Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 16

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reblog: Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle

This is my Read and Cook post on Writing to be Read from earlier this week. I read Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien which I enjoyed very much, and am sharing my recipe and photographs of Christmas Cake.

Thanks for hosting Kaye Lynne Booth.

I am still in Japan and am travelling to Mount Fuji tomorrow. I will respond to comments as soon as possible.

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien and a recipe for Christmas cake #bookreview #recipe #Christmas

Robbie’s Inspiration – Staci’s Annual Virtual Cookie Exchange – South African Soetkoekies (Sweet Biscuits) #baking #cookies

Staci Troilo is holding her Annual Virtual Cookie Exchange and I have contributed a recipe for South African Soetkoekies. You can view all the recipes here: https://stacitroilo.wordpress.com/2024/11/14/announcing-fourth-cookie-exchange/

Staci has some lovely books in a variety of different genres so do have a look around while you are there.

This is a favourite recipe of Michael and mine and we made a batch this year to give friends as gifts.

Ingredients :

1.5 kg (6 cups) cake flour;;

750 ml (3 cups) brown sugar;

3 lightly beaten eggs;

350 grams unsalted butter;

1/2 teaspoon salt;

30 ml (2 tablespoons)

baking powder;

10 ml cream of tartar;

1/2 teaspoon ginger;

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon;

1/2 teaspoon cloves;

1/2 teaspoon ground

nutmeg; and

125 ml good red wine (add more if the dough is to dry)

Method: Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Melt butter on low in the microwave oven and mix with the flour and the sugar until it resembles bread crumbs. Add in the beaten eggs and then the remaining dry ingredients. Add the red wine and mix well. Roll the mixture into balls and flatten with your palm. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown.                               

This recipe also appears in Michael and my book, Sir Chocolate and the fondant five story and cookbook.

If you are a visual person and prefer YT videos, this is my video of how to make these cookies:

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reblog: Ode to Gingerbread on MasticadoresUSA #poetry

thank you to editor, Barbara Leonard for publishing my Christmas poem, Ode to Gingerbread on MasticadoresUSA

“Ode to Gingerbread” by Robbie Cheadle

Robbie’s Inspiration – Sunflower Tanka cover reveal #poetry #art

Colleen and I are delighted to reveal the cover of the forthcoming Sunflower Tanka journal.

You can read more about Sunflower Tanka here:

Sunflower Tanka – Cover Reveal

Robbie’s Inspiration – Story Empire: Classic Books Christmas quotes quiz

This is my last Story Empire post for 2024. I hope you enjoy the quiz and the cake art.

Classic books Christmas quotes quiz

Sesi Says Goodbye to Granny by Robbie and Michael Cheadle

A huge thank you to author and poet, Miriam Hurdle, for sharing this beautiful post about my latest children’s book, Sesi says goodbye to Granny. Miriam has included a lovely review.

Miriam has an interesting blog packed with poetry and entertaining posts about her life and family. Miriam also has some lovely books including a beautifully illustrated children’s book.

Dear friends, I’m delighted to have Robbie Cheadle here today. She and Michael have a new book, Sesi says goodbye to Granny. Robbie will tell you all…

Sesi Says Goodbye to Granny by Robbie and Michael Cheadle

Robbie’s Inspiration – Story Chat, International Short Stories Generating Conversations Vol II compiled and edited by Marsha Ingrao

Picture caption: Banner for Story Chat Vol II

I am delighted to announce that Story Chat Vol II is now available for purchase on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/STORY-CHAT-VOL-INTERNATIONAL-CONVERSATIONS-ebook/dp/B0DNKPY19R

Michael and I have a children’s story in this collection which is illustrated with my fondant and cake art.

Picture caption: Cover of Story Chat International Short Stories Generating Conversation Vol IIBack Cover Blurb

Story Chat started as a unique online blogging program for authors and readers. This second book includes a diverse set of original short stories by authors from almost every continent in the world. While most of the stories would fall into the category of drama at all ages from children to older adults, this collection includes sci-fi, comedy, and two non-fiction articles about the writing process. All of the selections are family-friendly, even though the topics are aimed at adult readers.

In this book, you will enjoy realistic fiction, surprise, and open endings. Halloween vampire horror stories might make you laugh and wonder how you could. Traveling to an alternate universe – that happens to be familiar to some of you will keep you entertained. You might find yourself stepping into another universe or two that are so bizarre you don’t know what to do with them.

Characters will bring you to tears as they bravely reach for love or face tragedy you hope no one will have to face. You will laugh at the older couple discussing booking the adventure of a nudist cruise. You will cheer for a mother and her autistic child as they surmount obstacles. One story will remind you of Toy Story or the Velveteen Rabbit. Another is an epic children’s poem with illustrations made of fondant by the talented author and her son.

This book is so much fun. Yet, it can be educational, especially for writers who constantly work to improve their craft. Each story has discussion questions that you can use if you belong to a book club or writing group.

All of us, known as Story Chatters, hope this book will make an impact on your lives.

Book trailerOther Factoids about Volume II

Twenty published and previously unpublished authors from eight countries on six continents submitted short stories. Most of these stories were lighthearted family or youth drama, several comedies, coming of age, and science fiction. The stories covered relevant topics like planning vacations, managing estate assets, walking in the fog, trick or treating, solving mysteries, robbing robbers, creative solutions to autism, double dealing, life-long companions, recycling garbage in space, and many more topics. . Most of the stories have surprise endings. Some have open endings, leaving the reader to imagine what might happen next.

Each story takes about three to five minutes to read, making it the perfect book for readers who need something to read in short spurts. The twenty-seven stories are pure entertainment, yet each probes a deeper concept to stimulate and delight thoughtful readers.

New this year are three posts on writing tips, and two poems.

Comments about Story Chat Volume II

 International Short Stories Generating Conversations:

“That sounds like a great initiative, a very interesting book. I love short stories”        -Thomas “The balance is perfect. There has been a good mixture of male and female writers from all over the world.Picture caption: Promotional banner for Story Chat Online Literary Conversations

Story Chat Vol 1 is available form Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Story-Chat-Online-Literary-Conversations-ebook/dp/B0CMCMK5B5

Robbie’s Inspiration – Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon, 2024 and a recipe #2024HoHoHoRAT #recipe #bookreviews

Carla from Carla Loves to Read blog is a Christmas Elf in the #2024HoHoHoRAT. You can read Carla’s post here: https://carlalovestoread.wordpress.com/2024/11/19/ho-ho-ho-readathon-2024hohohorat/

From November 21st through December 2nd, you are invited to enjoy as many holiday & winter books or listens as you can. Along the way, take part in the challenges, meet new friends and have fun! Be sure to use the hashtag #2024HoHoHoRAT so participants can cheer you on!

Make sure you pop over the Kimberly’s post to find out about the various challenges and activities you can participate in to win a prize. Just sign up at the linky and your will eligible to enter the giveaways. I am an elf again this year, so I hope to see lots of you enter my giveaway.

I have three reviews to share with you today. One is a new review and the other two are re-shares of delightful Christmas books I read previously and often re-read.

Hullaba Christmas: Lulu and the Snatched Santa by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Hullaba Christmas is a entertaining and whimsical Christmas story full of this author’s wildly imaginative characters, some of which are human, and some of which are not. Lulu is tired of the desert and travels home to Grandfather’s speakeasy for the Christmas season. No sooner has Lulu started to settle in with a few Angel-bot friends and some giggle-water, than an automated reindeer-bot turns up with the astonishing news that Santa has been kidnapped. Lulu is the person who needs to help save Christmas, despite the despicable behaviour of the kidnappers who are determined to ruin Christmas, so that all the children of the world become selfish and self centred as a result of their disappointment.

Lulu is the same clumsy, independent woman of the world she has always been, and she agrees to take up the challenge of trying to save Christmas and deliver all the presents in a single night. Of course, she won’t be able to heed Santa’s requirement that once Christmas is saved, she stay out of the situation. Lulu couldn’t possibly do that and neither could her friends. They will have to travel to Santa’s home and try to save Santa too.

An enchanting and fast paced Christmas story that will fill any reader with delight and the Christmas spirit.

Purchase Hullaba Christmas: Lulu and the Snatched Santa from Amazon USA here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D33MN3NJ

Pass the Turkey: The Small Dog’s Christmas by Sue Vincent

Every Christmas Time, I share a review of one of Sue Vincent’s marvelous books. I still miss Sue and her wonderful posts very much.

My review

Pass the Turkey: The Small Dog’s Christmas is a delightful book full of Christmas cheer. Ani, the small dog, is reflecting on Christmas’ past, present and future through a combination of letters to Santa and poems. The perplexities of ‘fake’ Santas, the ‘theft’ of a favourite sofa, and gifts of tennis balls and a chicken flavoured biscuit, all require Ani’s consideration. Her naughty secrets are also revealed such as the time she ate all the left over turkey and salmon and fell through the ice in the pond [it was shallow]. The indignities of baths and having to wear reindeer antlers are also shared.

Join Ani and her two legs, Sue Vincent, for a glorious romp through advent and Christmas Day.

A few of my favourite verses:
“I’ve tried to help with household chores,
I’ve laundered all my balls,
I’ve chased the pigeons form the shed
And spiders from the walls.” from Request

“She’s like a puppy when it snows
We just go out to play…
And if she wraps up warm enough
We might stay out all day.” from Wishing for the White Stuff

“The windows are all closed at night
The keyhole seems to small
To wriggle through with turkey
And a brand new tennis ball.” from Chimneys.

Purchase Pass the Turkey: The Small Dog’s Christmas from Amazon USA here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1910478237

A Homemake Christmas by Carol Ann Taylor

A Homemade Christmas is a delightful collection of recipes from an excellent cook and baker. This book is a treasure trove of delicious traditional recipes from the supporting dishes like garlic buttered peas, cranberry sauce, three kinds of gravy, and sage and onion stuffing, to the main event which could be turkey, ham or roast pork. For the more adventurous, there are a few recipes with an Asian flair to spice things up such as beef brisket with an Asian twist and Thai fried peanuts with basil leaves.

Well known Christmas snacks including pigs in blankets, sweet mincemeat, and sausage rolls make an appearance, together with recipes for traditional Christmas cake and homemade marzipan, Christmas pudding and fruit salad, for those watching their calory count.

My two favourite sections of this book are the sections relating to the use of Christmas leftovers. I love that as leftovers are always a ‘problem’ after a large and overdone meal. I had a laugh while reading about using leftovers for stuffed flat breads and bubble and squeak. It reminded me of Geoffrey and Una Alconbury’s New Year’s Day Turkey Curry Buffet which used up the Christmas leftovers (If you don’t know, this reference is from Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding – the book!).

Lastly, there is a wonderful section on Edible Gifts. I am a big fan of edible Christmas gifts so this section is very welcome.

After reading this book, I have made some changes to my proposed Christmas menu and am looking forward to trying out a few of these recipes. I follow Ms. Taylor’s blog so I know the recipes will all work well and there is no risk of recipe failure.

Purchase A Homemade Christmas by Carol Ann Taylor from Amazon USA here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CP7LD6H4

HoHoHoRAT Mini Challenge – share a recipe

Carla is also hosting a mini challenge as follows:

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Well not yet, but it will be here soon enough. Welcome to my Ho Ho Ho mini-challenge. Who doesn’t trying new food during the holiday season. Whether it’s a drink, an appetizer, cookies or a side dish, we all have our favourites. I am always looking for new recipes to try, so that’s what’s behind my challenge.

You can join in here: https://carlalovestoread.wordpress.com/2024/11/19/hohohorat-mini-challenge-share-a-holiday-recipe

A little bit of Christmas Shortbread

Picture caption: rectangles of delicious lemon shortbread sprinkled with icing sugar

Picture caption: rectangles of orange and chocolate shortbread

My mother is a big fan of shortbread and always asks me to make it for Christmas. I use my basis shortbread recipe and add different additional ingredients to create different taste experiences while keeping the basis shortbread texture. Shortbreads lasts for longer than most other biscuits which makes it a great treat for mom who likes to eke out her biscuits for a few weeks of teatime treats.

In December 2022, I decided to make shortbread as my Christmas treat for my work colleagues. I made two different batches: orange and chocolate short bread and lemon shortbread. Both variants were delicious and were received with great enthusiasm.

The ingredients for these two types of shortbread are a bit different but the method is the same so I’m only including it once.

RecipeIngredients for orange and chocolate shortbread

575 grams plain white cake flour

220 ml castor (superfine or baker’s) sugar

360 ml corn flour

1 kg melted butter

50 grams orange zest

250 grams 70% cocoa chocolate drops

Ingredients for lemon shortbread

600 grams plain white cake flour

Zest of two large lemons

220 ml castor (superfine or baker’s) sugar

360 ml corn flour

1 kg melted butter

Method

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Combine the cake flour, corn flour, castor sugar, and lemon zest or orange zest and chocolate drops in a bowl. Melt the butter in the microwave and allow to cool. Pour the molten butter into a well in the dry ingredients and mix using your hands, until a soft dough forms.

Transfer the dough to a prepared shortbread or other baking tin with sides. Using your hands press it into the tin until it is evenly layered. Using a fork, prick the shortbread in rows down the length of the dough. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until golden brown on top. Allow to cool slightly, sprinkle with icing sugar (lemon shortbread) and cut into 30 squares using a sharp knife.

Just a reminder that Michael and I have a Christmas Sir Chocolate book which includes two recipes and two Christmas activities that parents can do with children.

This is the book trailer:

You can purchase Sir Chocolate and the Missing Christmas Harp here: https://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Missing-Christmas-holidays-books-ebook/product-reviews/B0BNHX8XGC

Robbie’s Inspiration – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland edited and annotated by Frank Prem #childrensfiction

Frank Prem is a wonderful poet and has a large array of beautiful poetry books. He also has some delightful children’s books, all of which I’ve read and reviewed. Most recently, Frank has been dabbling with creating new editions of well know classics, one of which is Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. Frank has managed to create a delightful version of this classic story using many of the original pictures.

I am a huge Alice fan and so when I saw Frank was creating a unique version of this book, I immediately knew I wanted it. My lovely new Alice arrived a few weeks ago and has now joined its eight other Alice friends on my children’s classic books shelf.

This is what Amazon says about the book:

Wild Arancini Classics invite you to tumble down the rabbit hole again, with Alice and the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter and the Dormouse in a new edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, featuring twenty coloured illustrations by John Tenniel.

All your favourites from Wonderland brought together in a new edition of this timeless classic.

When this wonderful story demands of you READ ME!, you know something interesting is going to happen!

These are some photographs I took of the cover, illustrations and formatting of the book.

Picture caption: Book cover of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland featuring my favourite picture of Alice with the caterpillar smoking a hookahPicture caption: Illustration of Father William and his son – this is a favourite poem of mine

This is my reading of Father William:

Picture caption: Alice with the Duchess and the baby

Picture caption: An example of the layout in the book. I remember this layout from the original book.

You can purchase Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland edited by Frank Prem here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1923166018/

You can find all of Frank Prem’s books on his website here: https://frankprem.com/

Robbie’s Inspiration – Reblog: I do not cry on Chewers by Masticadores #poetry

Thank you to editor, Nolcha Fox, for publishing my poem, I do not cry, on Chewers by Masticadores.

“I do not cry” by Robbie Cheadle