Clarissa Johal's Blog, page 3

#MeatlessMonday - Butternut Squash with Mushroom Gravy #vegetarian

Butternut Squash with Mushroom GravyIngredients 

1 large butternut squash, about 3 lb.
4 tablespoons of clarified butter
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup coconut milk

16 oz. mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
½ tablespoon of fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 tablespoon flour
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Halve an unpeeled butternut squash, remove seeds and place both halves face down on a cookie sheet sprayed with cooking oil. Roast in a 450-degree oven until soft, about 35-40 minutes.

In a large skillet on medium high heat add 2 tablespoons of the clarified butter and minced garlic. Sauté the garlic until lightly browned. Add the sliced mushrooms and sauté for about 5-6 minutes until they are soft and begin releasing their juices. Add the rosemary and nutritional yeast. Stir in ¾ cup of the coconut milk. Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes. Remove about 3 tablespoons of broth and whisk in the one tablespoon of flour. Whisk mixture back into gravy. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer until thickened.




Once the squash is cooked, carefully remove the skin. In a bowl, mash squash with 2 tablespoons of clarified butter and leftover 1/4 cup of coconut milk. Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve the mashed squash with mushroom gravy on top.

Frightening Friday -- Isla de las Muñecas (Island of the Dolls)

Photo courtesy of Esparta via FlickrDolls. I've never been a big fan of dolls because I think they're creepy. Their blank stares, frozen expressions, predatory smiles...yeah, it's creepy.

Just south of Mexico City and between the canals of Xochimilco, there is a small island known as Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dolls). As if one doll wasn't creepy enough, here you have a whole island of decapitated doll heads, arms and bodies; weathered by the elements and home to spiders and everything else. Oh, and did I mention? The dolls that populate the island have been put there to appease the spirit of a dead little girl and are reputedly haunted.

Don Julian Santana Barrera was a hermit who lived on the island. The story goes that he witnessed a little girl who drowned and was unable to save her. Seeing a doll floating in the canal, he hung it in a tree as a way of showing respect for her spirit. Shortly thereafter, Don Julian claimed he was haunted by the little girl and began hanging more dolls in an attempt to appease her. After 50 years of collecting dolls and hanging them around the island, Julian was found dead, drowned in the same spot where he found the little girl. 
After Don Julian’s death in 2001, the island became a tourist attraction run by members of his family. Local legend says that the dolls move their arms, heads and open their eyes. Some witnesses claim to hear the dolls whispering to one another. There are even those who claim the dolls have lured them to visit the island. 
Here's a short video to get an idea what the island looks like now. A trip to the Isla de las Muñecas is not on a regular tourist route. If you want to visit, you'll have to hire a private boat and the trip takes about two hours. Any takers?

#MeatlessMonday - Tofu Burritos #vegetarian #vegan

Here’s a recipe you can start several days ahead of time and pop in the oven when you’re ready. This recipe can be vegan, just omit the sour cream and use vegan cheese for topping. Easy-peasy. Enjoy!
Tofu Burritos
Photo courtesy of Zlatko Unger via FlickrIngredients

1 package of extra-firm tofu
Marinade:¼ c. soy sauce¼ c. apple cider vinegar2T. brown sugar4 tsp. sesame oil½ tsp. ginger½ tsp. cayenne½ tsp garlic½ tsp. cardamom½ tsp. coriander½ tsp. cumin
Mix ingredients together to make the marinade. Drain and rinse tofu. Cut into 1-inch cubes. Marinate tofu for 2-3 days.
When ready to bake, pour off marinade. Lay tofu on an aluminium foil-lined baking sheet.
Bake at 375F for 30 minutes or so, turning with a spatula a couple of times.
Wrap tofu in warmed tortillas with rice for a complete protein. Add tomatoes, fresh spinach, and top with avocado, grated cheese and sour cream.

Hello #NewOrleans

I recently took a trip to New Orleans and fell in love with the city. Their history is fascinating, there are lots of things to see and do, and the people are wonderful. The city has a definite "live and let live" vibe which I love.

We stayed in the French Quarter - there's nothing better than waking to the sound of live jazz and tugboats. I felt more than a little guilty I was there to have fun, though. Homelessness is a huge problem in New Orleans, as it is in most cities. There’s a distinct demarcation between frivolous tourists and those trying to eke out a living. This year, I'm going to donate my July birthday royalties to a New Orleans homeless shelter rather than my usual animal-related charity. My thoughts keep going back to the people I saw on the streets.


You could literally spend an entire weekend shopping in the French Quarter but what I found more intriguing was the vibrant street art & music community. Every morning, they'd set up along the streets. Every night, they'd pack their wares and walk back to their homes. Art is never easy - in any form. It was obvious these artists were busting their butts just to make a living. One morning, we left our hotel at 6am and walked through Saint Louis Cathedral Square. There weren't many tourists early in the morning but a street performer was already playing his guitar and singing his heart out. When we walked back to our hotel around 7:30pm, he was still there. Kudos to this guy and the rest. Following your dream is never easy.

If you're wondering about the Voodoo Scene there are plenty of voodoo shops for the tourists, much like Salem and its "witch" shops. My advice is to do a bit of research so you don't embarrass yourself. Don't be "that" tourist and go crazy stocking up on voodoo dolls and gris-gris bags without knowing what they are. I saw too many tourists making asses of themselves and being flat-out disrespectful. It was weird. Voodoo is a polytheistic ancestral religion. A religion - not something to make fun of or screw around with. My two-cents.
The cemeteries are a photographers dream. There are many photo opportunities but again, don't be "that" tourist. Be respectful of the deceased and their families if you go tromping around. In the Garden District's Lafayette Cemetery there were plenty of tourists and oddly, a street vendor selling Ouija boards to contact the dead. [image error] I get everyone is trying to make a buck but it made me wonder who would buy one.




Cemeteries aside, let’s talk ghosts. New Orleans is noted for its hauntings and given its history, including Hurricane Katrina, I can understand why. From a paranormal writer's perspective, this leaves the door open to all sorts of writing inspiration. But this wasn't a writing trip, it was my daughter’s birthday. She doesn't like ghosts. I know, I know. Go figure. I honestly made an effort to book a hotel in the French Quarter that wasn’t haunted. In a city that prides itself on hauntings, it was almost impossible.


We stayed at the French Market Inn. I’m reasonably sure the landing where this photo was taken (above) was occupied by the ghost of a dead soldier. Every time I walked past this particular area, I felt like I'd walked through someone. I felt light-headed and got an image of a man wearing a military uniform. At night, I woke to the sound of someone pacing our very small room. There was no living person, of course, and the hotel grounds were silent. I also kept having nightmares. Several in which I was drowning, and another where I lost my memory. I don’t usually have nightmares but that particular one still bothers me.

Walking the streets of the French Quarter, there were only two places that gave me pause for thought. After exiting the Voodoo Museum, my phone battery was completely dead (it was charged before we went in). In the Pharmacy Museum, there was an old bed that felt "off" to both my daughter and myself. In my mind's eye, all I could see were bloodied sheets and as you can see by my photo, the sheets are clean.






Photo courtesy of Darjeelingtea at English Wikipedia [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsTo end on a (lighter) foodie note - 'cause New Orleans is known for its cuisine - it was difficult to find vegetarian eats! Lots of seafood but I don't eat fishies. C’est la vie. I lived on grits and pasta. I tried King Cake for the first time and loved it. I’m not a cake person but omg, I’m going to have to try and make it myself. What’s not to love about a rainbow-iced cinnamon cake with sugar sprinkles? Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Happy Holiday #Book #SALE - #awardwinning #paranormal #darkfantasy #99cents #bestseller

Happy Holiday SALEMy award-winning books are 99 cents until the end of December!
Happy reading!

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#FolkloreThursday - #Scandinavian Water Spirits

This is Part Two of Folklore Thursday - Scandinavian Water Spirits.
You can read Part One HERE

Bjørn som Tegner GFDL
CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsFossegrim

Fossegrim is a troll or water spirit who plays the fiddle. An exceptionally talented fiddler, he is often willing to teach his skills in exchange for food offerings. Many stories tell of travelers who have tried to offer something less than acceptable, resulting in the traveler being taught to tune rather than play his instrument. Fossegrim can also lure travelers into lakes and streams in order to drown them.
    


Theodor Kittelsen [Public domain],via Wikimedia CommonsNøkken

The nøkken is a fresh water relative of Fossegrim. The nøkken is especially attracted to women and children and will play the violin to lure them onto thin ice where he is waiting for them. Nøkken can shapeshift into a horse or a man. In their horse form, they will try and make the victim touch their long tail. If they do, the victim will often become stuck and dragged under the ice into the depths of the lake. The nøkken are particularly dangerous after sunset. Swimmers can protect themselves by throwing steel into the water. The nøkken may also be defeated by calling out their name, which causes them to lose power. 

Draugen

A draugen is the spirit of someone who died at sea. Always evil, they exist only to guard undersea treasure and drown the living. They wear fisherman's clothing, have sharp teeth, skin made of rotting fish scales and a tangle of seaweed where their head should be. The draugen also have magical abilities. They can affect your dreams, shapeshift, control the weather, and walk through stone. They sail the seas in half of a boat with weathered sails. If a traveler spots a draugen, they are in mortal danger unless they can race the draugen and win.

#MeatlessMonday - Grandmother's Apple Dumplings #British #dessert #recipe

My British grandmother was a wonderful cook, especially when it came to desserts. Before she emigrated to America, she worked as a housekeeper for a well-to-do manor house in Sheffield, England. She would tell me many stories about England and how much she missed it. I loved hearing them and found myself pining for the green hills of Yorkshire with her. Many years after her death I was able to travel to her birthplace and saw why she missed it so. My latest paranormal novel, Whispers in the Wood, is a nod to her as it takes place in England.
This was one of my favorite childhood recipes she taught me how to make. If you don't wish to venture into homemade pastry, frozen sheet pastry will do (buy enough for two pies). Enjoy!

Ingredients 

Pastry

2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup shortening
5-7 T cold water

Cut shortening into flour and salt mixture until it resembles small peas. Add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until pastry sticks together. Roll out into a thin sheet and cut into 4 squares.

Apples 

4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
Fill each core with a pat of butter, a teaspoon of sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon

*Wrap each apple with pastry, closing the top like a drawstring purse, and set in a baking pan.

Sauce

Mix:
1-3/4 cup water
3/4 cup white sugar
3T butter
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Boil mixture for 3 minutes and pour over pastry wrapped apples.

Bake uncovered at 500F for 5-7 minutes.
Reduce heat to 350F and bake for 35-40 minutes more. Enjoy with tea (of course!) and a good book.

#FolkloreThursday - Trolls, Hulder, and Nattmara - #Scandinavian Mythological Beings

Theodor Kittelsen [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsPart One - Scandinavian Mythological Beings

In Scandinavian folklore, there are several kinds of mythological beings. Trolls (jotnar), hulder and nattmara, to name a few. 
Trolls (jotnar) are said to dwell in isolated rocks, mountains, or caves. They often live together in small family units but are rarely helpful to humans. They are towering, stone-like creatures with colossal limbs. Some of them are so unkempt that plants will root in their skin. The ugliest jotnar can have single eyes or multiple heads. It is said they turn into stone when exposed to sunlight. Trolls are traditionally dim-witted creatures, boasting brute strength and a connection with nature.

Bernard Evans Ward [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsThe hulder are seductive creatures and can easily be mistaken for attractive humans. They have beautiful voices that mimic wind or water. It is said they can lure men into caves or forests in order to suck the life from them. The only giveaway to their deceptive form is they have a cow or fox-like tail, which they usually keep hidden. If a hulder can convince a man to marry them in a church, that tail falls off and they will become human. However, their beauty will also be lost and the hulder transforms into an ugly creature.

Nattmara (nightmares) are a race of female werewolves. They appear as a pale, skinny woman with long black hair and talon-like fingernails. They have the ability to turn themselves into sand and slip through the smallest crack. Once they've breached the home, they straddle the victim's chest at night to cause nightmares. Nattmara could also tangle one's hair so that the knots would have to be cut out. In some tales, they are similar to the banshee in that they are a death omen. The nattmara would leave a dirty poppet behind to cause a member of the family to contract tuberculosis. To avoid being targeted by a nattmara, a person could leave shoes (or nail a horseshoe) at/to the foot of the bed. Supposedly, the nattmara would see this are being an uncrossable boundary or find them distracting. They would then leave that person alone.

Stop by next Thursday for Part Two: Scandanavian Water Spirits

Tangled Tuesday - National Novel Writing Month #NaNoWriMo

It's National Novel Writing Month 
Committed to writing 50,000 words in the 30 days of November?National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun approach to doing just that. 
On November 1, participants can work towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30.NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel.
 Many of my author friends are participating and what a great way to kick a novel into high-gear.
I thought I'd post a collection of photos to inspire anyone looking for photo prompts.
A picture is worth 1000 words, right?
All of the photos are mine (except for the old car and the shoes, which are Creative Commons) and you are welcome to use them on Twitter.  Good luck!












May you be inspired to write The Next Great Novel... 

#MeatlessMonday - Tomato and Brown Rice Soup #vegan #vegetarian

This is a very easy recipe to make and it's vegan. Enjoy!
Photo courtesy of FOX via PexelsTomato and Brown Rice Soup
Ingredients:


1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped leeks
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup chopped carrots
3 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups vegetable stock
1 - 16-ounce can diced tomatoes

6 ounces fresh spinach, chopped
1/4 cup chopped parsley

1 cup brown rice, cooked
Salt and pepper to taste


Heat the olive oil in a soup pot. Add the leeks, red bell pepper, carrots and garlic. Sauté over medium heat until the leeks are translucent, about 5 minutes.

Add the vegetable stock, diced tomatoes, spinach and parsley. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Blend in food processor.

Cook the brown rice according to directions. Add rice to soup.

Season with salt and pepper. Heat and serve. Voila! Dinner is served!