simple task by any means to scout for the ordinary. Whether online or at a department store, I encountered mugs beyond my mechanical aptitude to comprehend.
Like those with a sliding lid. After all of my fiddling, I couldn’t get the darn thing open. If I had, I’ll assume the drinking hole it covered could accommodate a straw. Fort Knox aside, size matters to me—it had to be 20 – 24 oz. or nothin’!
Turns out there’s no such thing as a run-of-the-mill mug at prices you wouldn’t think twice about. Like the ever escalating price of a cup of coffee, it’s not unfeasible for a mug to fetch big bucks either.
Alas, I found a desk companion I can live with: a 24 oz. flip-top, lidded shaker mug for $11.99. When thinking of the other contraptions priced in the $25-range, I consider this find the crème de la crème.
In the capacity of a writer, I’m closing the lid on chapter 28 (1572 words thus far) in my Contemporary work in progress.
*Whatever we’re scouting for, let’s not settle for less than what we deserve.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
February 22, 2023
Eva’s Byte #408 – Off on a Noteworthy Tangent
This week I’ve taken a brief writer’s respite from researching and incorporating forensic details in a fictitious autopsy report. I’ve gone off on a noteworthy tangent.
A film noir enthusiast and fragrance aficionado, I’m intrigued by the fragrances femme fatales may have worn. While the olfactory notes might be mentioned, the bombshell fragrance itself is rarely dropped. It just adds to the intrigue.
For instance:
In Dead Reckoning (1947), Rip Murdock (Humphrey Bogart) has this to say about villainess Coral Chandler (Lizabeth Scott) – “I didn’t like the feeling I had about her - the way I wanted to put my hand on her arm, the way I kept smelling that jasmine in her hair, the way I kept hearing that song she'd sung. Yeah, I was walking into something, alright.”
Perhaps a little more direct, giving pause for a fragrance aficionado like me to speculate:
In Sunset Boulevard (1950), Joe Gillis (William Holden) comments on the perfume he detects on Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) – “She’d sit very close to me, and she’d smell of tuberoses, which is not my favorite perfume, not by a long shot.”
I’m not alone in thinking it could have been Fracas by Robert Piguet. Launched in 1948, it is considered a bombshell due to the standout tuberose note. Once a staple in my fragrance stable, I can attest this fragrance screeches its presence. Ree! Ree! Ree!
Of note in my capacity of a writer, I’m closing in on finishing the draft of Chapter 28 (1123 words thus far) in my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us take time to smell the roses by going off on a tangent every now and then.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
A film noir enthusiast and fragrance aficionado, I’m intrigued by the fragrances femme fatales may have worn. While the olfactory notes might be mentioned, the bombshell fragrance itself is rarely dropped. It just adds to the intrigue.
For instance:
In Dead Reckoning (1947), Rip Murdock (Humphrey Bogart) has this to say about villainess Coral Chandler (Lizabeth Scott) – “I didn’t like the feeling I had about her - the way I wanted to put my hand on her arm, the way I kept smelling that jasmine in her hair, the way I kept hearing that song she'd sung. Yeah, I was walking into something, alright.”
Perhaps a little more direct, giving pause for a fragrance aficionado like me to speculate:
In Sunset Boulevard (1950), Joe Gillis (William Holden) comments on the perfume he detects on Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) – “She’d sit very close to me, and she’d smell of tuberoses, which is not my favorite perfume, not by a long shot.”
I’m not alone in thinking it could have been Fracas by Robert Piguet. Launched in 1948, it is considered a bombshell due to the standout tuberose note. Once a staple in my fragrance stable, I can attest this fragrance screeches its presence. Ree! Ree! Ree!
Of note in my capacity of a writer, I’m closing in on finishing the draft of Chapter 28 (1123 words thus far) in my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us take time to smell the roses by going off on a tangent every now and then.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
February 15, 2023
Eva’s Byte #407 – The Bookmark
An avid reader long before eBooks came on the scene in the 1990s, I have lots of bookmarks tucked away for keeping my place in a paperback. It just so happens, two have found their place inside: Petals by Anna Casamento Arrigo and Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac.
Bookmarks have also secured a special place in my heart for various reasons:
It could be for the inscription, like the parting verse on the front side of my Aunt Viola’s laminated obituary in 2003—“…But fill each waking hour in useful ways.”
Or, my favorite Tower of London bookmark my sister had gifted to me upon her return from a high school class trip to England. It kept my place for years. Until misplaced. I’ve lamented its loss throughout the passage of time. I’m thinking we may have parted company during the shuffle of moving.
In the capacity of a writer, I’ve forged ahead in drafting Chapter 28 (572 words thus far) of my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us mark the passage of time with memories worth keeping.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
Bookmarks have also secured a special place in my heart for various reasons:
It could be for the inscription, like the parting verse on the front side of my Aunt Viola’s laminated obituary in 2003—“…But fill each waking hour in useful ways.”
Or, my favorite Tower of London bookmark my sister had gifted to me upon her return from a high school class trip to England. It kept my place for years. Until misplaced. I’ve lamented its loss throughout the passage of time. I’m thinking we may have parted company during the shuffle of moving.
In the capacity of a writer, I’ve forged ahead in drafting Chapter 28 (572 words thus far) of my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us mark the passage of time with memories worth keeping.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
February 8, 2023
Eva’s Byte #406 – Nitty-Gritty Sand
Part of my housework regimen includes wiping windowsills. I skipped that routine during the arctic blast that breezed into the Northeast on Feb. 3rd and 4th, plummeting temperatures to subzero. On the 5th, during a heat wave of 42 degrees, I opened the windows just enough to clean the sills.
Each one was covered with a layer of gritty sand, the consistency of a Sahara windfall.
What gives?
The arctic blast swept through with wind gusts pushing 40 – 55 mph, making child’s play of kicking up a fuss from the construction site on the hill behind my building.
With the week’s temperatures forecasted to be in the upper 40s and even low 50s, I look forward to those typical, sporadic sightings of hardy natives going about their day wearing shorts and flip-flops.
After all, February is the border between winter and spring. I’ll soon be packing away my decorative snowmen for next winter’s safekeeping.
In the capacity of a writer, I’ve gotten down to the nitty-gritty of finishing the draft of chapter 27 (1912 words) in my Contemporary work in progress. I’m ready to kick up dust drafting chapter 28.
*May each of us get down to the nitty-gritty of attaining our goals.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
Each one was covered with a layer of gritty sand, the consistency of a Sahara windfall.
What gives?
The arctic blast swept through with wind gusts pushing 40 – 55 mph, making child’s play of kicking up a fuss from the construction site on the hill behind my building.
With the week’s temperatures forecasted to be in the upper 40s and even low 50s, I look forward to those typical, sporadic sightings of hardy natives going about their day wearing shorts and flip-flops.
After all, February is the border between winter and spring. I’ll soon be packing away my decorative snowmen for next winter’s safekeeping.
In the capacity of a writer, I’ve gotten down to the nitty-gritty of finishing the draft of chapter 27 (1912 words) in my Contemporary work in progress. I’m ready to kick up dust drafting chapter 28.
*May each of us get down to the nitty-gritty of attaining our goals.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
