Tory Richards's Blog, page 188
April 23, 2012
April 21, 2012
6 SENTENCE SUNDAY
...from Talk Dirty to MeHer body reacted instantly, thinking about him was one thing but seeing him in the flesh was even more powerful. Awareness exploded through her body, as she remembered all the times and places they'd had hot, naughty sex. How Blake had taken her to paradise a thousand times. Her panties became soaked as she clenched her legs together hoping to ease the need that was becoming unbearable. A pleasant prickling in her full breasts caused her to raise her arm and brush it over them to try to ease some of the ache. Blake hadn't changed at all.
April 20, 2012
The GREEN Thing
Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.
The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days."
The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."
She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day….
Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.
Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day.
Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana . In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then.
We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.
But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?
The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days."
The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."
She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day….
Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.
Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day.
Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana . In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then.
We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.
But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?
April 19, 2012
Around the World with Virginia Campbell
An Alaskan Adventure!
http://alaskawildberryproducts.com/images/photos/alaska-pics-montage.jpg Seeking out new horizons, this Southerner headed North--"North to Alaska"! As usual, the more I researched, the more fascinating the destination became. On January 3, 1959, by an act of Congress and the signature of President Eisenhower, the Territory of Alaska became America's 49th state. Alaska has over 6,600 miles of coastline, is 2,700 miles from side to side, has 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the country, is the largest state and has the lowest population density in the country. There are dozens of different native languages spoken in Alaska. Known as "The Land of the Midnight Sun", Alaska is place of hardy people, challenging weather and unbelievable beauty. Just as Alaska has its summer, winter, fall and spring, it also has sun seasons. Because of Alaska’s northerly location and the axis of the earth, it enjoys the phenomena of the midnight sun and polar night. Each year in March, the vernal equinox brings the sun in line with the equator. By the end of the third week in June, Alaska receives its longest day of the year - a day when the sun never sets. Some areas of the state experience 24 hours of sunlight and locals celebrate with late-night ball games and extended shopping hours. These long days last for weeks, but slowly, the days become shorter, culminating six months later in polar night. As the days shorten, nearing the end of September, Alaskans prepare themselves for polar night, a period of days in December when the sun never peeks over the horizon. During polar night, the state is left in darkness even at high noon. 
Before humans came to Alaska, the area was home to ranging woolly mammoths and bison. The plains were rich with hardy game capable of surviving Alaska’s frigid temperatures. Approximately 20,000 years ago, the first humans followed herds of bison across the Bering Land Bridge from what is now Russia into Northwestern Alaska and began moving south. In the early 1700s, the first European adventurers voyaged to Alaska from Russia. Vitus Bering is considered the first European to reach Alaska, and within 15 years of his arrival, the commercial hunt for sea otters began. In 1784, the first white settlement was founded at Three Saints Bay in Kodiak. Over the next 50 years, the fur trade became the major industry in Alaska, increasing immigration from Europe. In 1857 and 1861, respectively, oil and gold were found in Alaska. A short six years after the first discovery of gold, the United States of America purchased Alaska from Russia. In the resulting turmoil and change, the regulations around fur seal hunting were all but ignored, and the population of fur seals rapidly declined. As the fur seal trade started to dwindle, the appeal of better riches sparked the Alaskan gold rush, which lasted from 1897 to 1900. Who doesn't dream of striking it rich? Such an amazing contrast between the quiet isolation of the Tundra and the turmoil of the Yukon Gold Rush--a time of fortunes found and lost and hearts broken and dreams shattered. The few who got rich were the ones who weren't incinerated by "gold fever". One can only imagine the varied spectrum of human drama created by this turbulent time in history.
The famous "Northern Lights" of Alaska wave through the sky in shades of green, purple and red. These rays of light permanently affixed above the poles and only occasionally glimpsed in between are at the center of a great deal of folklore and scientific awe. The Aurora Borealis is active all year but can only be seen when the Alaska night sky is dark enough -- generally from late August through early April. 
Alaska is a great source of amazing wild berries. Some of the berries might be familiar to you – like wild blueberries (smaller and sweeter than the blueberries you can buy) and wild cranberries (which are called high bush cranberries). There are also salmonberries, which look like raspberries, but are yellow or orange and have a completely different flavor. The delicious mossberries (also called crowberries,) lingonberries (also called low bush cranberries,) and watermelon berries are also native to Alaska. All of these berries are used for homemade berry jams and berry jellies and other delightful recipes. 
Alaska's cold water seafood is the centerpiece of Alaskan cuisine. Alaskan salmon is one of the most important foods here and is often served as smoked salmon, cured salmon, salmon jerky, and even sweetened Indian salmon candy. The Alaskan salmon and halibut fishing industry brings tourists from all over the world, but it's probably the Alaskan King Crab that most people think of first. Unlike the smaller dungeness or blue crabs found in the lower 48 states, a single Alaskan King Crab can easily feed a whole hungry family. Alaska hunters enjoy bagging large game animals such as moose, caribou, elk, or bear. You might not be familiar with those meats but they form the basis of many people's daily protein, especially for people who live outside of the main cities. Sourdough bread is so popular that the word "sourdough" is slang for a person who lives in Alaska! This started during the Klondike Gold Rush when everyone kept a pot of sourdough starter in their kitchens. By "feeding" the starter with a little new flour every few days they kept the wild yeast alive and thriving so they could bake bread whenever they wanted. It's said people would even bring the pot to bed on cold nights to keep it from freezing!
The natives of Alaska, commonly known as "Eskimos", but more properly called Central Yupik (in the Bering Sea area) and Inupiat in the north Arctic, ate very differently from people in warmer climates. Seal meat and oil was important, as were whales, walrus, fish, and birds. Since the climate is so cold, it was important to eat plenty of fats and oils to help keep warm. Seal and whale blubber might not sound appetizing but they can be real life savers when it's 40 degrees below zero! As you might imagine, there were not very many plant foods available. Some that were or still are important are "negaasget", "uutngungsaat", "iitat", "marallat", and "mouse food" which are different roots cooked in soup. All sorts of berries are also gathered, as are the soft inner bark of the birch tree, and "ayuq" which is a plant which can be made into a kind of tea. Fermentation was sometimes used as a preservation technique. Stinkhead and stinkeggs are preserved salmon heads and roe made by wrapping them in grasses and burying for several weeks, similar to Swedish lutefisk. The results are very unpleasant for non-natives to eat but is an important source of nutrition when food is scarce and considered a treat in the villages. Fish, moose and caribou are also preserved by drying. Often, the dried meat is dipped in seal oil. Eskimo Ice Cream (also known as "akutaq") is a fancy name for a hearty dish you probably haven't heard of. Natives used to make this unusual dish by whipping the fat of hunted reindeer, seals, or bears, then adding snow and wild native berries. Sugar wasn't available then but it would probably be a nice addition. Nowadays it is made with shortening and is mixed with berries, mouse food, dried meat, and other vegetables depending on what is available.
The Iditarod Trail, now a National Historic Trail, had its beginnings as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns of Seward and Knik to the interior mining camps at Flat, Ophir, Ruby and beyond to the west coast communities of Unalakleet, Elim, Golovin, White Mountain and Nome. Mail and supplies went in. Gold came out. All via dog sled. Heroes were made, legends were born. In 1925, part of the Iditarod Trail became a life saving highway for epidemic-stricken Nome. Diphtheria threatened and serum had to be brought in; again by intrepid dog mushers and their faithful hard-driving dogs. Throughout the years, the sled dogs were important to day to day life in the villages and throughout Alaska. All of these examples and more are a part of Alaska’s history. The legendary Iditarod Dogsled Race, has been called the “Last Great Race on Earth”, and it has won worldwide acclaim and interest. German, Spanish, British, Japanese crews have covered the event. Journalists from outdoor magazines, adventure magazines, newspapers and wire services flock to Anchorage and Nome to record the excitement. It’s not just a dog sled race, it’s a race in which unique men and woman compete. Mushers enter from all walks of life. Fishermen, lawyers, doctors, miners, artists, natives, Canadians, Swiss, French and others; men and women each with their own story, each with their own reasons for going the distance. The race is the most popular sporting event in Alaska, and the top mushers and their teams of dogs are local celebrities; this popularity is credited with the resurgence of recreational mushing in the state since the 1970s. The Iditarod received more attention outside of the state after the 1985 victory of Libby Riddles, a long shot who became the first woman to win the race. Susan Butcher became the second woman to win the race and went on to dominate for half a decade.
The population of Alaska consists of more men than women, leading to the growing fascination with "Alaska Bachelors". Alaska is known for its abundance of single men--men such as gold miners, oil workers, hunters, trappers and fishermen--who help to perpetuate the fantasy of a rugged, prosperous life on the frontier. "Bachelor Auctions", calendars, books, and magazines all centered around eligible Alaska males continue to increase in popularity.
Our terrific "hostess with the mostest" Tory Richards, used Alaska as the setting for her exciting romance story "Someone to Love Me" . "When Charlie's plane goes down in the remote Alaskan wilderness she knows she's in big trouble. She didn't have time to radio in her position. So it looks like her decision to surprise her parents on their wedding anniversary wasn't such a good idea. Now lost and in freezing temperatures, her chances of survival look bleak. As Charlie heads out on foot, she faces a new danger when a white wolf appears. And right behind him is her salvation. A quiet mountain man with secrets, who takes her to his one-room cabin, where she finds herself stranded for the winter. To make matters worse, there's an instant attraction between them they both try to resist. Hard to do when she's sleeping in his bed! Before long they give into a temptation stronger than their wills, and find survival, and the chance to love again, in each other's arms." Sensational--hot enough to melt the Polar Ice Caps! 
The famous "Baked Alaska" dessert is ice cream encased in some sort of hot casing (pastry crust or meringue). Early versions of this dessert consisted of ice cream encased in a piping hot pastry crust. The later version consisting of ice cream on sponge cake covered with meringue and browned quickly in a hot oven. The creation of Baked Alaska is claimed as being created by many people, and popularized by many others. According to some historians, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), third president of the United States from 1801-1809, was one of the first to serve ice cream at a state banquet in the White House. He is reported to have served ice cream encased in hot pastry at a White House dinner during his presidency. Although the name came much later, it is likely that this was a dish similar to Baked Alaska. The name Baked Alaska originated at Delmonico's Restaurant in New York City in 1876, and was created in honor of the newly acquired territory of Alaska. An Englishman (George Sala) who visited Delmonico's in the 1880s said: "The 'Alaska' is a baked ice....The nucleus or core of the entremet is an ice cream. This is surrounded by an envelope of carefully whipped cream, which, just before the dainty dish is served, is popped into the oven, or is brought under the scorching influence of a red hot salamander." It is was supposedly later popularized worldwide by Jean Giroix, chef in 1895 at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo.Recipe For Baked AlaskaOne of the earliest baked Alaska recipes to be featured in a celebrated cookbook is this one taken from "The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book" by Fannie Farmer, published by Little, Brown and Company, Boston, in 1896: 2-quart brick of ice cream, thin sheet sponge cake. Make meringue of eggs and sugar as in Meringue [below], cover a board with white paper, lay on sponge cake, turn ice cream on cake (which should extend 1/2 inch beyond cream), cover with meringue, and spread smoothly. Place on oven grate [rack] and brown quickly in hot oven. The board, paper, cake, and meringue are poor conductors of heat, and prevent the cream from melting. Slip the paper on ice cream platter.
Meringue: Whites 6 eggs, 6 tablespoons powdered sugar, 1-1/2 tablespoons lemon juice or 3/4 tablespoon vanilla. Beat whites until stiff, add sugar gradually and continue beating, then add flavoring.
http://alaskawildberryproducts.com/images/photos/alaska-pics-montage.jpg Seeking out new horizons, this Southerner headed North--"North to Alaska"! As usual, the more I researched, the more fascinating the destination became. On January 3, 1959, by an act of Congress and the signature of President Eisenhower, the Territory of Alaska became America's 49th state. Alaska has over 6,600 miles of coastline, is 2,700 miles from side to side, has 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the country, is the largest state and has the lowest population density in the country. There are dozens of different native languages spoken in Alaska. Known as "The Land of the Midnight Sun", Alaska is place of hardy people, challenging weather and unbelievable beauty. Just as Alaska has its summer, winter, fall and spring, it also has sun seasons. Because of Alaska’s northerly location and the axis of the earth, it enjoys the phenomena of the midnight sun and polar night. Each year in March, the vernal equinox brings the sun in line with the equator. By the end of the third week in June, Alaska receives its longest day of the year - a day when the sun never sets. Some areas of the state experience 24 hours of sunlight and locals celebrate with late-night ball games and extended shopping hours. These long days last for weeks, but slowly, the days become shorter, culminating six months later in polar night. As the days shorten, nearing the end of September, Alaskans prepare themselves for polar night, a period of days in December when the sun never peeks over the horizon. During polar night, the state is left in darkness even at high noon. Before humans came to Alaska, the area was home to ranging woolly mammoths and bison. The plains were rich with hardy game capable of surviving Alaska’s frigid temperatures. Approximately 20,000 years ago, the first humans followed herds of bison across the Bering Land Bridge from what is now Russia into Northwestern Alaska and began moving south. In the early 1700s, the first European adventurers voyaged to Alaska from Russia. Vitus Bering is considered the first European to reach Alaska, and within 15 years of his arrival, the commercial hunt for sea otters began. In 1784, the first white settlement was founded at Three Saints Bay in Kodiak. Over the next 50 years, the fur trade became the major industry in Alaska, increasing immigration from Europe. In 1857 and 1861, respectively, oil and gold were found in Alaska. A short six years after the first discovery of gold, the United States of America purchased Alaska from Russia. In the resulting turmoil and change, the regulations around fur seal hunting were all but ignored, and the population of fur seals rapidly declined. As the fur seal trade started to dwindle, the appeal of better riches sparked the Alaskan gold rush, which lasted from 1897 to 1900. Who doesn't dream of striking it rich? Such an amazing contrast between the quiet isolation of the Tundra and the turmoil of the Yukon Gold Rush--a time of fortunes found and lost and hearts broken and dreams shattered. The few who got rich were the ones who weren't incinerated by "gold fever". One can only imagine the varied spectrum of human drama created by this turbulent time in history.The famous "Northern Lights" of Alaska wave through the sky in shades of green, purple and red. These rays of light permanently affixed above the poles and only occasionally glimpsed in between are at the center of a great deal of folklore and scientific awe. The Aurora Borealis is active all year but can only be seen when the Alaska night sky is dark enough -- generally from late August through early April. Alaska is a great source of amazing wild berries. Some of the berries might be familiar to you – like wild blueberries (smaller and sweeter than the blueberries you can buy) and wild cranberries (which are called high bush cranberries). There are also salmonberries, which look like raspberries, but are yellow or orange and have a completely different flavor. The delicious mossberries (also called crowberries,) lingonberries (also called low bush cranberries,) and watermelon berries are also native to Alaska. All of these berries are used for homemade berry jams and berry jellies and other delightful recipes. Alaska's cold water seafood is the centerpiece of Alaskan cuisine. Alaskan salmon is one of the most important foods here and is often served as smoked salmon, cured salmon, salmon jerky, and even sweetened Indian salmon candy. The Alaskan salmon and halibut fishing industry brings tourists from all over the world, but it's probably the Alaskan King Crab that most people think of first. Unlike the smaller dungeness or blue crabs found in the lower 48 states, a single Alaskan King Crab can easily feed a whole hungry family. Alaska hunters enjoy bagging large game animals such as moose, caribou, elk, or bear. You might not be familiar with those meats but they form the basis of many people's daily protein, especially for people who live outside of the main cities. Sourdough bread is so popular that the word "sourdough" is slang for a person who lives in Alaska! This started during the Klondike Gold Rush when everyone kept a pot of sourdough starter in their kitchens. By "feeding" the starter with a little new flour every few days they kept the wild yeast alive and thriving so they could bake bread whenever they wanted. It's said people would even bring the pot to bed on cold nights to keep it from freezing! The natives of Alaska, commonly known as "Eskimos", but more properly called Central Yupik (in the Bering Sea area) and Inupiat in the north Arctic, ate very differently from people in warmer climates. Seal meat and oil was important, as were whales, walrus, fish, and birds. Since the climate is so cold, it was important to eat plenty of fats and oils to help keep warm. Seal and whale blubber might not sound appetizing but they can be real life savers when it's 40 degrees below zero! As you might imagine, there were not very many plant foods available. Some that were or still are important are "negaasget", "uutngungsaat", "iitat", "marallat", and "mouse food" which are different roots cooked in soup. All sorts of berries are also gathered, as are the soft inner bark of the birch tree, and "ayuq" which is a plant which can be made into a kind of tea. Fermentation was sometimes used as a preservation technique. Stinkhead and stinkeggs are preserved salmon heads and roe made by wrapping them in grasses and burying for several weeks, similar to Swedish lutefisk. The results are very unpleasant for non-natives to eat but is an important source of nutrition when food is scarce and considered a treat in the villages. Fish, moose and caribou are also preserved by drying. Often, the dried meat is dipped in seal oil. Eskimo Ice Cream (also known as "akutaq") is a fancy name for a hearty dish you probably haven't heard of. Natives used to make this unusual dish by whipping the fat of hunted reindeer, seals, or bears, then adding snow and wild native berries. Sugar wasn't available then but it would probably be a nice addition. Nowadays it is made with shortening and is mixed with berries, mouse food, dried meat, and other vegetables depending on what is available. The Iditarod Trail, now a National Historic Trail, had its beginnings as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns of Seward and Knik to the interior mining camps at Flat, Ophir, Ruby and beyond to the west coast communities of Unalakleet, Elim, Golovin, White Mountain and Nome. Mail and supplies went in. Gold came out. All via dog sled. Heroes were made, legends were born. In 1925, part of the Iditarod Trail became a life saving highway for epidemic-stricken Nome. Diphtheria threatened and serum had to be brought in; again by intrepid dog mushers and their faithful hard-driving dogs. Throughout the years, the sled dogs were important to day to day life in the villages and throughout Alaska. All of these examples and more are a part of Alaska’s history. The legendary Iditarod Dogsled Race, has been called the “Last Great Race on Earth”, and it has won worldwide acclaim and interest. German, Spanish, British, Japanese crews have covered the event. Journalists from outdoor magazines, adventure magazines, newspapers and wire services flock to Anchorage and Nome to record the excitement. It’s not just a dog sled race, it’s a race in which unique men and woman compete. Mushers enter from all walks of life. Fishermen, lawyers, doctors, miners, artists, natives, Canadians, Swiss, French and others; men and women each with their own story, each with their own reasons for going the distance. The race is the most popular sporting event in Alaska, and the top mushers and their teams of dogs are local celebrities; this popularity is credited with the resurgence of recreational mushing in the state since the 1970s. The Iditarod received more attention outside of the state after the 1985 victory of Libby Riddles, a long shot who became the first woman to win the race. Susan Butcher became the second woman to win the race and went on to dominate for half a decade. The population of Alaska consists of more men than women, leading to the growing fascination with "Alaska Bachelors". Alaska is known for its abundance of single men--men such as gold miners, oil workers, hunters, trappers and fishermen--who help to perpetuate the fantasy of a rugged, prosperous life on the frontier. "Bachelor Auctions", calendars, books, and magazines all centered around eligible Alaska males continue to increase in popularity. Our terrific "hostess with the mostest" Tory Richards, used Alaska as the setting for her exciting romance story "Someone to Love Me" . "When Charlie's plane goes down in the remote Alaskan wilderness she knows she's in big trouble. She didn't have time to radio in her position. So it looks like her decision to surprise her parents on their wedding anniversary wasn't such a good idea. Now lost and in freezing temperatures, her chances of survival look bleak. As Charlie heads out on foot, she faces a new danger when a white wolf appears. And right behind him is her salvation. A quiet mountain man with secrets, who takes her to his one-room cabin, where she finds herself stranded for the winter. To make matters worse, there's an instant attraction between them they both try to resist. Hard to do when she's sleeping in his bed! Before long they give into a temptation stronger than their wills, and find survival, and the chance to love again, in each other's arms." Sensational--hot enough to melt the Polar Ice Caps! The famous "Baked Alaska" dessert is ice cream encased in some sort of hot casing (pastry crust or meringue). Early versions of this dessert consisted of ice cream encased in a piping hot pastry crust. The later version consisting of ice cream on sponge cake covered with meringue and browned quickly in a hot oven. The creation of Baked Alaska is claimed as being created by many people, and popularized by many others. According to some historians, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), third president of the United States from 1801-1809, was one of the first to serve ice cream at a state banquet in the White House. He is reported to have served ice cream encased in hot pastry at a White House dinner during his presidency. Although the name came much later, it is likely that this was a dish similar to Baked Alaska. The name Baked Alaska originated at Delmonico's Restaurant in New York City in 1876, and was created in honor of the newly acquired territory of Alaska. An Englishman (George Sala) who visited Delmonico's in the 1880s said: "The 'Alaska' is a baked ice....The nucleus or core of the entremet is an ice cream. This is surrounded by an envelope of carefully whipped cream, which, just before the dainty dish is served, is popped into the oven, or is brought under the scorching influence of a red hot salamander." It is was supposedly later popularized worldwide by Jean Giroix, chef in 1895 at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo.Recipe For Baked AlaskaOne of the earliest baked Alaska recipes to be featured in a celebrated cookbook is this one taken from "The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book" by Fannie Farmer, published by Little, Brown and Company, Boston, in 1896: 2-quart brick of ice cream, thin sheet sponge cake. Make meringue of eggs and sugar as in Meringue [below], cover a board with white paper, lay on sponge cake, turn ice cream on cake (which should extend 1/2 inch beyond cream), cover with meringue, and spread smoothly. Place on oven grate [rack] and brown quickly in hot oven. The board, paper, cake, and meringue are poor conductors of heat, and prevent the cream from melting. Slip the paper on ice cream platter.Meringue: Whites 6 eggs, 6 tablespoons powdered sugar, 1-1/2 tablespoons lemon juice or 3/4 tablespoon vanilla. Beat whites until stiff, add sugar gradually and continue beating, then add flavoring.
5 STARS for The Mercenary Way!
Another great review just came in and I'm a happy camper! CozyReader over at
THE ROMANCE REVIEWS
said...
This is my first read from Tory Richards and I can say this, I will be seeking more books from her and add then to my library of reads. This book was suspenseful, romantic and funny all in one, something that I love. I got caught up in this book and did not want to put it down because of their chemistry and I wanted to see how much further they could push their buttons. I loved the ending because they both got their happily ever after plus more.
Read the whole review here !
This is my first read from Tory Richards and I can say this, I will be seeking more books from her and add then to my library of reads. This book was suspenseful, romantic and funny all in one, something that I love. I got caught up in this book and did not want to put it down because of their chemistry and I wanted to see how much further they could push their buttons. I loved the ending because they both got their happily ever after plus more.Read the whole review here !
April 18, 2012
Book in the Making...Unedited
page 3
And first on his list was sweet retribution.
Ex Marissa Evans needed to be taught a lesson.
*****
Marissa slammed the door to her dressing room and leaned against it. Her heart was beating out of control and she was burning up inside. What was Beau doing there? And what had possessed her to act like she had? Past experience with the ex-Texas ranger should have reminded her that you didn’t bait a man like him. He was a take action man and the Beau she knew didn’t back down.
She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. God, how many times over the years had she yearned for him? Wished things had turned out different? Their brief marriage had barely lasted a year, thanks to her. Marissa realized long after their divorce that she’d been too young and immature to get married. They’d fought all the time, when they weren’t fucking their brains out.
Shivering, a tingle in her nipples told her they’d turned hard. If they could have bottled the sexual chemistry between them they could have made a fortune. A smile curved her mouth upward, and then she jerked with surprise when the phone rang. On her way to her dressing table she let the black chiffon shirt slide down her arms to the floor.
She hoped to hell it was her agent.
“Hello?”
“Hey kiddo, how did it–“
“Thank god! I’ve been waiting for you to call back all afternoon. I got your message about the bodyguard and I’m telling you right now Kirk, I don’t want or need one. I’m not…” Marissa caught herself before saying something she couldn’t take back. She forced herself to calm down when she realized she was yelling. “You’re blowing this thing way out of proportion.”
“Am I?” he said with the never ending calm and self-confidence she was beginning to find annoying.
But he was her agent, and good at what he did. Because of that she could put up with his irritating traits.
“You think it’s just a coincidence that two plus size models are dead?”
“Well–“
He didn’t let her finish.
“You think it’s just a coincidence that they both fell to their deaths?”
“Well–“
“And that they–” “Will you let me get a word in?” Marissa snapped, frustrated. She was exhausted, hungry and she wanted a shower. “There’s been bigger coincidences, Kirk. The police haven’t even linked the two, ah, deaths.”
page 4
And first on his list was sweet retribution.
Ex Marissa Evans needed to be taught a lesson.
*****
Marissa slammed the door to her dressing room and leaned against it. Her heart was beating out of control and she was burning up inside. What was Beau doing there? And what had possessed her to act like she had? Past experience with the ex-Texas ranger should have reminded her that you didn’t bait a man like him. He was a take action man and the Beau she knew didn’t back down.
She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. God, how many times over the years had she yearned for him? Wished things had turned out different? Their brief marriage had barely lasted a year, thanks to her. Marissa realized long after their divorce that she’d been too young and immature to get married. They’d fought all the time, when they weren’t fucking their brains out.
Shivering, a tingle in her nipples told her they’d turned hard. If they could have bottled the sexual chemistry between them they could have made a fortune. A smile curved her mouth upward, and then she jerked with surprise when the phone rang. On her way to her dressing table she let the black chiffon shirt slide down her arms to the floor.
She hoped to hell it was her agent.
“Hello?”
“Hey kiddo, how did it–“
“Thank god! I’ve been waiting for you to call back all afternoon. I got your message about the bodyguard and I’m telling you right now Kirk, I don’t want or need one. I’m not…” Marissa caught herself before saying something she couldn’t take back. She forced herself to calm down when she realized she was yelling. “You’re blowing this thing way out of proportion.”
“Am I?” he said with the never ending calm and self-confidence she was beginning to find annoying.
But he was her agent, and good at what he did. Because of that she could put up with his irritating traits.
“You think it’s just a coincidence that two plus size models are dead?”
“Well–“
He didn’t let her finish.
“You think it’s just a coincidence that they both fell to their deaths?”
“Well–“
“And that they–” “Will you let me get a word in?” Marissa snapped, frustrated. She was exhausted, hungry and she wanted a shower. “There’s been bigger coincidences, Kirk. The police haven’t even linked the two, ah, deaths.”
page 4
April 17, 2012
Maine Family
I thought I'd share some pictures taken while I was home this month. I've always been close to my cousin Mary and we've kept in touch over the years. She's five years older than me. She has a sister, Sharon, and three brothers Timmy, Royce and Paul. It's always nice seeing them when I go home. When my sister Lois and I was younger we hung out with them.
While home this year I ate lobster, scallops and crab. Yum! Oh and let's not forget the whoopie pies!
Mary's daughter Sarah didn't know I was taking this
Mary and her sister Sharon
Mary took this while I was sitting on the porch
Taken at Perry's Nut House
Mary and me
The big guy is my cousin Paul, Mary's brother, her daughter Sarah in the back and Paul's wife Linda on the other side of me
Cousins Timmy and Royce. Mary's brothers
My sister Bim and her hubby Ray with their little pooch.
Mary didn't know I was taking this
While home this year I ate lobster, scallops and crab. Yum! Oh and let's not forget the whoopie pies!
Mary's daughter Sarah didn't know I was taking this
Mary and her sister Sharon
Mary took this while I was sitting on the porch
Taken at Perry's Nut House
.jpg)
Mary and me
.jpg)
The big guy is my cousin Paul, Mary's brother, her daughter Sarah in the back and Paul's wife Linda on the other side of me
Cousins Timmy and Royce. Mary's brothers
My sister Bim and her hubby Ray with their little pooch.
Mary didn't know I was taking this
April 16, 2012
April 11, 2012
Book in the Making...Unedited
page 2
Fuck. It didn't take long before he felt a definite stirring below the belt. He'd always liked a woman with curves, and he knew Marissa's inside and out. He'd never been afraid of crushing her in bed, against the wall, the stairs or any place they stole a moment for a quick fuck. Recalling all the places they'd managed to screw caused a little quirk on his lips. Marissa was a tigress when it came to sex.
When Marissa reached the end of the runway she paused significantly. The room was suddenly a light by the flash of cameras as they went off in rapid succession. Capturing the beauty as she turned one way, bent her leg enticingly and paused for a few seconds. Then she pivoted Beau's way. Her gaze moved with disinterest over the crowd, and stopped when it came to him. Their gazes locked. Beau could see the slight shock in her eyes before it was replaced with an emotion he couldn't identify. By her reaction she didn't know why he was there.
Gradually her expression changed. Was it his imagination or did the look in her eyes turn soft and lazy, and her mouth lusciously pouty? Then she gave a tilt of her head while keeping her eyes fixed on him. Slowly, seductively, the little witch reached for the clip in her hair, and he knew what was coming. His cock jerked against his zipper.
Marissa gave a shake of her head when she released it, and he watched an abundance of thick sable hair fall to her shoulders, and below. Once it settled into a soft cloud around her face he met her gaze again. Her full lips had turned up into a sexy smile, while the come and get me gleam in her eyes teased his senses into full awareness. His hands curled, imagining them buried in that silky mane, just before he pulled her to him for a long, wet kiss.
Her tongue came out to dampen her bottom lip. Damn her! She was seducing him right there on the runway. Before she turned and glided away she pursed her lips at him, following it up with a wink that promised a hell of a lot more then he bet she meant. He'd never pegged Marissa for a tease.
But then, she was all grown up now.
Beau's gaze followed her sexy gait back the way she'd come. He zeroed in on the rounded fullness of her spankable backside, and the backs of her creamy thighs. He was seeing a different side of Marissa. A more self assured woman than the innocent he'd divorced. His palms itched with the need to touch her again, like all the times he'd done in his dreams.
Just before she disappeared through the part in the curtain she cast a glance back in his direction, and had the nerve to run the tip of her tongue over her top lip. The seductive act caused his cock to twitch, and his blood pressure to sky rocket. Beau sucked in his breath. He reached down without trying to be obvious, and re-arranged his aching shaft, which had swelled into full fucking mode. With the show over he left the room. He had a job to do.
page 3
Fuck. It didn't take long before he felt a definite stirring below the belt. He'd always liked a woman with curves, and he knew Marissa's inside and out. He'd never been afraid of crushing her in bed, against the wall, the stairs or any place they stole a moment for a quick fuck. Recalling all the places they'd managed to screw caused a little quirk on his lips. Marissa was a tigress when it came to sex.
When Marissa reached the end of the runway she paused significantly. The room was suddenly a light by the flash of cameras as they went off in rapid succession. Capturing the beauty as she turned one way, bent her leg enticingly and paused for a few seconds. Then she pivoted Beau's way. Her gaze moved with disinterest over the crowd, and stopped when it came to him. Their gazes locked. Beau could see the slight shock in her eyes before it was replaced with an emotion he couldn't identify. By her reaction she didn't know why he was there.
Gradually her expression changed. Was it his imagination or did the look in her eyes turn soft and lazy, and her mouth lusciously pouty? Then she gave a tilt of her head while keeping her eyes fixed on him. Slowly, seductively, the little witch reached for the clip in her hair, and he knew what was coming. His cock jerked against his zipper.
Marissa gave a shake of her head when she released it, and he watched an abundance of thick sable hair fall to her shoulders, and below. Once it settled into a soft cloud around her face he met her gaze again. Her full lips had turned up into a sexy smile, while the come and get me gleam in her eyes teased his senses into full awareness. His hands curled, imagining them buried in that silky mane, just before he pulled her to him for a long, wet kiss.
Her tongue came out to dampen her bottom lip. Damn her! She was seducing him right there on the runway. Before she turned and glided away she pursed her lips at him, following it up with a wink that promised a hell of a lot more then he bet she meant. He'd never pegged Marissa for a tease.
But then, she was all grown up now.
Beau's gaze followed her sexy gait back the way she'd come. He zeroed in on the rounded fullness of her spankable backside, and the backs of her creamy thighs. He was seeing a different side of Marissa. A more self assured woman than the innocent he'd divorced. His palms itched with the need to touch her again, like all the times he'd done in his dreams.
Just before she disappeared through the part in the curtain she cast a glance back in his direction, and had the nerve to run the tip of her tongue over her top lip. The seductive act caused his cock to twitch, and his blood pressure to sky rocket. Beau sucked in his breath. He reached down without trying to be obvious, and re-arranged his aching shaft, which had swelled into full fucking mode. With the show over he left the room. He had a job to do.
page 3
I'm THRILLED beyond words!!!
Two earlier releases just received recommended reads at Joyfully Reviewed!
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/recommended-reviews/april-2012-recommended-reads/its-all-in-the-jeans-by-tory-richards
I sincerely enjoyed
It's All In The Jeans
! The plot is filled with witty dialogue, sizzling hot romance and a subject matter that will simply pull at your heart. Although, Libby is a sassy, passionate, ambitious heroine she allows the people she cares about to walk all over her. That is until she decides to stop being a pushover and take control. She proves to be the perfect person to heal Logan's tortured soul and to make him fall in love once again; although, he went kicking and screaming the entire way. Their sexual encounters had me squirming around with heated desire. Whew! Along with spectacular secondary characters who only added more life to this wonderful, humorous storyline,
It's All In The Jeans
is one story not to be missed.
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/recommended-reviews/april-2012-recommended-reads/the-cowboy-way-by-tory-richards
Wow! I found
The Cowboy Way
to be an outstanding story that I took great pleasure in reading. From the start, I was completely captivated by the thrilling suspense and the non-stop, sizzling-hot sexual conflict thriving between Chase and Lacey. Chase is a true alpha male to the core – very controlling, extremely demanding and exceedingly assertive. Yet, he is able to admit to his shortcomings and errors. Lacey proves to be the perfect fit to his overbearing ways. By no means is she a shrinking violet. She is very strong-will, rebellious, vociferous and able to stand toe-to-toe with Chase. As you can imagine, the sexual tension between the couple leads to some spectacular, naughty bedroom action. All in all,
The Cowboy Way
is a phenomenal read that will curl your toes with blissful, lustful, gripping excitement. I joyfully recommend it to all!
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/recommended-reviews/april-2012-recommended-reads/its-all-in-the-jeans-by-tory-richards
I sincerely enjoyed
It's All In The Jeans
! The plot is filled with witty dialogue, sizzling hot romance and a subject matter that will simply pull at your heart. Although, Libby is a sassy, passionate, ambitious heroine she allows the people she cares about to walk all over her. That is until she decides to stop being a pushover and take control. She proves to be the perfect person to heal Logan's tortured soul and to make him fall in love once again; although, he went kicking and screaming the entire way. Their sexual encounters had me squirming around with heated desire. Whew! Along with spectacular secondary characters who only added more life to this wonderful, humorous storyline,
It's All In The Jeans
is one story not to be missed.http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/recommended-reviews/april-2012-recommended-reads/the-cowboy-way-by-tory-richards
Wow! I found
The Cowboy Way
to be an outstanding story that I took great pleasure in reading. From the start, I was completely captivated by the thrilling suspense and the non-stop, sizzling-hot sexual conflict thriving between Chase and Lacey. Chase is a true alpha male to the core – very controlling, extremely demanding and exceedingly assertive. Yet, he is able to admit to his shortcomings and errors. Lacey proves to be the perfect fit to his overbearing ways. By no means is she a shrinking violet. She is very strong-will, rebellious, vociferous and able to stand toe-to-toe with Chase. As you can imagine, the sexual tension between the couple leads to some spectacular, naughty bedroom action. All in all,
The Cowboy Way
is a phenomenal read that will curl your toes with blissful, lustful, gripping excitement. I joyfully recommend it to all!
