Kate Collins's Blog, page 98

Decorating for Valentine's Day

by Karen Rose Smith

I like to decorate for Valentine's Day because it's one of my favorite holidays.  My husband and I have celebrated it together since our college days and our 45 year marriage.  In the middle of a Pennsylvania winter, pink, red and white brighten up inside and outside.  That let-down after the holidays doesn't seem so bad when I have another holiday to look forward to.

I always begin with the door since that can cheer up others too.  The flag is next.



Inside, I find bargains on flowers from the grocery store that always give some cheer to any room.

















Even the cats enjoy the holiday when I pull out Valentine's Day throws for the bed.  (I keep throws on top of the spread so I can wash them often.)  Walmart has been having holiday throws for $2.50 since summer.  The cats like their softness and I like the color.





I probably had so much fun writing a Valentine's Day mystery because of my fondness for the holiday.  My sleuth, Caprice De Luca, is a home stager who uses unique themes for high end clients when she stages their home to sell.  In GILT BY ASSOCIATION, her theme Hearts and Flowers fit the home perfectly.  It was already decorated in "pretty" mixed with "elegant"--lace curtains, gilt-edged mirrors, heart-shaped pillows and damask covered furniture. In addition, her client was a gardener and grew her own flowers.  GILT BY ASSOCIATION has a murder mystery to solve along with a touch of romance mixed in.







Do You Decorate for Valentine's Day???

It Ain’t just a TV anymore

How did things change so much? I’m old but I’m not that old!

I can remember our first TV. It was B&W and I thought Howdy Doody was the best show ever. I still have a thing for marionettes.
Then came color TV. Wow. That was amazing. I remember seeing Disney Land when they opened it. It was live and in color and the most amazing thing ever. The color TV weighted more than I did and took three guys to bring the thing in the house and then they put an antenna on the roof!
As for records we did the 33 1/3 and 66 LPs. We got a new stereo with a big cabinet and putting on the record was neat. You could ever put on a stack. The best part was the covers! The LP jackets were and still are fantastic! Total works of art. I can still see the Beatles’ covers. Loved ‘em.
Now we have cable, Netflix, Apple TV, Hulu and the ton of other TV things out there that you can put on your TV other than just the regular stations.
I have Apple TV and Netflix and thinking of getting Hulu. I just signed up for something called Spotify so I don’t need my CDs any longer and I’m really thinking of getting rid of my “regular” NBC, CBS etc.
With Apple TV I do mostly Netflix and if I want news there’s CBS news etc. I very seldom watch the regular channels. The commercials drive me nuts and then I miss the beginning of a show and coming in the middle is never fun.
It’s amazing how much things have changed and for the better. The pictures are better, the sound is better, the size is so much better.
So what about you? Are you a cable person? Netflix? Spotify? Do you miss the old days or are they just that...old.

Another Winner---VICTORIA

by Maggie Sefton



You folks know how much I enjoyed the PBS series "Downton Abbey."  I have actually
lost count of all the PBS Masterpiece Theatre productions I have loved.   Years and years worth.  So, naturally I made it a point to start watching the new PBS series that started only a few weeks ago on the life of Great Britain's Queen Victoria.  She had a very long reign on the British throne during a fascinating time in history, and by many accounts was the "most powerful woman in the world," as described by PBS.  The actress Jenna Coleman portrays the young Victoria.  This is a wonderful productions, true to all the quality standards that PBS series are known for.  Also, the supporting cast is excellent, especially Rufus Sewell who plays Lord Melbourne, a close friend and advisor as well as an influential Prime Minister.  Even if you've never tried a PBS historical drama before, you might want to check out this.  "Victoria" is definitely a jewel.


Some movies I've seen recently (I took a break last weekend) are also well-worth checking out:  ARRIVAL is an excellent story that focuses on the communication problems with a totally alien life-form when a large space ship suddenly appears suspended over many populated cities around the world.  This has an intelligent script that is engaging as well as supremely entertaining.

HIDDEN FIGURES is a wonderful true story about several of the most important female mathematicians who contributed to NASA's early space exploration, especially including the astronauts, like John Glenn, who was the first to orbit the earth in one of our early spacecraft.

SING is a hilarious and totally enjoyable animated feature about various animals in one cosmopolitan city who enter a singing competition.  This movie is laugh-out-loud funny.  Believe me, you won't regret seeing it.

PASSENGERS is another outer space oriented film, but this one focuses on two human passengers in a future time who wake up early from their scheduled "deep sleep" designed to keep them asleep until they arrive at the planet which is several decades ahead in scheduled travel time.  This is another thoughtful script which explores the shock and challenge encountered by the man and woman passengers who have to discover how to handle the shock of their early awakening.

Totally entertaining movies, folks.  Check into them and try them out if you are so inclined.   Enjoy!

BREAKING UP (WITH BOOKS) IS HARD TO DO.

By Mary Kennedy 
                                                        
   In a probably ill-fated effort to declutter, I decided to pack up some books for the AAUW annual book sale. The AAUW is a worthy cause and promotes scholarships for women.  Donating a few boxes of books seems like an easy way to contribute. Or does it? I've suddenly become attached to books I haven't glanced at in years. I don't recall when (or why) I bought them, and they've gathered dust over the years. So why the sudden sentimentality?                                       Some (like the cookbooks above) are vintage (or they seem to be.). I decide to take them out of the box--I have a friend who collects old cookbooks and I bet she'd like these.                                                              Some are reference books. I hate to part with these, but I already have three Spanish dictionaries. I decide to give away two of them, but in the meantime, I find a French phrase book that has slipped into the box.                                                             I just can't part with it. The next time I'm at my favorite Paris cafe, I might want to order a chocolate croissant and I can't remember if you say, "crossiant au chocolat,"  or"crossiant de chocolat." So I flip through my trusty French phrase book to check. Okay, problem solved.  It's "crossiant au chocolat." Whew! That was a close one. I decide I better keep the French phrase book after all. You never know! Some language books don't make the cut and I decide to donate them. Was I really planning to learn to "read and write" Chinese characters? I don't even remember buying this. No worries, someone else will enjoy it.                                                                                                          Some books are classics, the kind you want to read again. But I can always get these on the Kindle so "Anna" goes into the box for AAUW.                                                        After a solid forty-five minutes, I haven't made as much progress as I'd hoped.  I find myself fascinated by map books. I hesitate. I can find maps online, right? And do I really need a topographical map of Argentina? I decide to donate the map books.                                                              Well, the "donate" box is only 1/3 full and I'm wasting too much time dilly-dallying  over each book. How about you? Do you find it hard to part with a book? Even when you know you can find it on the Kindle? Or am I just a secret hoarder? Please chime in with your thoughts.                                                               By Mary Kennedy    
 

SPOTLIGHT on Mimi, fictional owner of Lambspun knitting shop

by Maggie Sefton


Today I'm briefly spotlighting the beloved and familiar character of Mimi Shafer Parker, who is the owner of Kelly Flynn's favorite knitting shop in the Kelly Flynn Knitting Mysteries.

This is only a very brief glimpse from the upcoming Kelly Flynn mystery #15----ONLY SKEIN DEEP.  So, this will actually be a sneak peek because the book will not be released and in bookstores & online until this  coming June 2017.   In this scene, Mimi is encouraging Kelly to try some strong hot tea since she cannot have her regular high octane strong coffee.  :)  Burt Parker also makes an appearance, too.  

“I’d be glad to get you a cup of strong black tea.  Extra strong and black.  You were able to enjoy that, I remember.” “Enjoy is an exaggeration,” Kelly said, eyeing Mimi.  “I choked it down.” “Okaaaaaay,” Mimi said.  “How about some milk?” Kelly shook her head.  Not now.  It’ll make me sleepy.  I usually have some in the evening.” “How about some almond milk or coconut milk instead?” “Actually, those taste good but they’ll make me sleepy, too.  Everything seems to make me sleepy nowadays.”  Kelly reached inside her fabric knitting bag and pulled out the fiber project she’d just started.  A small baby hat made of azure blue and smoke gray yarns.” “Well, let me go get some of that new Yorkshire tea I bought yesterday.  That’s definitely stronger than most teas you find in the grocery stores, so maybe that will taste better.”  Mimi pushed back her chair.  “It doesn’t have anything strange ingredients, does it?” Kelly asked.  “No, no.  Simply strong black tea.  I’ll make a half cup.  That way you can give it a try,” Mimi said as she walked away toward the café that adjoined Lambspun knitting shop.    Kelly had long ago given in to Mimi’s suggestions.  “Mother Mimi,” as Kelly and her friends called the sixtyish shop owner, had become a second mother to Kelly and her closest friends Jennifer, Megan, and Lisa.  Mimi’s only child, her son, had died in an awful accident many years ago.  He was a freshman at the local Colorado State University and had gone up into the neighboring Poudre Canyon to a friend’s house for a weekend party.  Unfortunately, several of the other college students were taking drugs, and Mimi’s son joined in.  He had a very bad experience and wandered away from the house into the surrounding mountainous terrain.  He fell to his death on a rocky ledge below. Alone in the main knitting room, Kelly wasted no time in returning to her knitting project.  She picked up her stitches where she left off with the baby hat.  She wanted to have the hat finished before the baby came, and according to everyone, that could be anytime this month.  A May baby, she thought, as her fingers went through the familiar knitting movements.  A spring baby.  With luck, maybe she could play several softball games with her team before their season ended in the Fall.  That cheerful thought brought a smile as Kelly pictured herself slender again and running the bases under a sunny sky.  The shop’s entry doorbell tinkled while summer scenes filled her mind.  Taking the baby out to the games like Megan and Marty did with their baby Molly.  Perfect.    “Hello, Kelly.  How are you doing?” Kelly turned to see retired Fort Connor police detective and Kelly’s mentor, Burt Parker, walk into the room.  “Hey, Burt.  I’m doing fine.  What have you been up to?” Burt pulled out the chair beside Kelly.  “Errands, as usual.  Mimi had a list as long as my arm today, I swear.”  Burt chuckled. Kelly smiled at her longtime mentor.  Once he and shop owner Mimi had married a few years ago, Burt was at the shop every day.  Kelly really enjoyed that since she’d lost her own father to lung cancer many years earlier.  “Face it, Burt.  You love staying busy and doing those errands.  Otherwise, I bet we’d see you here in the shop looking for stuff to do.” “You’re right, Kelly.  There’re always things to do here.”  He leaned closer to Kelly’s belly.  “And how are you this morning, Baby Jack?” “Oh, he’s been having a great time playing soccer.  I swear he scored several goals while I was trying to do my accounting this morning.” Burt chuckled.  “Well, he’s probably anxious to come on out and meet us all.” “Not until I finish his hat,” Kelly teased, holding up the baby hat.  There were only a few rows of blue and grey cotton yarn on the knitting needles. “Well, I’m making sure that the car is filled with gas and ready to go,” Burt said.  “Just in case Baby Jack decides to come earlier rather than later.” Mimi walked into the main room then, small mug in her hand.  “Here, you go, Kelly.  Half a cup of Yorkshire black tea.  Give it a try and see what you think.”  She set the mug on the table in front of Kelly. Kelly gave them both a sardonic smile.  “Don’t either of you get your hopes up.  I haven’t liked any hot tea yet.”  She picked up the mug, blew on it, then took a small sip.  Kelly closed her eyes so she wouldn’t grimace.  Nothing tasted as good as her Beloved Extra Strong Black Coffee, but she had promised herself she’d give other things a try.  She swallowed the hot tea then tasted.  “Well, it’s not as awful as some of the other ones I’ve tried,” she said, screwing up her face.  Burt chuckled.  “Damning with faint praise.” “So it’s not totally awful?” Mimi asked.  “But it’s still not what I’d call good.” “We’ll take that, won’t we, Burt?” Mimi said with a smile. “We will indeed,” Burt said.

Inspired by an 8 year old

by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett

Poppyseed cake with lime glaze that I made.I admit it, I came to cooking and baking LATE.. Baking, not too late, but cooking LATE.

I always liked to bake because I like sweets. Cookies and pies were about the extent of it, but now I like to bake cakes, too. I don't do it that often because ... well, once you bake something, it must be eaten, and my eating audience has dwindled to about my husband and brother, and my brother is usually on a diet (one of those crazy ones where you only have 500 calories a day, so you eat a lot of canned veggies and apples.  Hmmm...he always loses weight. Maybe I should try that).

I used to brag about how much I DIDN'T like to cook. But then I started writing cozy mysteries, and it's almost a given that you need to include a few recipes. So I started making stuff to test recipes and I found out that I like to tinker with recipes, too.

I had a little time on my hands of late (call it a rest between writing assignments) and I started watching Kitchen Nightmares (with Gordon Ramsey) on Youtube. In just over a week, I'd watched every one available. (Talk about binge watching.) Then I moved on to Hotel Hell. I really liked that one because I got to learn how NOT to run a B&B. And Gordon's cussing? Doesn't bother me a bit. (Hey, I worked in a machine shop for 18 months drilling holes in metal parts for the space shuttle. I've heard it all.)

Yesterday, I watched nearly a whole season of Masterchef Junior (going to watch the finale to see if Addison or Avery wins--go girl power!). What amazed me about that show was the level of skill these kids have. We're talking 8-year-olds who can whip up a serving of duck a l'Orange, bake perfect cream puffs, and cook a perfect medium rare steak, none of which I feel capable of doing.  (For one think, I like my steak well done, which would cause the Chef to puke ... and I've heard him do it many times after being served nasty food. Oy, some of those walk-in fridges make you never want to visit a restaurant again).

But, I felt inspired by those kids and decided to make the recipe I've been collecting ingredients for all week.

Pasta With White Beans And Kalamata Olives
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon salt
1/8 to ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
5 ounces uncooked rotini pasta
1 can (about 15 ounces) navy beans
1 can (about 14 ounces) diced tomatoes
½ cup pitted Kalamata olives
½ cup spinach leaves, packed
¼ cup (1 ounce) pine nuts, toasted
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
½ cup grated feta cheese
pepper, to taste

In a small bowl, combine the oil, garlic, salt and pepper flakes; set aside.  Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Meanwhile, drain the beans and tomatoes in a colander. Pour the pasta and cooking water over the beans and tomatoes. Drain well. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the garlic mixture, olives, spinach, nuts, and basil. Gently toss; blend well.  Top with the cheese.

Yield:  4 to 6 servings

Now, I don't like feta cheese, so I substituted Parmesan; I couldn't find pine nuts, but it tasted great without them. And fresh basil?  This is winter in Western NY. Dried worked out just fine. (See what I mean about tinkering with recipes.)

I may not be a Masterchef, but I'm happy when I make a recipe that works and then goes into the dinner rotation.  This one's a keeper.  And, it's going into my next cookbook (with my changes, of course), "written" by my character, Brenda Stanley.

Care to share a recipe for something you've made recently?

Do You Still Use These Kitchen Throwbacks?

by Karen Rose Smith



I learned to cook with my mom, my grandma and my aunt. The best times I remember were standing by their elbow while they created main dishes and desserts. It seemed only natural when I was in college and sharing an apartment with friends, that I started to cook myself. When I met my husband there, I began cooking for the two of us.

In the spring and summer I enjoy raising plants and gardening.  But in the fall and winter, I pull out my mom's recipe boxes and cook everything from soups to sauce to spaghetti to desserts.  I have an Italian background like my sleuth Caprice De Luca in my home staging mysteries.





Maybe because I learned to cook from my grandmother, mom and aunt, I still like to use kitchen implements and utensils that I watched them use. When I make pie shells, I roll them out on a pastry cloth with a rolling pin covered with a pastry sleeve. The rolling pin is as old as our marriage. I've tried the silicone rolling pins and mats, but made a mess of my pie doe. So I stick to the method that gives me the best result.














I don't use a sifter as much as my mom did, but I still have recipes that call for that finer version of flour. The sifter comes in handy.









The potato ricer, I inherited from my mother-in-law. I boil potatoes, then we mash them in the ricer and they come out like rice! Carefully mixed with butter and parsley, they are great with roasts or other meats. I believe some cooks also use the ricer to make applesauce.





I've gone through several glass juicers. But I always search the antique mart for the next one. Glass works better for me than plastic and if I just want to squeeze one lemon for a recipe, I don't want to bother with an electric juicer.






All these kitchen throwbacks have memories attached to them that make using them more worthwhile.

What kitchen implements from yesteryear do you still use...if any?

Diet Tricks

Okay, I’m in diet hell. Well it’s more like diet heck but it’s not great fun either.
I once belonged to Weight Watchers and I remember the guy who had the class said that once you were in WW you were forever in WW, that some part of your brain is always counting points.
I think he’s right but this time I’m counting calories. I went to this thing online and it had you put in your age, present weight, how much you want to lose and in what period of time. I said I wanted to lose ten pounds in a month. The little formula said I had to live on 1200 calories a day.
Let me tell you, 1200 calories is not much! So I bumped it to 1400 calories and it’s better. It will take me longer to shed the pounds but I least I won’t be eating the cat’s food.

Some things that help with the hunger are protein bars. I looked up which were the most healthy and realized they taste like sawdust so I went with pretty healthy. At least these are tasty and not loaded with sugar and they do keep me full.
Coffee is another trick that helps with weight loss. And it gives me pep when I’m tired and there is something warm to hold and sip, that’s nice in the dead of winter.
And I’ve been exercising more too. I have this walk/jog DVD that I can do. It’s only a half hour long, high cardio and since it’s in my house I can do it at midnight if I want…and have often done. This helps tighten the flab and I sure have my share. Did someone say love-handles? I must be the most loved person on the planet.
So what about you? Do you have tricks that help you lose weight? Something that you do that helps keep it off? I really appreciate the suggestions.
Hope you see less of me in the next few months.


Hugs, Duffy  

January Energy

by Maggie Sefton


January has always been a time for new ideas, at least it has been for me during my 30+ writing years.  I have started new writing projects in years past, took a six-month detour into non-fiction years ago----and I DO mean years ago---and taken up new  activities like cruising in the winter months.    Even though my Scottish ancestors urged me to save money this January and not cruise.  They're a bossy lot.    

I don't know why, but I've always felt a special kind of "energy" during this cold winter month.  Maybe it's because it IS cold and it IS winter.  Maybe that stimulates what I call "squirreling in" and writing new things.  A friend laughed when I used that squirrel reference once.  I guess it's because I can picture a squirrel, curled up in his nest high up in a tree, bushy tail wrapped around himself.  Or, maybe fictional Carl has transferred that image into my mind.  :)

Anyway----this January I'm starting Kelly Flynn #16, and readers will find some new things in the story.  Yes, this one will be the 16th Kelly mystery.  It's hard to believe.  Kelly first "stepped onstage" in my imagination back in the Fall of 2003.  Wow.  That's 14 years ago.  I am and have always been awed and overwhelmingly grateful to all the readers who have loved and supported Kelly and the Gang over the years.  I cannot fully express my gratitude.   Thank you, thank you.

Meanwhile, Kelly Flynn #15 will be released this coming June, entitled ONLY SKEIN DEEP.  I love that title.  My editor and her assistants came up with that one.  :)   Meanwhile, I hope everyone is enjoying their January----whether in your home reading, cruising the Caribbean as I was last year, or vacationing in some warmer clime.  Enjoy!  And keep reading.    

COOKING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

By Mary Kennedy              

I decided to try a fun experiment and try out some new recipes this winter. It's bitterly cold outside and this is a good time to be in the kitchen.  Some of the foods are exotic (see the Moroccan stew below) and some are puzzling. (We'll talk about pomegranates later.)

1. Moroccan stew. Has chickpeas, tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower, and loads of interesting spices. My recipe suggests serving it over couscous.
                                                            
 I won't be giving the recipes just yet because I need to try them out and see if they are "keepers."  2. Pomegranates.  Yes, they're an interesting fruit but what in the world could I cook with them? One of my friends says she makes jam out of them but it seems pretty labor-intensive. I may try it, though, and will keep you posted.                                                                                                                 3. Home made brioche. Ah, memories of Paris. I've got the recipe and I'm dying to make them. I bet the kitchen will smell delish.                                                                  4.   Yorkshire pudding, I've had this recipe for ages, My mother-in-law always made little individual ones.  She said the recipe was fool-proof.                                                                   5. Plantains are something I've always wanted to try. A friend gave me a recipe for a dessert with plantains sautéed in butter, topped with rum and whipped cream. Sounds delish.       6. Tarte Tatin, Yes, I know it's a French version of apple pie, but I've never made it. I've enjoyed it many times during trips to Paris, so I have a special attachment to it.  How about you? Have you experimented with any new recipes lately? Anything you'd like to share? I'd love to hear from you, and who knows, maybe your recipe will appear in the next Dream Club mystery. (with your approval of course.) Bon appetit and happy cooking! Mary Kennedy