Mandi Slack's Blog, page 5
October 8, 2011
The Key of Kilenya...by Andrea Pearson
Publisher's Note: When two vicious wolves chase fourteen-year-old Jacob Clark down a path from our world into another, his life is forever changed. He has no idea they have been sent by the Lorkon—evil, immortal beings who are jealous of powers he doesn't know he possesses—powers they desire to control. The inhabitants of the new world desperately need Jacob's help in recovering a magical key that was stolen by the Lorkon and is somehow linked to him. If he helps them, his life will be at risk. But if he chooses not to help them, both our world and theirs will be in danger. The Lorkon will stop at nothing to unleash the power of the key—and Jacob's special abilities.
My Review: To be quite honest, I don't usually read books in this genre. However, I loved Harry Potter, so I took a chance when asked to review this and I have to admit, I liked it! A lot! Jacob Clark is a normal teenager who dreams of becoming a basketball star. One day while his parents are away he hears his little sister, who is playing in the backyard, scream. Honestly, this scene sends chills up my back. He and his older brother race into the backyard only to discover a pair of vicious, snarling wolves. He and his brother are unsure what to do, but when the wolves give chase, Jacob's only choice is to run and lead the wolves away from his sister and brother. He is chased deep into the forest. There he discovers a strange tree where he takes shelter from the pack of wolves. He is baffled by the strange tree in the middle of the forest, but knowing he has no other choice, he stays hidden in the tree. The next day, he is attacked by a bear-like creature, who chases him through the tree "house", and when he is rescued by a strange group of people known as the Makalos, he is stunned. He soon learns that these Makalos are the protectors of "The Key of Kileyna" which has been stolen by Lorkon, and HE is expected to help recover this lost key to save a new world he never knew existed. I thought The Key of Kilenya was a great read, especially for boys ages 10-16. I thought the story flowed well and I like how the author parallels two different stories through the book. It comes together nicely in the end. I'd recommend Andrea Pearson's book to anyone looking for a new fantasy series that is clean and entertaining. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
You can purchase a copy of The Key of Kilenya HERE.
To learn more about Author Andrea Pearson check out www.kilenyaseries.com
Published on October 08, 2011 00:01
October 3, 2011
Mush Head and Other Crafty Things....
For reasons I can't explain, this time of year the crafty bug seems to bite everyone....including me! I was bored today, so my 3 year old and I came up with some fun Halloween crafts to keep us busy! The plate was easy and the little monster guy was just weird...but we had fun! (My daughter called the little monster man "Mush Head" )
Antique Photo DishThings you'll need:
Old plate or dish from any thrift store
Antique picture (real or computer)
Lighter
Black Spray Paint
Plate Stand
Glue
Directions:
1. Spray paint dish
2. Cut and burn edges of your antique photo until it is the shape and size you desire
3. Glue photo onto plate
4. Display using plate stand
Mush Head...not exactly sure what he is!Things you'll need:Old material
Wood or metal base
Rustic colored wire wrap
Thin wooden dowel or stick
Hot Glue
Stuffing
Needle and Thread (any color)
Shiny Beads (2)
Stiff Hair Spray or Elmer's Glue
Directions:
1. Glue wooden dowel or stick onto base after you have painted it or colored it if needed
2. Take a square of material, shred the edges
3. Stuff Material to size you desire
4. Wrap around end of dowel and tie the edges around the dowel using a strip of material the same color or varied. Secure with knot.
5. Thread needle and use thread to create an eye. Thread bead onto doll and secure with string. Repeat for second eye.
6. Use thread to create "pinched" mouth. Sew until desire look is attained.
7. Tread needle with different colored thread to create hair. Pull thread, cut and tie off. Repeat until desired look is achieved.
8. Using hair spray or glue ( I used hair spray) spray hair until stiff and sticking out at the angle you desire. Let dry.
9. Using wire wrap...design wire around dowel and display.
Published on October 03, 2011 17:17
September 30, 2011
The Outer Edge of Heaven...
*See Banned Book Week Giveaway Hop Below*A novel by Jaclyn M. Hawkes....
Publisher's Note:
Montana truly is heavenly. Especially those handsome cowboys.
Filled with colorful characters of all shapes, sizes and species, including an orphaned baby pig, most of the Langston family put the fun in dysfunctional, give or take a couple of black sheep. There's one in every family, isn't there? Add to that glorious scenery, a horse of her own, and one extremely attractive cousin rancher, Luke Langston, and it makes for a summer Charlie will never forget. Which might not be a good thing. She has the time of her life, but her heart may never recover.
My Review: The Outer Edge of Heaven is a love story that takes place in the beautiful open spaces of Montana. Charlene Evans or "Charlie" is attending BYU and preparing to go to law school the next year. When summer break begins she is loath to return to her parent's home in Connecticut where she knows she will be pushed into a relationship with a man of her parent's choosing. When her friend Forest suggests she takes a position working on his family's ranch in Montana, she is quick to accept, despite the problems it will cause between her and her parents. Montana is wonderful and the ranch is more than she could have hoped for. She loves her job, and as she gets to know the Langston family, she can't imagine a better life. The Langstons, like any other family, is full of colorful, sometimes quirky characters, and Charlie finds she is happier on the ranch than she has ever been before. When she meets Luke Langston things truly seem like heaven. However, darkness lurks on the farm and when Charlie is attacked, her illusions of the ranch are somewhat shattered. Charlie is forced to come to terms with her feelings and emotions as Luke and her friend, Fo (Forest), do everything they can to keep her safe. Luke is a marvelous hero and the other quirky characters are well defined and definitely a fun addition to this novel. The plot moves quickly and keeps a steady rhythm. Charlie, the protagonist, has a great sense of humor and I believe romance readers will enjoy this book. At times, the author's sentence structure lacked fluidity and some of the wording was a bit awkward, but overall, this was a fun book. I give it 3.5 stars out 5!
To learn more about Jaclyn M. Hawkes visit www.jaclynmhawkes.com
To purchase a copy of The Outer Edge of Heaven visit Amazon
Published on September 30, 2011 08:55
September 28, 2011
I Pray Hardest When I'm Being Shot At....
* See Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop Below
Publisher's note: After the attack on Pearl Harbor, eighteen-year-old Robert Stuart had a decision to make: keep working at the steel mill in Warren, Ohio, or volunteer to serve his country. Stuart's father had served in the first World War, and service was in his blood, so he enlisted in the Marines.
Anne Davis had a decision of her own to make. The girls in her high school were going to send letters to alumni who were going off to war. She looked at the list of soldiers and saw a familiar name: Robert Stuart.The letters Anne sent would mark the beginning of a relationship that would span sixty years, two marriages, two children, and three wars.Over half a century after those first letters were sent, the Stuarts' grandson, Kyle, began chronicling their life together. He would discover pieces of a family history that only he dug deep enough to learn. But in the back of his mind, one concern lingered: the story of a person's life can only have one ending, and his grandfather's health was deteriorating.I Pray Hardest When I'm Being Shot At is a true story of love and war, of three generations and two romances, one of sixty years, the other of just a few months. Pray deals with one generation trying to ----connect with another and how it affected them both.
My Review: When I first received this book I believed this was a novel based on World War II. However, I quickly came to realize it was much more than that. Kyle Garret, a first time author, writes an engaging story of love, family and the bond between a grandson and his grandfather. Having served in three wars...World War II, Korean, and Vietnam...Robert Stuart was someone you could look to for an example. He retired as a Major in the Army and then worked as a teacher for many years following his time in the military. He married his high school sweetheart, twice, and raised both a daughter and a son, but the story didn't focus solely on Major Robert Stuart. The author's input and perceptions of his family and his grandfather filled a good portion of this novel and I found it was an interesting sort book. I enjoyed learning about Garret's family and the ties they shared with one another. I enjoyed his retrospect concerning his grandfather's time in the military and his goal to write the book he so desperately wanted to finish before his grandfather's death. It wasn't a fast paced book and at times it was a little hard to follow as it jumped around quite a bit, however, I feel it was a heartfelt novel and the author gave good insight into the emotions of the characters he wrote about and described so vividly. I give I Pray Hardest When I'm being Shot At 3.5 out of 5 stars.
To learn more about the author visit www.kylegarret.comFollow Kyle Garret on Twitter
Publisher's note: After the attack on Pearl Harbor, eighteen-year-old Robert Stuart had a decision to make: keep working at the steel mill in Warren, Ohio, or volunteer to serve his country. Stuart's father had served in the first World War, and service was in his blood, so he enlisted in the Marines.Anne Davis had a decision of her own to make. The girls in her high school were going to send letters to alumni who were going off to war. She looked at the list of soldiers and saw a familiar name: Robert Stuart.The letters Anne sent would mark the beginning of a relationship that would span sixty years, two marriages, two children, and three wars.Over half a century after those first letters were sent, the Stuarts' grandson, Kyle, began chronicling their life together. He would discover pieces of a family history that only he dug deep enough to learn. But in the back of his mind, one concern lingered: the story of a person's life can only have one ending, and his grandfather's health was deteriorating.I Pray Hardest When I'm Being Shot At is a true story of love and war, of three generations and two romances, one of sixty years, the other of just a few months. Pray deals with one generation trying to ----connect with another and how it affected them both.
My Review: When I first received this book I believed this was a novel based on World War II. However, I quickly came to realize it was much more than that. Kyle Garret, a first time author, writes an engaging story of love, family and the bond between a grandson and his grandfather. Having served in three wars...World War II, Korean, and Vietnam...Robert Stuart was someone you could look to for an example. He retired as a Major in the Army and then worked as a teacher for many years following his time in the military. He married his high school sweetheart, twice, and raised both a daughter and a son, but the story didn't focus solely on Major Robert Stuart. The author's input and perceptions of his family and his grandfather filled a good portion of this novel and I found it was an interesting sort book. I enjoyed learning about Garret's family and the ties they shared with one another. I enjoyed his retrospect concerning his grandfather's time in the military and his goal to write the book he so desperately wanted to finish before his grandfather's death. It wasn't a fast paced book and at times it was a little hard to follow as it jumped around quite a bit, however, I feel it was a heartfelt novel and the author gave good insight into the emotions of the characters he wrote about and described so vividly. I give I Pray Hardest When I'm being Shot At 3.5 out of 5 stars.
To learn more about the author visit www.kylegarret.comFollow Kyle Garret on Twitter
Published on September 28, 2011 00:01
September 24, 2011
Banned Books Giveaway Hop...
Welcome to the Banned Books Week Giveaway hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and I Read Banned Books!For this Giveaway, I am offering a gently used copy of Lord of The Flies, by William Golding and a gently used copy of Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin.
(Banned Books)
How to win:
1) Follow this blog (mandatory +1)
2) "Like" my new novel The Alias on Amazon (optional +2)
3) Leave a comment and an email address in the feed below so I know how to contact you if you win
Check out my new novel The Alias! Available in paperback at a bookstore near you or on Amazon Kindle for only $3.99.
Also, don't forget to go and check out all the blogs involved for more amazing, fun prizes...see linky below!
*My take on banned books (this is my personal opinion and does not reflect on any other bloggers in this giveaway):
A list of popular banned books:Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain"Forever" by Judy Bloom"The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman"Lord of the Flies" by William Golding"The Harry Potter Series" by J.K. Rowling"Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer"Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson"James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl"And Tango Makes Three" by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson"A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle"The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins"The Giver" by Lois Lowery"The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck"Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriett Beecher Stowe"The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss"The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown"1984" by George Orwell"Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini"Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes"Madame Bovary" by Gustave Flaubert"Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee"The Color Purple" by Alice Walker"I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing" by Maya Angelou"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott"Catch-22" by Joseph Heller"Beloved" by Toni Morrison"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood"In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote"Slaughterhouse 5" by Kurt Vonnegut How many have you read?
Published on September 24, 2011 00:01
September 22, 2011
September Blog Hop...
Welcome to the September Blog Hop! Celebrate the beginning of fall with me and my blogger friends by hopping around, visiting our sites, and entering our contests! There are no limits - you can enter the contest on every blog. With over 40 blogs participating, that's over 40 prizes you could win. Just click on the links below to move on to the next blog.On my blog, you can win …
A copy of The Alias by Mandi Tucker Slack
Would you like to win this prize? You just need to do two things.
1. Become a follower of this blog.
2. Visit Amazon and "like" The Alias
That's it! You are now entered. The contest ends on Saturday night, September 24th, at midnight MST, and the winner will be contacted shortly thereafter. Please either leave your e-mail address in the comment trail or make sure it's visible through your profile so I can contact you to tell you that you're the lucky winner.
Now go visit my other friends ...
September Blog Hop Participants
1. Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author
2. Joyce DiPastena
3. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
4. Mandi Slack
5. Michael D. Young
6. Six Mixed Reviews
7. Pam Williams
8. Laurie Lewis
9. Kristy Tate
10. Marilyn Yarbrough
11. Stacy Coles
12. Kristie Ballard
13. Lynn Parsons
14. Pushing Past the Pounds
15. Sheila Staley
16. cindy Hogan17. Jamie Thompson
18. Jaclyn Weist
19. Cathy Witbeck
20. Secret Sisters Mysteries
21. Tamera Westhoff
22. Tina Scott
23. Lynnea Mortensen
24. Danyelle Ferguson aka Queen of the Clan
25. Jeanette A. Fratto
26. Bonnie Harris
27. Melissa Lemon
28. Mary Ann Dennis
29. Stephanie Black
30. Jane Still
31. Janice
32. Laura Bastian33. Tamara Bordon
34. Betsy Love
35. Maria Hoagland
36. Amber Robertson
37. Debbie Davis
38.
39. Christy Monson
40. Carolyn Frank
41. Rebecca Birkin
42. Melissa Cunningham
43. Emily L. Moir
44. Ronda Hinrichsen
45. Lisa Asanuma
46. Joan Sowards
47. Jordan McCollum
48. Diane Stringam TolleyLearn more about September Blog Hop here.
Get The CodePowered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.
Published on September 22, 2011 00:01
September 19, 2011
The 10 Best Things about Fall....
Summer time is full of fun, adventure, and excitement, but when the days begin to shorten and the air turns crisp... I am ecstatic. I love Fall and everything that comes with it. Today, I thought I'd share my top 10 reasons why I love this time year....this is, after all, a random blog about nothing in particular.1. Crisp, cool days— I love the feel of chilly air after months of excruciating heat. The air feels clean and fresh.
2. Hoodies— I am addicted to hoodies. I can't think of anything more comfortable to wear. I feel so secure and warm in my favorite, tattered hoodie.
3. Halloween decorations— I am nuts over Halloween decorations. I love to decorate for this time of year. My mind kicks into overdrive and I clutter my house with craft projects. I have a lot of fun creating new and exciting items to decorate my house and porch.
4. Candy Corn— Candy corn is just a fun candy. I love the color, the texture, and it's just so stinking cute. I devour this sweet confection by the handfuls.
5. Carnivals— I never really grew up. I get so excited whenever I start receiving the notes home announcing the school's Fall Carnival. There is nothing more exciting than seeing kids of all ages in costume, playing games. As a kid I loved the fishing pond and the cake walk and I still get excited over these games.6. Rock hounding— Rock hounding is so much more enjoyable this time of year. The heat often makes my favorite hobby unbearable, but this time of year, I can search for rocks for hours at a time, much to my husband's dismay. I love making our annual trips to Delta and the Dugway geode beds.
7. Trick-or-Treat— I'm like a crazy mama when Halloween night finally rolls around. I create a plan of action and the kids and I hit as many houses as we can. We trick-or-treat until our noses are frozen and our feet ache. Then we come home and dive into our loot, and when the kids finally go to bed, I sneak all the chocolate.
8. My little heater— I love my little box heater. On chilly evenings my family can often find me snuggled next to my heater with a good book and a bowl of popcorn. I become overly possessive of my heater and I do not like to share :).
9. Corn on the cob— Personally, I hate corn on the cob. I hate the feeling of "hairy" teeth after I'm done eating a cob and it takes forever to pick out all the tiny strings hanging between my front teeth. However, I love the way corn on the cob looks. A field of corn is an amazing sight and the sound of the breeze as it whispers through the tall stalks sends shivers up my spine.And finally…number 10…Hot dog roasts in the desert— The desert is my favorite place. I love the high mesas, the red dirt, and the sound of coyotes yipping. The smell of wood smoke, dust, and desert flora hangs heavy in the air and I can't think of a better place where I feel more at home.
Pumpkins, leaves, hot chocolate, and rain....I could probably go on and on about the things I love best about Fall!
What are you favorite things about Fall?
Published on September 19, 2011 10:57
September 15, 2011
"Ghost Quest"....
My boys wanted to write and illustrate their very own ghost story. They were also very determined to send this to my publisher. But after much deliberation, we have decided to publish this fantastic work...here...and share it with the world. Below you'll discover the terrifying account of what happened to one sleepy little town somewhere "far, far away" as told by A (7 years old) and J (5 years old). With first hand witness accounts told by D (2 years old)....
Meet the Authors
( Written by J) Once upon a time there was skeletons that were mean and bad. They sometimes floated in the air when the lights are off and scare lots of people. Then the people start running off without their car and never go in…in…in the places again. The skeletons just fall right on the ground and then one man comes back and it appears the man was so scared that he started to go to sleep and he turned into a skeleton too. (Continued by A)
Bad, Mean Skeletons...illustrated by JThen a…a… really big ghost pineapple—thousands of them—run on the streets and every single house they go into…they slide over the house and gets them sticky. They go into the peoples bedrooms and make giant holes by their beds so when the people get up, they fall right into a hole. Then the ghost pinapples… they have to dig down to hot lava and they get a drink of hot lava and they turn into… like… hot lava ghost! Pineapples ghost monsters that can burn things. And then they burn the town down and every person heard the fire alarms and all the people came out and the pineapples all made one big fiery pineapple monster. All the people screamed and went to a different town and nobody ever came back except one person and they got haunted and it became a "ghost town", full of ghost pineapples that could catch things on fire.
Fiery Pineapple Monster...illustrated by A (Told by J) Then the pineapple ghosts that came putted fake skin on the bodies of all the skeletons. And the skeletons turned into man and became deadly men. But they didn't like the pineapple ghosts so they defeated all the ghosts in the country. Then there was one pineapple ghost left, the king of all that defeated him and he could turn into a skeleton, and he turned to a skeleton and then the skeletons floated in the air like ghosts and they were "deadly manners" …those are manners that are deadly…the deadly manners pushed the rest of the skeletons off a cliff so they could never come back.
A first hand witness account told by D...2 years old
(Continued by A)After the ghosts defeated the skeletons there was a haunted horseman and he came. There was a guy who was walking in the forest too. The headless horseman scared him and he came running back to all the people in the other town and all the people didn't believe him and so they all came back to see and the haunted horseman chased them into town and he went into the store that had all the people hiding in it. Soon a bigger headless horseman came riding in and he had a sword. He went and cut down all the tops of the houses down…because…because…he was mean and he caught the houses all on fire because his pumpkin head was on fire. Then a big giant ghost rock came rumbling down and it smacked the two headless horsemen, the big one and the little one, and they all got squished and the ghost rock rumbled down until it rolled to a water fall. The rock fell down into the water and it made a ginormous splash and it made a giant flood in their town. The people in town had to go away again... forever… because all of their houses were caught on fire and flooded and all the animals turned into ghosts that chased them. They could never come back because the ghost animals haunted the forest.
First hand witness account provided by D...2 years old
The END...
Meet the Authors
( Written by J) Once upon a time there was skeletons that were mean and bad. They sometimes floated in the air when the lights are off and scare lots of people. Then the people start running off without their car and never go in…in…in the places again. The skeletons just fall right on the ground and then one man comes back and it appears the man was so scared that he started to go to sleep and he turned into a skeleton too. (Continued by A)
Bad, Mean Skeletons...illustrated by JThen a…a… really big ghost pineapple—thousands of them—run on the streets and every single house they go into…they slide over the house and gets them sticky. They go into the peoples bedrooms and make giant holes by their beds so when the people get up, they fall right into a hole. Then the ghost pinapples… they have to dig down to hot lava and they get a drink of hot lava and they turn into… like… hot lava ghost! Pineapples ghost monsters that can burn things. And then they burn the town down and every person heard the fire alarms and all the people came out and the pineapples all made one big fiery pineapple monster. All the people screamed and went to a different town and nobody ever came back except one person and they got haunted and it became a "ghost town", full of ghost pineapples that could catch things on fire.
Fiery Pineapple Monster...illustrated by A (Told by J) Then the pineapple ghosts that came putted fake skin on the bodies of all the skeletons. And the skeletons turned into man and became deadly men. But they didn't like the pineapple ghosts so they defeated all the ghosts in the country. Then there was one pineapple ghost left, the king of all that defeated him and he could turn into a skeleton, and he turned to a skeleton and then the skeletons floated in the air like ghosts and they were "deadly manners" …those are manners that are deadly…the deadly manners pushed the rest of the skeletons off a cliff so they could never come back.
A first hand witness account told by D...2 years old(Continued by A)After the ghosts defeated the skeletons there was a haunted horseman and he came. There was a guy who was walking in the forest too. The headless horseman scared him and he came running back to all the people in the other town and all the people didn't believe him and so they all came back to see and the haunted horseman chased them into town and he went into the store that had all the people hiding in it. Soon a bigger headless horseman came riding in and he had a sword. He went and cut down all the tops of the houses down…because…because…he was mean and he caught the houses all on fire because his pumpkin head was on fire. Then a big giant ghost rock came rumbling down and it smacked the two headless horsemen, the big one and the little one, and they all got squished and the ghost rock rumbled down until it rolled to a water fall. The rock fell down into the water and it made a ginormous splash and it made a giant flood in their town. The people in town had to go away again... forever… because all of their houses were caught on fire and flooded and all the animals turned into ghosts that chased them. They could never come back because the ghost animals haunted the forest.
First hand witness account provided by D...2 years oldThe END...
Published on September 15, 2011 17:58
September 12, 2011
Colorado, Muffins, and Rocks....
View from Imogene Pass
Haunted House on Imogene PassA few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit my sister in Grand Junction, Colorado. During my trip, we visited Ouray, a small tourist town set at the base of the majestic Rocky Mountains. We traveled on four-wheelers across Imogene Pass and visited many of the abandoned mines in the area. We took a few moments to collect pyrite and quartz in the old tailing piles and we hiked to a waterfall or two. The ride was amazing and terrifying all at the same time. The road climbed above 13000 feet and the area was unbelievably rugged. We stopped to view many amazing sights and even passed a haunted house or two. Most importantly, I was able to spend some much needed time with my dad and my sister. However....one of my most memorable hours on that trip was a visit to a local bakery near Clifton, Colorado. This little shop sold the most AMAZING muffins I have ever had the pleasure of eating. They served decadent flavors such as Boston cream pie, key lime pie, New York cheesecake and chocolate cheesecake. My favorite was the Cinnamon cheesecake. I ate muffins until I was ill, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Since then I have been busy attempting to create my own Cinnamon Cheesecake muffins and after several failed attempts and an oven fire, I have finally perfected the recipe. Best of all....it's EASY!! Those of you who know me understand that I am a cook of little consequence and any short cuts I can take....I take! Here it is....it doesn't nearly compare to the bakery, but it's a pretty close replica....
Flowers along Imogene PassIngredients:
1 box of Betty Crocker Cinnamon Streusel Muffin and Quick Bread Mix
12 cupcake liners
3/4 Cup Milk
1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs
Filling:
1 8oz package Cream Cheese
1 tsp Vanilla
1/4 Cup Sugar
2 TB Sour Cream
Directions: Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees
1. Follow instructions on the box and prepare muffin batter.
2. Set Cinnamon Streusel topping aside
3. Beat Cream Cheese, Vanilla, Sugar, and Sour Cream until fluffy
4. Prepare muffin pan (makes 12) with liners
5. Using an ice cream scoop, place muffin batter in muffin cups
6. Spoon 1 to 2 TBS cream cheese mixture into the middle of each batter-filled cup (the mixture will be thick)
7. Sprinkle Streusel crumb topping on top of each muffin
8. Bake in oven for 16-21 minutes
9. Let cool and enjoy
* Keep left overs refrigerated
*Written by Mandi Slack, Author of The Alias...available on Amazon kindle for $3.99 or a bookstore near you.
Imogene Pass
Water Fall on Imogene Pass
Old mining ruins along Imogene Pass
Published on September 12, 2011 07:32
September 7, 2011
Meet The Gluten Gal....
Tasty Crab n' Spinach DipWhen my oldest son was just 4 years old he was diagnosed with severe ADHD. He was referred to a specialist and placed in a special needs preschool. Since that time, we have struggled with ways to help our son cope with this condition.As a child and still as an adult, I suffer with ADD too and I can understand my son's frustration. I can empathize with his feelings and I know what it's like to feel "different". Recently, we have started to look at this condition from a diet standpoint. We have discovered that ingredients like RED and YELLOW food coloring affect his mood. Foods like dairy and sugar (obviously) compound his ability to process change and enhance his frustration. Recently, I've had the opportunity to talk with other parents who are in the same situation with their children. Many have chosen a diet that is gluten and casein free. The thought of changing our son's diet is overwhelming at times, but I know with time and patience our family can make the changes necessary to help our son. So today I am excited to interview Larraine McCrea, The Gluten Gal. Larraine was diagnosed with Celiac disease, and since that time, she has created an amazing website and dedicated her time to researching and developing new and yummy gluten/casein free recipes.
Meet Larraine.... 1. , Can you share your story about how you discovered your Gluten Allergies and what caused you to change your lifestyle?
Lemon Zinger Cake After 2. What are the top signs people should be aware of with a gluten allergy?
Great question, Mandi. It varies with each person. Often a person is diagnosed with several things before discovering a gluten-intolerance. Things like irritable bowel, fatigue, anemia, bloating, weight loss or gain and stomach pain are common. I not only had bad stomach problems, but I also had a couple of surgeries because of bad stomach pain that was misdiagnosed. More information can be found at http://www.theglutengal.com/celiac-disease/
Cinnamon and Sugar Sweet Potato Fries3. What are the biggest challenges when going gluten-free?
My daughter, Kayli, was diagnosed with celiac disease when she was 15. At that time we had no idea that it was a genetic disease. We tried rice pastas, but they were flavorless and gooey. We ordered baking flours from the Internet, but when I made bread and cookies out of them they were awful. We joined our relatives in Indianapolis for Thanksgiving that year. Kayli cried during dinner because she couldn't eat the rolls or pies. Later, she ate some cookie dough, then cried more when she realized she couldn't have that either. It was devastating to see my little girl so unhappy. Things have changed A LOT since then. Gluten-free ingredients and foods are much better tasting now! I am often contacted by people who have just received a diagnosis of celiac disease, and are overwhelmed with what they should do. I think a lot of people think their diet will be very restricted and they will be going without good food. I looked at it like, " Here's what I CAN eat!" I started by adding potatoes or rice to my meals, plus meats, fruits and vegetables. I try to make this process easier with help on my website, including a simple 7-day menu plan for ideas and getting started. http://www.theglutengal.com/menus/
4. Tell us about your web-site?
There are several aspects of my website that are important to me. This includes celiac information, recipes, and information for parents of kids with autism and ADHD.
Larraine's Cheesy PizzaSoon after I began eating gluten-free I learned that children with autism and ADHD are often put on a gluten-free and casein-free (dairy-free) diet. My niece Christine has three children who have been diagnosed with autism and so it's been important to me to include recipes that are also casein-free. I have learned to replace the things that I miss with other great tasting ingredients. Two of the four cookbooks available on my website are G/F and C/F. My website has remained important to me because I have so many family members and friends who are affected by celiac, other food allergies or autism/ADHD. Knowing that I am helping so many keeps me going with the creative process that I find in my kitchen and garden.
5. What is your favorite Recipe(s)?
That's a HARD one for me! I love to eat! The newest recipe on my website is delicious! The Mango Chicken Salad. http://www.theglutengal.com/gluten-free-recipes/salads/mango-chicken-salad/ I LOVE the ginger-based dressing!
Mango Chicken SaladMy favorite from my latest cookbook is Tilapia Tostadas. We seem to fit them in our menu each week! The cookbook can be found for sale at http://www.theglutengal.com/products-page/gf-recipe-books/a-months-worth-of-delicious-meals/ My four cookbooks are in PDF format so are very affordable. Most of the ingredients are things that you would probably already have, so you don't have to go to fancy stores and spend tons of money.I will add that I think these recipes are great for anyone! I serve them to my family and many others, and they seem to love them!Thank you for stopping in today, Larraine!
Visit http://www.theglutengal.com/ today!!
To purchase a copy of Larraine's latest cook book for only $5.95 visit Larraine's GF Store.
Published on September 07, 2011 09:06


