Heather Balog's Blog, page 5

Pumpkin Swirl Muffins

Today is pumpkin’s turn to shine. Or at least it should be, but after busting my butt last night to create perfect pumpkin swirl muffins, my dog decided that he would eat every last one while we slept. Fifteen muffins in all. I guess they were good.

Apple Streusel Muffins

Day one of my Apple vs. Pumpkin fall challenge and I made muffins. Apple streusel muffins. Yup, I decided to give the first day to the apple fans. And also, I had all the ingredients for the apple streusel muffins already at home and making these muffins didn’t involve a trip to the store so…

This is a Quick & Easy Recipe

Or it would have been a quick recipe had I not been distracted by taking pretty pictures of my muffins in various stages. ***Sigh***. I need to take a photography class so I can get these pictures quicker and I don’t have to waste time fooling around with the camera. Also, I’m a huge slob and I make a ginormous mess while baking or cooking. Case in point:

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Anyway, you should be able to whip up these muffins in well under an hour if you don’t stop to take pictures. Although, I won’t blame you if you do. These apple streusel muffins are really photogenic.

Three Parts= Apple Streusel Muffins

These muffins consist of three parts—the muffin itself, the crumb top, and the glaze. I made the muffin mix first.

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The most difficult part of this is peeling and chopping the apples. I used gala apples in my muffins, but you could use any type of apple you prefer. The apple flavor isn’t overwhelming, but the occasional bite sizes pieces of tender apple are delightful.

Cream softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together. I used my Kitchen Aid mixer for this step…have I mentioned how much I LOVE my Kitchen Aid mixer? It made it so easy for me to mix the butter and sugars while prepping the crumb topping at the same time…multitasking!

Then I added the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract to the mixture. I think the sour cream is really the key to creating these moist apple streusel muffins.

In a separate bowl, I whisked the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together. Now, I adapted this recipe from a few different recipes I found on Pinterest, and none of them had enough cinnamon to my liking. I think the most import component to a delicious apple streusel muffin (besides the streusel part, that is), is the cinnamon. You need A LOT of cinnamon. So my recipe has 2 tsp of cinnamon and the others have less. If you don’t like a lot of cinnamon, feel free to reduce it…I’m thinking you want the most flavor for your muffins, though.

Add the flour mixture to the stand mixer bowl and mix until combined. Then add 1/4 c. heavy cream and the chopped apples.

The Crumb Top

So simple. Melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Mix these ingredients and then add the flour until you’ve made a crumbly topping. Bam!

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Pour the muffin batter into a muffin pan lined with muffin cups. Fill the cups to the top (we’re making some pretty big muffins here). Then top with the crumbs—make sure they are sticking to the top of the batter otherwise they’re going to fall off.

Stick in the oven for 5 minutes on 425 and then reduce to 350 for the remaining 18-20 minutes. This was a tip I saw in another muffin recipe. Allegedly, this causes the muffins to rise quickly and it creates that high top you see in bakery muffins. I’m not sure how well it worked in my craptastic Oven, though.

Save the Best for Last

So while the muffins were baking, I made the glaze topping. I used confectioner’s sugar and heavy cream. Confectioner’s sugar is great to have around if you’re baking because you can whip up icing and glazes so easily. It’s cheaper and quicker than going to the store.

As the apple streusel muffins came out of the oven, I was overpowered by the incredible scent of apple and cinnamon. I could barely wait to taste one. I did have to wait a few minutes for the muffins to cool enough to glaze them, though. But after that…I dug in. With a cup of cinnamon apple tea. It was the perfect compliment to a warm treat on a chilly autumn night.

Print Yum

Apple Streusel Muffins

Ingredients

For the Batter:
1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
1/2 c. dark brown sugar
1/4 c. granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/2 c. sour cream
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 3/4 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. heavy cream
2 apples, peeled and chopped

For the Crumb Topping:
1/2 a stick of unsalted butter, melted
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
2 TBSP granulated sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
2/3 c. all purpose flour

For the Glaze:
1 c. confectioner's sugar
1/4 c. heavy cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions

Makes 12 muffins
Preheat oven to 425.
For the Batter:
Cream together the sugars and softened butter.
Add eggs, sour cream, and vanilla.
Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
Add to batter and mix.
Add the heavy cream and apples to batter and combine.
Fill muffin tray cups.
For the Crumb Topping:
Mix melted butter, sugars, and cinnamon.
Stir in flour.
Top the batter in the muffin cups with the crumb topping.
Bake the muffins on 425 for 5 minutes. Lower the heat to 350 for the remaining 18-20 minutes.
Muffins are done when a toothpick comes out of the center clean.
For the Glaze:
Mix confectioner's sugar with heavy cream and vanilla extract.
Top warm muffins with glaze.
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by Yummly Rich Recipes0.1https://thebadmommydiaries.com/apple-streusel-muffins/[image error]

The post Apple Streusel Muffins appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Are You Team Apple or Pumpkin?

As autumn descends upon us, we become embroiled in one of the most passionate debates of our time. No, it’s not republican vs. democrat. Nor is it the all important cats vs. dogs or which Batman is the best (it’s Michael Keaton, by the way). It’s not even Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham. What has us up in arms in controversy, you ask? It’s the ages old debate of which is a better fall flavor…apple or pumpkin?

#TeamApple Cites the Superiority of Its Fruit

Apples are a pretty diverse group. There are hundreds, if not thousands of apple varieties. The most common are Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Macintosh, and Gala. There are sweet apples, tart apples, baking apples, crisp apples…you name it. You’ll be hard pressed to find a person who doesn’t like some kind of apple in some kind of form. Yes, I realize there are people that despise ALL apples out there, but I don’t think those people are normal. I’m fairly confident that if you give 99% of the population the choice between eating an apple and say, pickled pigs feet, most will go with the apple.

Plus, there are sooooo many things you can do with apples. Not only can you eat them raw, you’ll find them in baked goods and tossed into many meals (some unsuspectingly…). You can have caramel apples and spread peanut butter on them for a snack. They’re an incredibly versatile fruit. I personally love apples…Honeycrisp is my favorite. It tastes ah-mazing in Sangria. 

The Pumpkin Devotees Won’t Back Down

As much as I am part of team apple, I’m a pumpkin devotee as well. (I know! Crazy!!!!) While pumpkins may not be as all around functional as apples are, they’re damn delicious in their own way. Not only is pumpkin spice coffee like heaven in a cup, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin muffins make my heart sing. Along with millions of other pumpkin lovers. I love roasted pumpkin seeds and I could probably even eat pumpkin puree raw. Okay, okay, maybe that’s a bit much. Don’t judge me.

I have to say, though, in the past few years, the packaged goods manufacturers have gone completely overboard with the pumpkin craze. You can pretty much get pumpkin spice anything and I think that might be creating a little animosity from the #teamapple folks. I mean, really, do we need pumpkin flavored potato chips??? (Yes, it is a thing.)

Some Things Are Just Better With Apple or Pumpkin

My daughter and I were discussing how certain things would only taste good apple flavor…like tea. I couldn’t imagine drinking pumpkin tea. Likewise, apple coffee??? Sounds horrible. I could sit and eat a raw apple, but a raw pumpkin? That’s gross. And pumpkin plus chocolate equals LOVE. Chocolate covered apple? Not so much.

So Then What’s Better? Apple or Pumpkin?

Both flavors have their benefits. I personally don’t think I could live without either of the flavors. So I decided to have a little fun with the blog this week. This week, The Bad Mommy Cooks is going to pit Apple and Pumpkin head to head. I’ll make apple recipes and then follow up with a pumpkin recipe that is similar, and the use my family members and friends to hopefully answer this question once and for all…which is better? Apple or pumpkin?

*Which team are you on? Apple or Pumpkin? Comment if you’re #TeamApple or #TeamPumpkin!

The post Are You Team Apple or Pumpkin? appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese

Today is National Pasta Day! I’m not sure why every day isn’t national pasta day, but I’m glad one of my favorite foods is getting a day to shine. In honor of this much deserved holiday, I made Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese.

Who Says You’ve Got to Be Fancy Every Night?

At least two nights a week (sometimes more), Hubby is not home for dinner. Child #1 is now an independent driver and gainfully employed, so he’s not home for dinner very often either. That leaves me and Child #2 to fend for ourselves several times a week. Child #2 has weird food preferences. While she will slurp up mussels like nobody’s business, the idea pork passing her lips has her running for the hills screaming. She’ll chow down on on obscure foods like Louisiana Gumbo, but suggesting she eat chicken for dinner will get a death ray stare sent your way. Needless to say, cooking dinner for just her and me can get ugly.

We have a four or five meal rotation of “Picky Eater Approved Meals” for these nights. But they’re getting old. I’m getting tired of the same old, same old. I needed to shake it up. One of her favorites is Mac & Cheese, so I came across this recipe for Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese that I wanted to try. Actually, it was branded as a “Hamburger Helper” knock-off, but I didn’t think I would be able to sell that to her because she has never liked Hamburger Helper. (I know! What kid doesn’t love Hamburger Helper? Weirdo.)

Quick & Easy

Two of my favorite words in the English language. Um, when we’re talking about cooking, that is. I figured I had nothing to lose with trying this recipe. I had all the ingredients at home already and it wouldn’t take long to make. Plus, I’ve got the pizzeria on speed-dial if it didn’t work out.

Before I started, I read through some of the comments on the original recipe. There were a lot of complaints about it being too liquid-y and bland. I’m sure taste preferences vary from person to person, but bland is like a bad word in this house. I decided to adjust the recipe right out of the gate and not risk and liquid-y, bland mess. And a phone call to the pizzeria.

The Key to Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese is the Cheeseburger…and the Cheese…and the Pasta

Brown the meat in a deep skillet on the stove. If you have one with a lid, that’s the best because you’re going to add liquid. After you brown the meat, drain the fat and keep the meat in the skillet. Add the cornstarch, spices, milk, and uncooked pasta to the skillet and bring to a boil. I doubled all the spices in the original recipe, and cut the liquid to avoid the liquid-y, bland issue. I think it worked well, but feel free to taste as you cook to create a flavor profile that you like. Yes, I used the term flavor profile for knock-off Hamburger Helper.

Once you reach a boil, lower to a simmer until pasta is tender (about 5 minutes—I was shocked how quickly it cooked.) When the pasta is tender, take off heat and add the cheese. We love cheese. Like…a lot. Like…joining a cheese fan club level of loving cheese. Therefore, I also used A LOT of cheese, but I think it was the perfect amount for this dish. If you are not a cheese lover (why are you even reading this then????), feel free to use less cheese. (I don’t know why you would, though….)

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Scoop it into bowls and enjoy!

This was a nice combo of spices and although it was a simple meal, both Child #2 and I enjoyed generous helpings. Try it yourself for a quick weeknight dinner. Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese…from pantry to table in less than 20 minutes!

Print Yum

Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

1 lb of ground beef
2 1/2 c. milk
2 c. uncooked pasta
1 tsp cornstarch
2 TBSP paprika
2-3 tsp onion powder
2-3 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sugar or Stevia (I used Stevia)
salt & pepper to taste
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Brown the meat in a deep skillet on the stove. If you have one with a lid, that's the best because you're going to add liquid.
After you brown the meat, drain the fat and keep the meat in the skillet.
Add the cornstarch, spices, milk, and uncooked pasta to the skillet and bring to a boil.
Reduce to a simmer until pasta is tender.
Taste mixture after the milk is absorbed and add more spice if you'd like. Add salt & pepper at this time. Stir.
Remove from heat and add cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.
Serve and enjoy!Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by Yummly Rich Recipes0.1https://thebadmommydiaries.com/cheeseburger-mac-and-cheese/[image error]

The post Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Strategies for Managing Anxiety

As I’m writing this, my heart is racing. I glance down at my Fitbit and notice that my pulse is over 100. I’m sweaty and clammy, hot and cold all at once. I feel shaky and lightheaded. Coming down with something? Nope. Heart attack? Wrong, again. Just anxiety. I shouldn’t write “just anxiety” because for the millions of sufferers of anxiety, dealing with anxiety is anything but “just”. By creeping into your subconscious and taking over your thoughts, it can ruin you day, your week, and if you let it…your life. I am not a doctor, and my advice is not meant to take the place of a professional medical opinion. Consult a professional if you are regularly experiencing anxiety. However, many times we experience anxiety in a time and place when it isn’t feasible to contact a doctor…and that’s when we need strategies for managing anxiety.

Often ruminations begin to camp out in our heads, making it difficult to do anything else except focus solely on what’s bothering us. We can’t get anything else done because we’re worried about insignificant details or feeling overwhelmed about tasks that need to be completed. Maybe we are even worried something important, but it’s out of our control—we’ve done all we can. Or maybe we have a fear…rational or irrational…and we can’t stop thinking about it.

As someone who has dealt with anxiety in my personal life and professional life as a school nurse, I understand how these overwhelming feelings can sneak into your day and paralyze you. I’ve spoken to many fellow moms, teens, and preteens that often feel overwhelmed and out of control in their day to day lives. They’re functioning—so many of us are functioning—not necessarily necessitating medication, but definitely in need of some help coping.

I’ve complied a list of some strategies that I personally use and suggest to my students for managing anxiety.

Hit the PAUSE button for a minute. Take a deep breath. Remove yourself from the situation that is causing your anxiety…if you can. If not, take a minute and breathe deeply. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Inhale and exhale for at least a count of four. Close your eyes and hit the reset button. You CAN get through this moment. (This is NOT the same as telling someone to “be calm”, which NEVER works. This is showing someone how to “be calm”.)
Get out and do some exercise. Go for a walk. Or do some yoga. Maybe you want to punch a punching bag. Or run on the treadmill at a neck breaking pace. Anything that removes you from your stress and gets your heart pumping in a good way can be the break and refocusing you need to handle a situation. Or multiple situations.
Listen to music. You can listen to traditional soothing classical music if you’d like. But if that’s not your thing, it can be rock or heavy metal or rap or pop. Whatever sweeps you up in the moment and gets you out of the moment of stress, works. Dancing is also a great combination of exercise and listening to music.
Talk to someone. It doesn’t have to be a professional. Sometimes a just a sympathetic ear can do the trick. They may not have the best advice to offer you…they may not even have ANY advice to offer you…but a lot of times just getting it off our chests, having someone say “I get it, I understand how you feel”, is enough to get us through that moment of stress. Maybe you don’t have anyone to talk to. Maybe you feel alone in your overwhelmed state and don’t think anyone else would get it. Write it down. Journals are great. If you’re afraid someone might read it, you can always burn the pages or shred them, which is also cathartic. Or you could end up turning those words into a novel or a blog post. You never know.
Do something fun. See a movie. Watch TV. Take a drive to the beach and build a sandcastle. Go to a museum if that’s your thing. Take a cooking class. Get out of your own head and find your outlet that allows you to forget about your stress, even for a few hours. You may emerge from that movie theater blinking from the sun, but possibly refreshed. Us anxious folks tend to forget how to have fun. We’re driven to constantly be productive…and constantly add to our overwhelmed state.

What about when anxiety is more than just “a moment”? What if it’s this overwhelming sense of dread, day in and day out. Well, like I mentioned earlier, seeing a professional is my advice to you, but here’s what I’ve found to help with managing anxiety in the meantime:

Make a “to do” list. I know, I know. Sometimes a list itself is daunting—the writing down what needs to be done and seeing it in black and white. Back when I vowed to be more “laid back” and not as controlling, I kicked my post-it notes and lists to the curb. I thought I would remember what was important and it would help me be a little less anal retentive. Instead, I found my anxiety was worse than ever—the loss of control I felt from not having a list was almost crippling at times and I found myself hiding from what needed to actually be done. By making a list, I can face what I’m fearing in a neat, concise way. By looking at a list, you might realize the task isn’t as monstrous as you think it is. Or at least you’ll be able to break down what you need to do in smaller, more manageable pieces. A list also helps me prioritize what is most important. Sticky notes, planners, and bullet journals can help you with this.
Accept flaws…and be okay with NOT completing those lists. I know what you’re thinking…go home, Heather, you’re drunk. You just told us to make a list, then you told us to disregard the list. Not exactly. What I’m saying is realize that some days, your list is going to be bigger than what is humanly possible to accomplish. I used to do this to myself all the time—I’d write a ridiculous “to do” list and then drive myself crazy trying to cross off everything on the list. I’ve learned the hard way that you really CAN’T do it all. I know you want to, but remember, that’s what’s feeding your anxiety. Many of us are perfectionists—it’s all or nothing. If we can’t do it all, or can’t do it perfectly, we beat ourselves up, or avoid the task altogether. Give yourself permission to not get it all done. (I know it’s easier said than done, but I have a strategy for this that I will share in a later blog post.)
Consider the positives. Yeah, I know at this moment your world is falling apart and you can’t possibly imagine anything positive coming from it. Dig deep. The other day when my teenage daughter was having a meltdown, in school, in my office, it was the height of stress in my day. The guidance counselors were unavailable to help and she was not only upsetting me, she was making it impossible to do my work. Afterward I realized that I did NOT lose my $hit on her like I often do when she’s in this mood. I was still stressed, my heart was still racing, but it made happier to recognize that the situation wasn’t as bad as it could have been had I lost my $hit. (By the way, I used some of these strategies that day.)
Take a break from social media. I’m not saying you should go off the grid and build a cabin in the woods and grow your own crops (although at times, getting away from everyone and everything sounds like a fabulous idea). But a lot of times social media actually fuels our stress. Who wants to hear Suzy Sunshine chirping about her awesome kids and her amazing husband and her incredible job as a professional wine and chocolate taster when you feel like someone has pushed you into the Pit of Despair? Seriously. Mute Suzy and all the other perfect people on social media for awhile. Along with these other strategies for managing anxiety, you may find that you feel better about yourself and whatever situation is causing you stress.
Focus on what you can change…and accept what you can’t. I believe this is part of the Serenity prayer, right? And what brings more serenity to your life then letting go of those things that you have zero control over? I hate losing control and I always want to try to figure out the answer for everything, make things better. But sometimes I can’t. I can’t change other people. I can’t stop other people from behaving a certain way or doing certain things, but I have control over my own reaction to them. Knowing I can’t control many situations but I can control how I react to those situations is a powerful tool in managing anxiety. Do I fuel my anxiety further by overreacting or getting heated, or do I use one of my anxiety coping strategies to prevent it from escalating? The choice is mine and mine alone, just like the choice is yours.

 

Don’t let your stress get the best of you. Try these strategies when you feel overwhelmed. And when all else fails, take a deep breath and Namaste.

Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash

The post Strategies for Managing Anxiety appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

8 Books to Read With the Lights On

Halloween is upon us and most of us, for some unknown reason, like to have the poop scared out of us at this time of year. So to help everyone out, I’ve complied a list of 8 of my favorite books to read with the lights on (and possibly a trusty shotgun by your bed, too). It was sooooo difficult to narrow it down to just 8, so I also mention a couple of my other favorite books by the same authors…because it’s impossible to pick just one. Some of these are psychological thrillers and some of these are straight up scary as hell. In no particular order, here they are:

***By the way, my blog may include affiliate links, which means, if you should click on the links and make a purchase, I will receive a commission, at no cost to you.

The Wrong Mother  by Sophie Hannah

Sally is watching the news with her husband when she hears the name of a man she had a brief affair with the previous year when away on a “private” weekend without her spouse. The man’s name is Mark Bretherick and they’re flashing a picture of him on the news, talking about something tragic that has happened to him. This man’s wife and daughter are now dead and what’s more, the picture they’re showing on the news? Not the man she had an affair with. What’s real? What’s made up? And is Sally and her family safe? Or will they meet the same fate as Mark’s family? And where is the man she met that called himself Mark Bretherick?

This was my first foray into Sophie Hannah’s work. I read this novel in one day, completely riveted, amazed by the dark and twisted recesses that were in this author’s brain. You think you have this figured out, but I assure you, you don’t. This is not the first in the Spilling Detective series, but I believe that it’s the best of all the Spilling Detective novels. Definitely one of those books to read with the lights on.

Other favorite works by Sophie Hannah: Hurting Distance (or The Truth Teller’s Lie in the UK), Woman With a Secret

And Then There Were None  by Agatha Christie

Ten guests are invited to a private island for the weekend, host unknown. Each of these guests have a deadly, dark  secret, and it becomes quickly evident that their host has an agenda. They start off with ten, and then, one by one, they are killed…until there are none.

This is one of my absolute most favorite books. I rarely read books more than once and I believe I’ve read this one five or six times, the first time when I was just 12 years old. And the fact that I know whodoneit doesn’t ruin it for me at all. It reminds me of the movie Clue. It defies all logic, but obviously masterminded by a lunatic (the culprit in this novel, not Agatha Christie, although one would think she needed to be a little nuts to come up with some of her stories).

If you’ve never read this classic, do yourself a favor and pick it up. Oh, and don’t read it when you’re invited to a deserted mansion in the middle of nowhere by an unknown host.

Other favorite works by Agatha Christie: The Mirror Crack’d From Side to Side, Cat Among the Pigeons

Dark Places  by Gillian Flynn

Libby’s mother and two sisters were brutally murdered one night when she was 7 years old, leaving Libby to be the only one to tell the police what happened. Based on her testimony, her brother Ben was found to be the killer and he’s been locked away for 25 years. Not everyone believes that he is guilty, though—there is a secret society dedicated to finding out the truth. They want Libby to help them prove that Ben is innocent…and catch the real killer.

Fan of Gone Girl? Well, then you must know that Gillian Flynn’s novels are screwed up mind f*$&s. I found this to be the most twisted off all her novels thus far. Not only with the secrets that are revealed, but the incredibly messed up nature and motivation of the actual murders. Don’t read this one when you’re home alone.

Other favorite works by Gillian Flynn: Sharp Objects

Don’t Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon

Lisa went into the woods when she was 12 years old and never came out. Before she disappeared, she told her little brother Sam that she was going to marry the fairy King and be the queen of the fairies by entering a magical door in the woods. She was never found.

Several years later, Sam is grown up with a girlfriend, Phoebe. He is practical and doesn’t believe in any of the mystical ideas that his sister had put in his head when he was a child. Until very strange and unexplained occurrences begin to happen. Things that may lead back to Lisa all those years ago.

Besides Stephen King, I rarely read any supernatural or paranormal mystery/ horror. But this book and its story just gripped me tight from the very beginning and pulled me into this eerie world. I read it on vacation in Maine, woods and trees surrounding me…it definitely added to the creepy vibe of the novel. The hairs on my arms were literally standing on end.

Other favorite works by Jennifer McMahon: The One I Left Behind  

Now You See Me  by S.J. Boulton

Detective Lacey Flint comes across a body of a woman in a parking lot, killed mere moments before Lacey arrived. A reporter receives a letter the next day, pointing out the similarities between this murder and the Ripper murders. The murderer seems to be taunting Lacey, and promises to recreate Jack the Ripper’s bloody crimes. The only way for Lacey to stop the killer is to go after him herself.

This was the first book I read by S.J. Boulton and definitely my favorite. For some creepy reason, I find the history of Jack the Ripper fascinating and Boulton’s ability to seamlessly weave it into a modern tale is fantastic. Most of the Lacey Flint novels are superb, due to the incredible character of Lacey herself—flawed, broken, and hell bent on solving crimes.

Other favorites by S.J. Boulton: Lost, Daisy in Chains

Final Girls by Riley Sager

Quincy Carpenter is a “Final Girl”, the term given to the last woman or girl alive in a horror film. Quincy lived her own horror film back in college when she went on vacation with five friends and was the only one left alive. She’s trying to get her life back on track with the help of another “final girl” that she never actually meets, Lisa, who survived a deadly sorority house massacre, her boyfriend Jeff, and Cooper, the cop who found her in the woods on the night of the deadly attack. And she probably would be on track had Lisa not been discovered dead in her bathtub with her wrists slit. Suicide or murder ?

Enter Sam, another “final girl”, a survivor of another massacre. Like Lisa, Quincy never met Sam, but now that Lisa is dead, Sam is the only person who truly understands the horror that Quincy has been through. And the current horror—what if someone is targeting “Final girls” in order to finish them off? Thus ensues a crazy series of event that has you questioning everyone in Quincy’s life and their motives. In the end…nothing is really what it seems.

I know, I know. I put this on my The 5 Best Books of Summer 2018 list. But seriously. This book was crazy good and sent chills up my spine. It’ll have you suspicious of everyone.

I See You  by Clare Mackintosh

Zoe takes the same route to work every day. She never suspects that she’s being watched…until the day she finds her picture in the paper…under a classified ad. Her family tries to convince her that it’s not her in the ad, but she’s certain that it is, causing her to investigate further. She soon discovers the other women in those ads are finding themselves in dangerous situations—assaulted, raped, even murdered. Who is behind these heinous crimes and is Zoe in danger? And who can she trust?

Absolutely terrifying if you consider how easily this might be done in real life. We are incredibly predictable with our routines. Who may be watching us? And what might they do with this information? This book will have you looking over your shoulder and reassessing everything…and everyone…you know.

Other favorite works by Clare Mackintosh: I Let You Go

Christine  by Stephen King

Two high school students, Arnie and Dennis, fix up a dilapidated old Plymouth Fury that they discovered rusting on a neighbor’s lawn. The previous owner had named the car Christine, so the boys kept the name. She proved to be a chick magnet for the once dorky Arnie, but soon starts to consume every aspect of his life…taking on a life of her own.  Christine has her own agenda for Arnie, and she’s not a fan of his new girlfriend. In fact, she wants to kill her.

No scary book list is complete without the king of horror. I’ve read most of Stephen King’s books and they’ve all succeed in terrifying me to death. When you think of Stephen King, you can easily rattle off at least 10 of his most frightening tomes. But I don’t think any of his other books sent me into such panic as Christine did. I was 15 years old when I read this and petrified of cars for a good two weeks. Yikes. Don’t read this book in the car. Or if you need to go in a car any time soon. And never, ever name a car Christine.



Other favorite works by Stephen King: The Shining, Mr. Mercedes

The post 8 Books to Read With the Lights On appeared first on Author Heather Balog.

Oregon Dungeness Crabs

Only 9 more states to go! Number 9 is Oregon, and for our Oregon meal, we chose dungeness crabs.

Hubby and I both remarked that this was probably the least exciting of our 50 states meal (with the exception of Utah—jello is pretty boring). It wasn’t because the meal didn’t taste good or anything like that. The meal was really straightforward, with no screw ups in the kitchen at all. It wasn’t even difficult to get the dungeness crabs, even though they’re not local. In fact, the dungeness crabs were actually on sale at our grocery store the same week we were planning on having them.

I Didn’t Even Take Pictures of the Meal While Cooking

Seriously…it was so simple. Throw dungeness crabs in steam pot. Throw corn and potatoes in pot. Add Old Bay. (My family is addicted to Old Bay. They put it on everything, including bagels.) Steam them for a half hour. Eat crabs. The crabs are messy to eat, of course—what crabs aren’t messy?[image error]

Dungeness Crabs Indigenous to the Pacific

Dungeness crabs can be found in the Pacific ocean, and are popular in Oregon and Washington State. They are actually named after the Dungeness Spit, an area in Northwest Washington State. These crabs are pretty large (at least the ones we got were) and full of meat. They are definitely not my favorite crab, though. They were good, don’t get me wrong. But I find Dungeness crabs to be a little drier and not as juicy as I am accustomed to with my favorite crabs, King Crabs.

Who Doesn’t Love King Crabs?

I’m sure there is someone out there that isn’t a King Crab fan, but he or she doesn’t live in my household. In fact, when we did Alaska, we were fighting over the crab legs. They’re crazy expensive, though, and oh, so prickly, making it difficult to eat. But my goodness they are by far the tastiest (in my opinion).

Snow Crab Legs Are What We Usually Get in Restaurants

Snow crab is like the smaller cousin of Alaskan King Crab. It is found in the coastal waters of Maine and Alaska. They are sold in clusters, and often what people associate eating crab with (at least around here). You crack them open and pull the meat out. Dip in butter. Yum. I think I never even had a different type of crab until we went to Maryland and they piled crab (with eyeballs) in front of us and handed us a mallet. Yup, Blue Crab.

Blue Crab Are the King of the East Coast

On the east coast, we’ve got blue crab. It’s so popular around here that it’s on Maryland license plates. Blue crabs are sweet—you eat the body rather than the legs (although the claw meat is eaten). In Ocean City, there are crab joints on every corner (our favorite is Higgins Crab House North). People catch their own crab with crab pots and nets all the time.

Soft shell crab is also a delicacy on the East Coast—it’s Blue Crab that has molted.

Stone Crabs?

Down in the lower part of the Atlantic, from the Carolinas to the Gulf Coast, there are Stone Crab, which I have never had. Apparently, you only eat the claws, so crabbers will catch them, remove one claw, and set them free to regenerate that claw. That sounds so cool…recycling your food!

Try the Dungeness for a Change of Pace

Anyway, the Oregon meal was good…surprisingly filling for crab (usually we end up starving an hour after we eat crab). So if you are a crab fan and you’ve never tried Dungeness crab, give it a shot. You might have a new favorite.

[image error]

The post Oregon Dungeness Crabs

Oregon Dungeness Crabs

Only 9 more states to go! Number 9 is Oregon, and for our Oregon meal, we chose dungeness crabs.

Hubby and I both remarked that this was probably the least exciting of our 50 states meal (with the exception of Utah—jello is pretty boring). It wasn’t because the meal didn’t taste good or anything like that. The meal was really straightforward, with no screw ups in the kitchen at all. It wasn’t even difficult to get the dungeness crabs, even though they’re not local. In fact, the dungeness crabs were actually on sale at our grocery store the same week we were planning on having them.

I Didn’t Even Take Pictures of the Meal While Cooking

Seriously…it was so simple. Throw dungeness crabs in steam pot. Throw corn and potatoes in pot. Add Old Bay. (My family is addicted to Old Bay. They put it on everything, including bagels.) Steam them for a half hour. Eat crabs. The crabs are messy to eat, of course—what crabs aren’t messy?[image error]

Dungeness Crabs Indigenous to the Pacific

Dungeness crabs can be found in the Pacific ocean, and are popular in Oregon and Washington State. They are actually named after the Dungeness Spit, an area in Northwest Washington State. These crabs are pretty large (at least the ones we got were) and full of meat. They are definitely not my favorite crab, though. They were good, don’t get me wrong. But I find Dungeness crabs to be a little drier and not as juicy as I am accustomed to with my favorite crabs, King Crabs.

Who Doesn’t Love King Crabs?

I’m sure there is someone out there that isn’t a King Crab fan, but he or she doesn’t live in my household. In fact, when we did Alaska, we were fighting over the crab legs. They’re crazy expensive, though, and oh, so prickly, making it difficult to eat. But my goodness they are by far the tastiest (in my opinion).

Snow Crab Legs Are What We Usually Get in Restaurants

Snow crab is like the smaller cousin of Alaskan King Crab. It is found in the coastal waters of Maine and Alaska. They are sold in clusters, and often what people associate eating crab with (at least around here). You crack them open and pull the meat out. Dip in butter. Yum. I think I never even had a different type of crab until we went to Maryland and they piled crab (with eyeballs) in front of us and handed us a mallet. Yup, Blue Crab.

Blue Crab Are the King of the East Coast

On the east coast, we’ve got blue crab. It’s so popular around here that it’s on Maryland license plates. Blue crabs are sweet—you eat the body rather than the legs (although the claw meat is eaten). In Ocean City, there are crab joints on every corner (our favorite is Higgins Crab House North). People catch their own crab with crab pots and nets all the time.

Soft shell crab is also a delicacy on the East Coast—it’s Blue Crab that has molted.

Stone Crabs?

Down in the lower part of the Atlantic, from the Carolinas to the Gulf Coast, there are Stone Crab, which I have never had. Apparently, you only eat the claws, so crabbers will catch them, remove one claw, and set them free to regenerate that claw. That sounds so cool…recycling your food!

Try the Dungeness for a Change of Pace

Anyway, the Oregon meal was good…surprisingly filling for crab (usually we end up starving an hour after we eat crab). So if you are a crab fan and you’ve never tried Dungeness crab, give it a shot. You might have a new favorite.

[image error]

The post Oregon Dungeness Crabs

Oregon Dungeness Crabs

Only 9 more states to go! Number 9 is Oregon, and for our Oregon meal, we chose dungeness crabs.

Hubby and I both remarked that this was probably the least exciting of our 50 states meal (with the exception of Utah—jello is pretty boring). It wasn’t because the meal didn’t taste good or anything like that. The meal was really straightforward, with no screw ups in the kitchen at all. It wasn’t even difficult to get the dungeness crabs, even though they’re not local. In fact, the dungeness crabs were actually on sale at our grocery store the same week we were planning on having them.

I Didn’t Even Take Pictures of the Meal While Cooking

Seriously…it was so simple. Throw dungeness crabs in steam pot. Throw corn and potatoes in pot. Add Old Bay. (My family is addicted to Old Bay. They put it on everything, including bagels.) Steam them for a half hour. Eat crabs. The crabs are messy to eat, of course—what crabs aren’t messy?[image error]

Dungeness Crabs Indigenous to the Pacific

Dungeness crabs can be found in the Pacific ocean, and are popular in Oregon and Washington State. They are actually named after the Dungeness Spit, an area in Northwest Washington State. These crabs are pretty large (at least the ones we got were) and full of meat. They are definitely not my favorite crab, though. They were good, don’t get me wrong. But I find Dungeness crabs to be a little drier and not as juicy as I am accustomed to with my favorite crabs, King Crabs.

Who Doesn’t Love King Crabs?

I’m sure there is someone out there that isn’t a King Crab fan, but he or she doesn’t live in my household. In fact, when we did Alaska, we were fighting over the crab legs. They’re crazy expensive, though, and oh, so prickly, making it difficult to eat. But my goodness they are by far the tastiest (in my opinion).

Snow Crab Legs Are What We Usually Get in Restaurants

Snow crab is like the smaller cousin of Alaskan King Crab. It is found in the coastal waters of Maine and Alaska. They are sold in clusters, and often what people associate eating crab with (at least around here). You crack them open and pull the meat out. Dip in butter. Yum. I think I never even had a different type of crab until we went to Maryland and they piled crab (with eyeballs) in front of us and handed us a mallet. Yup, Blue Crab.

Blue Crab Are the King of the East Coast

On the east coast, we’ve got blue crab. It’s so popular around here that it’s on Maryland license plates. Blue crabs are sweet—you eat the body rather than the legs (although the claw meat is eaten). In Ocean City, there are crab joints on every corner (our favorite is Higgins Crab House North). People catch their own crab with crab pots and nets all the time.

Soft shell crab is also a delicacy on the East Coast—it’s Blue Crab that has molted.

Stone Crabs?

Down in the lower part of the Atlantic, from the Carolinas to the Gulf Coast, there are Stone Crab, which I have never had. Apparently, you only eat the claws, so crabbers will catch them, remove one claw, and set them free to regenerate that claw. That sounds so cool…recycling your food!

Try the Dungeness for a Change of Pace

Anyway, the Oregon meal was good…surprisingly filling for crab (usually we end up starving an hour after we eat crab). So if you are a crab fan and you’ve never tried Dungeness crab, give it a shot. You might have a new favorite.

[image error]

The post Oregon Dungeness Crabs

Oregon Dungeness Crabs

Only 9 more states to go! Number 9 is Oregon, and for our Oregon meal, we chose dungeness crabs.

Hubby and I both remarked that this was probably the least exciting of our 50 states meal (with the exception of Utah—jello is pretty boring). It wasn’t because the meal didn’t taste good or anything like that. The meal was really straightforward, with no screw ups in the kitchen at all. It wasn’t even difficult to get the dungeness crabs, even though they’re not local. In fact, the dungeness crabs were actually on sale at our grocery store the same week we were planning on having them.

I Didn’t Even Take Pictures of the Meal While Cooking

Seriously…it was so simple. Throw dungeness crabs in steam pot. Throw corn and potatoes in pot. Add Old Bay. (My family is addicted to Old Bay. They put it on everything, including bagels.) Steam them for a half hour. Eat crabs. The crabs are messy to eat, of course—what crabs aren’t messy?[image error]

Dungeness Crabs Indigenous to the Pacific

Dungeness crabs can be found in the Pacific ocean, and are popular in Oregon and Washington State. They are actually named after the Dungeness Spit, an area in Northwest Washington State. These crabs are pretty large (at least the ones we got were) and full of meat. They are definitely not my favorite crab, though. They were good, don’t get me wrong. But I find Dungeness crabs to be a little drier and not as juicy as I am accustomed to with my favorite crabs, King Crabs.

Who Doesn’t Love King Crabs?

I’m sure there is someone out there that isn’t a King Crab fan, but he or she doesn’t live in my household. In fact, when we did Alaska, we were fighting over the crab legs. They’re crazy expensive, though, and oh, so prickly, making it difficult to eat. But my goodness they are by far the tastiest (in my opinion).

Snow Crab Legs Are What We Usually Get in Restaurants

Snow crab is like the smaller cousin of Alaskan King Crab. It is found in the coastal waters of Maine and Alaska. They are sold in clusters, and often what people associate eating crab with (at least around here). You crack them open and pull the meat out. Dip in butter. Yum. I think I never even had a different type of crab until we went to Maryland and they piled crab (with eyeballs) in front of us and handed us a mallet. Yup, Blue Crab.

Blue Crab Are the King of the East Coast

On the east coast, we’ve got blue crab. It’s so popular around here that it’s on Maryland license plates. Blue crabs are sweet—you eat the body rather than the legs (although the claw meat is eaten). In Ocean City, there are crab joints on every corner (our favorite is Higgins Crab House North). People catch their own crab with crab pots and nets all the time.

Soft shell crab is also a delicacy on the East Coast—it’s Blue Crab that has molted.

Stone Crabs?

Down in the lower part of the Atlantic, from the Carolinas to the Gulf Coast, there are Stone Crab, which I have never had. Apparently, you only eat the claws, so crabbers will catch them, remove one claw, and set them free to regenerate that claw. That sounds so cool…recycling your food!

Try the Dungeness for a Change of Pace

Anyway, the Oregon meal was good…surprisingly filling for crab (usually we end up starving an hour after we eat crab). So if you are a crab fan and you’ve never tried Dungeness crab, give it a shot. You might have a new favorite.

[image error]

The post Oregon Dungeness Crabs