Clarissa Johal's Blog, page 13

#MeatlessMonday - #Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie #recipe

This is a very hearty dish I made for Father's Day. You can add whatever vegetables happen to be in your pantry, this recipe is very versatile. I cheated with the Bisto gravy mix and frozen piecrust because it was hot (that's my story and I'm sticking to it [image error]) but you're welcome to make those from scratch. Enjoy!

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

1 baked deep-dish pie shell  (you may omit the pie shell and use a baking dish, if you wish)
Bisto gravy mix (1-1/2 cups gravy)

Photo courtesy of Kent via Flickr6 large potatoes
1/4 cup sour cream
2T butter
2T milk

3 carrots, sliced
1/2 large rutabaga, peeled and diced
1 cup vegetable stock
1 onion, diced
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 cup chopped spinach
1 cup chopped mushrooms
1/2 bag Morningstar vegetarian crumbles
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese


1) Bake pie shell according to directions. Make 1-1/2 cups Bisto gravy according to instructions. Set both aside.

2) Peel and sliced potatoes. Place in pot of boiling water and cook until tender. Drain. Add sour cream, milk and butter. Mash with potato masher. Set aside.

3) Simmer diced rutabaga in vegetable stock until tender. Drain.

4) Sauté onion and garlic in separate fry pan. Add vegetarian crumbles and mushrooms. Sauté until mushrooms are tender. Add drained rutabaga, carrots, gravy, spinach, salt and pepper. Heat through.

5) Fill baked pie shell with vegetable/gravy mixture.

6) Top with mashed potatoes and shredded cheddar cheese. Make sure mashed potatoes are "sealed" at the edges.

7) Bake at 375F for 30 minutes.

#FolkloreThursday - Lidérc #Hungarian

Liderc, Hungaria  www.zonaunik.com
A lidérc is a unique supernatural being of Hungarian folklore. It eagerly carries out the bidding of it's human master. Unless it's kept busy, it will become increasingly problematic. It has three known varieties, all similar in nature.

The first variety is hatched from a first egg of a black hen. The egg is incubated from the warmth of a human's armpit. The lidérc then attaches itself to the person who hatched it, shape-shifting into a man or woman. The creature is a combination of a familiar, vampire and demon. If the owner is a woman, the being shifts into a man. It preys upon it's human while they're asleep, sometimes sucking their blood, and will make them weak and sick. In order to get rid of the lidérc, it must be persuaded to perform an impossible task, such as haul sand with rope, or water with a sieve. It can also be warded off with garlic, or by locking it into a tree hollow.

The second kind of lidérc is a tiny being or devil. It may also be obtained from a black hen's egg, but more often it is found in rags, boxes, or pockets of old clothes. A person who finds this lidérc will suddenly become rich and capable of extraordinary feats, but it is in the exchange of their soul.

The third variety of the lidérc is sexual in nature. Similar to an incubus or succubus, it flies at night, and may appear as a will o' the wisp or bird of fire. On earth, it assumes a human shape, usually the shape of a dead relative or lover, but with the footprints of a horse. This lidérc may enter the house through chimneys or keyholes. It will bring with it sickness and doom. Burning incense and birch will ward it off.

#MeatlessMonday - Blueberry & Bulgur Salad #recipe #vegetarian

Photo courtesy of Rachel via FlickrWe're having a very good blueberry season here in North Carolina. I have no problem eating them straight from the basket, but thought I'd look up some recipes using blueberries.  This one looked good, so I gave it a try. I altered the recipe to suit my tastes. If you don't like bulgur, quinoa would work too. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 cup bulgur wheat
4 cups coarsely chopped spinach or kale
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
Preparation
Photo courtesy of Bitki Etkisi via FlickrBring 2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan. Add bulgur and let stand for 20 minutes. Drain off any excess water and cool.
Stir in chopped spinach or kale, red wine vinegar, blueberries, pecans and feta cheese.

#FolkloreThursday - Gashadokuro #Japanese #ghost

"Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre"Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Japanese artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798–1861)Creative CommonsThe gashadokuro are skeletal giants created from the bones of people who died of starvation. A class of supernatural monster, or yōkai, their teeth chatter and their bones rattle as they walk. If they come across a human at night, they will turn invisible and silently creep up on their victims to crush them in their hands or bite off their head. It is said the victim can hear the sound of ringing bells before they strike.

Victims of famine who die without receiving proper funerary rites are at risk of becoming gashadokuro. Unable to pass on, these souls are reborn as hungry ghosts. When the bones of hundreds of these victims gather together (due to a village famine or soldiers who die in battle) they can form the skeletal monster. Too large and powerful to be killed, it will continue to feed until the energy and malice stored within the creature has completely burned out. The gashadokuro are indestructible, though Shinto charms can ward them off.

The earliest record of a gashadokuro goes back over a thousand years ago. A samurai named Taira no Masakado led a bloody rebellion against the central government of Kyoto during the the Heian period. His daughter, Takiyasha-hime, was a famous sorceress. When Masakado was killed in battle, his daughter continued his cause. Using her black magic, she summoned a giant skeleton to attack the city of Kyoto. Her monster is depicted in a famous print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (shown above).

Wishlist Wednesday - Sucreabeille @sucreabeille #unique #handmade #bathproducts

I've decided to start a new weekly post on Wednesdays (as writing and time permits) devoted to unique shops I've purchased from online. 

Photo used by permission, courtesy of Sucreabeille
My first shout-out is to a shop I found while at the Animazement Convention last weekend. Sucreabeille makes atmospheric sprays, bath and body oils, soaps, lotions, hair products and deodorant. Her scents are unique - check out her scent list. With products such as, Norman Loves Mother soap,  It Puts the Lotion On Its Skin unscented lotion bar, and Calm the F**k Down relaxation and stress relief aromatherapy oil, what's not to love? 


I went on a soap shopping spree and bought several - Graveyard, Jareth, King of the Goblins, Wicker Man, Papa Legba, and Frau Perchta. I went a little crazy because they smell THAT good. Dragon's blood, dirt, cedar, woodsmoke and papyrus? I'm all in.  [image error]
Sucreabeille

#MeatlessMonday - Eggplant, Tomato & Smoked Mozzarella Tart #vegetarian #recipe

A summer tart which require some work, but it's worth it. If you don't want to mess with making your own tart crust, use prepared pie crust dough. Enjoy!
Eggplant, Tomato, and Smoked Mozzarella Tart

Photo courtesy of Annie via FlickrIngredients

Crust:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon olive oil

Filling:

1 (1-pound) eggplant, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/2 teaspoon salt
Olive oil for brushing eggplant 
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced1 tablespoon olive oil1/4 teaspoon salt1 tablespoon basil (fresh, if you can)
1 1/2 teaspoons oregano  (fresh, if you can)
16 cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded smoked mozzarella cheese, divided
2 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese
Preparation


Preheat oven to 400°.

To prepare crust:
Combine flour, baking powder, pepper and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in center of mixture. Add water and 1 tablespoon oil, stirring to form a soft dough. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead lightly. Press dough into a 4-inch circle on plastic wrap; cover and chill 15 minutes. Roll dough into an 11-inch circle. Press lightly into a 10-inch round tart pan coated with cooking spray. Pierce bottom and sides of dough with a fork. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.

To prepare filling: Sprinkle eggplant with 1/2 teaspoon salt; let stand 15 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels. Brush eggplant with olive oil. Arrange eggplant in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes. Set aside.

Heat a large skillet. Add garlic and olive oil. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, basil, oregano and tomatoes.

Layer smoked mozzarella, eggplant and tomato mixture in crust and top with Parmesan cheese. 
Bake at 400° for 10 minutes or until cheese melts. Cut into 8 wedges.

#FolkloreThursday - Roadtrip to Visit Mothman

My daughter wants to take a road trip to Point Pleasant, West Virginia this summer. Why, you ask? She wants to visit the Mothman Museum. And yes, there is such a thing. I checked into it, and not only is there a museum dedicated to Mothman, there's an entire festival. I'm always game for a road trip but knew little about Mothman. I decided to do some research into the folklore and found some fascinating stuff.

Sighting History

Photo courtesy of Metronomad via FlickrThe first known sighting of Mothman occurred on November 12, 1966. Five men were digging a grave at a cemetery near Clendenin, West Virginia. They claimed to see a man-like figure fly over their heads.

On November 15, 1966, two couples told police they saw a large white creature whose eyes "glowed red" in their the car headlights. They described the creature as a "large flying man with ten-foot wings." Supposedly, it followed their car while they were driving around the site of a former World War II munitions plant.
The creature was seen by five more people that week. One stated that he saw it standing in a field when it suddenly spread its wings and flew away.

On January 11, 1967, the Mothman was seen hovering around the Point Pleasant Bridge, also called the Silver Bridge. On and off throughout that year, more reports were filed about sightings of the creature around the bridge. The bridge collapsed on December 15, 1967 leading to the deaths of 46 people. Many think the Mothman sightings and the bridge collapse were connected.

Native American Curse?

Prior to the American Revolution, a young Hokoleskwa, who later became a prominent leader of the Shawnee nation, opposed European settlement west of the Ohio River. After the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774, Hokoleskwa became an advocate for peace. His murder in 1777 by American militiamen during a diplomatic visit outraged both American Indians and Virginians.
In 1840 his grave was discovered and his remains were moved to the Mason County Courthouse grounds. In 1954 the courthouse was torn down and he was reburied in Point Pleasant. Legends arose of a Point Pleasant curse, which included the Mothman sightings.

Public Domain at WikipediaScientific Explanation
Wildlife biologist Dr. Robert L. Smith at West Virginia University states that descriptions and sightings of Mothman all fit the sandhill crane, a large American crane almost as high as a man with a seven-foot wingspan. The bird has circles of reddish coloring around the eyes. This particular crane isn't native to the region, but may have wandered out of its migration route at the time. 
In spite of this theory, Mothman sighting continue around the world to this day.





Photo courtesy of Jason W. via FlickrSo, what do you think? Was Mothman a sandhill crane, cryptid, or curse? My thoughts are that Mothman was a sandhill crane (which will disappoint my daughter immensely). But, like I said, I'm always game for a road trip.

Anyone up for Bigfoot?  [image error]

#MeatlessMonday - Roasted Chickpeas with Sea Salt #recipe #vegetarian

I've recently become addicted to Biena Chickpeas Snacks-Sea Salt flavor.

Not to take away from how awesome they are (you should try them!) but at $3.99 a bag, I decided to see if I could make them myself.

Here's a recipe to try. Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of Akane86 via FlickrRoasted Chickpeas with Sea Salt

Ingredients

Two 15-ounce cans chickpeas
2 tablespoons olive oil
2-4 teaspoons sea salt 
Instructions
Heat oven to 400°F: 
Drain and rinse chickpeas. Dry thoroughly, patting with paper towels.
Toss the chickpeas with olive oil and sea salt until evenly coated. Don't skimp on the oil (less olive oil means they won't be as crispy). Spread in an even layer on an oiled baking sheet.
Roast the chickpeas for 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown. Stir or shake the pan every 10 minutes. (A few chickpeas may pop)
Serve warm.

#FolkloreThursday - Kodama (Tree Spirits) #Japanese

"Kodama" (木魅) from Gazu Hyakki Yagyō by Toriyama SekienKodoma are spirits in Japanese folklore that inhabit older trees, similar to the dryads of Greek mythology. Some kodama are said to have the ability to move through the forest, while others are rooted and reside in a specific tree. It is thought that when a tree has passed a hundred years of age, a divine spirit would come dwell inside it. Any person attempting to harm this tree would become cursed and suffer misfortune.

In appearance, the kodama was either invisible or looked like an ordinary tree. Forest echoes and the sound of a falling tree were said to be the cries of kodama.
Around the Edo period however, kodama became less of a nature god and more of a yokai (supernatural creature). They were humanized, and stories of kodama falling in love with humans and taking on a human form were common. 
In popular culture, kodama make an appearance in Princess Mononoke , Megami Tensei and The Legend of Zelda.

The Island by Clarissa Johal #paranormal #booktrailer

Exploring a remote island can get you into trouble. Especially when you stumble upon a cave and awaken two demons. 
Rumors and superstition. That’s what Emma thinks about local gossip concerning her grandmother’s “cursed” private island. Emma journeys to the island to ready it for sale. While out exploring, she unearths a hidden cave–a cave which holds answers to the island’s dark past. There may be more to the rumors than she thought.
Amazon USAmazon UKAmazon Canada