Lisa Carter's Blog, page 17

Blueberry Pie #recipe

This would work equally well for blackberry pie. I cannot go to the mountains of North Carolina without purchasing blackberry jam—my all-time favorite.

The key to any great pie is the crust. So I’m sharing my mother-in-law’s Foolproof Pie Crust Recipe. Yes, I realize I’m the let’s-do-things-as-easy-as-possible chef. But this pie crust is worth the trouble. You won’t be sorry, I promise.

Foolproof Pie Crust—Ingredients:

•4 cups all-purpose flour

•1 3/4 cups vegetable shortening

•1 Tbsp sugar

•2 tsp salt

•1 Tbsp vinegar

•1 egg

•1/2 cup water

Directions:

1. With a fork, mix first 4 ingredients. In a separate dish, beat remaining ingredients. Combine the 2 mixtures, stirring with a fork till all ingredients are moistened.

2. Mold dough into a ball. Chill at least 15 minutes before rolling into desired shape. Dough can be left in the refrigerator up to 3 days or frozen until ready to use. Divide into 4 dough balls.

3. Roll out one ball for crust of blueberry pie.

Filling Ingredients:

6 cups of fresh blueberries, rinsed and stems removed
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup all-purpose flour to thicken
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter (unsalted), cut into small pieces

Egg Wash:

1 egg
1 tablespoon milk

Directions:

1. Roll out one dough ball to 1/8-inch-thick circle on a lightly floured work surface, about 13 inches in diameter. Position the dough over a 9-inch deep dish pie pan.

2. Stir the blueberries, sugar, flour, cinnamon, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a large bowl. Pour into the bottom crust of the pie pan. Dot with butter pieces. Roll out another dough ball to the same size and thickness as the first. Drape on top of the berry filling. Fold the top dough over and under the edge of the bottom crust. Crimp the edges. Chill until the dough is firm, about 30 minutes. Heat oven to 425°F.

3. Whisk egg and milk together for egg wash.

4. Brush the top crust with egg wash. Score the top pie crust with 4 cuts of knife (so steam can escape while cooking). Place the pie on the middle rack of the oven. I usually set pie in a shallow baking pan to catch any dribbles that may bubble over. Bake for 20 minutes at 425°. Reduce heat to 350°F and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until juices are bubbling and have thickened. Let cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

Enjoy.

For more photos and recipes from Beyond the Cherokee Trail, visit https://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beyond-the-cherokee-trail/.

 

Behind the Scenes Photos in the Creation of Beyond the Cherokee Trail

Our home away from home while researching Beyond the Cherokee Trail.

Loved the signs in Cherokee

The View of the Snowbird from the Cabin

Inspiration for Meetinghouse Church

Near Cherokee, NC—recommended by TJ Holland, Cultural Historian—we were not disappointed.

 

Cherokee County Historical Museum—Excellent Trail of Tears exhibit—Murphy, NC

Sunset over the Snowbird

Imagine hundreds of souls trudging through these mountains—6000 men, women and children would die before reaching modern-day Oklahoma.

For more behind-the-scenes photos of Beyond the Cherokee Trail, visit https://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beyond-the-cherokee-trail/.

The mysterious, hauntingly beautiful Snowbird.

Though birds trilled in this peaceful forest setting, the gouge marks bear testimony of the tragedy perpetrated here in 1838.

The wagon ruts are still visible. The trees haven’t quite grown back together even after 180 years.

Hunting Waterfalls in Snowbird Country

In the middle of the Snowbird Backcountry far, far away from any road—I kid you not. Moonshiners?

I’m a great believer in treasure hunts. When my husband and I went to Ireland, I searched high and low for obscure Celtic crosses—often found in the middle of a pasture filled with grazing cows. And yes, I climbed over barbed wire fences to get my photographs. Much to the amusement of Irish farmers, who laughed and shook their red Irish heads at the antics of those crazy Americans.

Then there was last summer when I—read family—researched Beyond the Cherokee Trail. Up and down the Blue Ridge Parkway, across the Great Smokies and Nantahala National Forest, we hiked in search of the perfect waterfall. Perfect for my upcoming scene at the end of the novel.

 

Ever since Last of the Mohicans, I’ve been a fan of waterfalls. If my editor lets me get away with it, I insert one into every novel I write.

 

 

 

I believe I became a bit obsessed with finding the waterfall under which the Snowbird Cherokee hid during the roundup for what became the Trail of Tears—aka Last of the Mohicans, be still my heart—and successfully eluded the U.S. army.

 

Obsessed because after a four hour hike of finding nothing, crossing knee-deep streams of rushing water, scrambling over rocky outcroppings perched precariously over river torrents, I had to be dragged off Snowbird Mountain. A mountain still so remote and isolated, it doesn’t surprise me that the Cherokee evaded capture. In this age of satellites and reconnaissance planes, I feel sure most of the modern-day Cherokee Nation could hide out there again and not be found.

Let’s not forget that fugitive Eric Rudolph hung out thereabouts for 7 years and only was arrested when he stumbled into town.

We—my husband and I, not “we” as in me and Eric Rudolph—traipsed over hill and dale without sighting another human being for over four hours. David estimates we covered about 10 miles of rugged terrain—I’m not talking Park Service Marked Pathways, either. No, we had to bushwhack our way through. I even went one foot in front of the other across a moss-covered log suspended over a ravine—Indiana Jones style.

 

‘ Cause I don’t just write the adventure, I live the adventure.

I’d retreated temporarily to the gravel parking lot at the base of the mountain to rehydrate and formulate my next foray onto the mountain when a vacationing family stopped and mentioned spotting a black bear.

That—not my husband’s pleas—convinced me not to return to the mountain. So I left and did the next best thing—I went shopping.

But since I’m quoting movies today, to quote Scarlett—”Tomorrow is another day.” One day I will return and I will find that missing waterfall. I’ve been studying geographical maps and I think I know where I took a wrong turn. I just need to ford the creek . . .turn left . . . and head up the eastern face until I either run smack into it or fall off.

Who’s with me?

 

For more behind-the-scenes photos of Beyond the Cherokee Trail, visit https://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beyond-the-cherokee-trail/.

 

Beyond the Cherokee Trail Cover Reveal

Releasing today—

“Carter (Vines of Entanglement) pays tribute to a tragic event in American history with this compelling contemporary story about the power of forgiveness, prayer, and faith in God. A solid choice for fans of Lori Benton’s Burning Sky and other inspirational cross-cultural romances.”—Library Journal

RT Book Reviews — 4 1/2 stars and September’s Top Pick—

“Carter does a phenomenal job in bringing the Trail of Tears to life through the journal of Sarah Jane Hopkins, a nurse who walked the trail alongside the Cherokee. The juxtaposition of Sarah Jane’s story alongside that of Linden Birchfield, who moved to Cartridge Cove 180 years later, keeps the story fresh and engrosses readers throughout the novel. Walker and Linden’s struggles—with each other and with reconciling their own pasts—helps create realistic characters who readers love.”

Paper Tape and Pins Book Review

“This is my favorite hands down of Lisa Carter’s books so far. I have a few reasons for this, such as for the story, which is present day blended every chapter or so with an 1800’s storyline telling first hand the story of the Trail of Tears. This is a method I often find irritating but it was done top notch here and I was equally invested in both stories. I really appreciated the deeper themes woven in dealing with grief and fear, and finding your home not in a place or family but ultimately in God who is the only one who will never fail you.

Beyond The Cherokee Trail is a well written story, rich with history and makes you think deeper than you may have expected to, but it is not slow nor does it drag at any point. I was not tempted to skip ahead a few pages, or breeze over the sermon (there are none), you know how that can be. It’s fantastic, add this one to your reading list!“



For behind the scenes photos, visit https://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beyond-the-cherokee-trail/.
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Trail of Tears Hymn 2 minute #video

Powerful Cherokee rendition of “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”.

 

 

For behind-the-scenes photos of Beyond the Cherokee Trail, visit https://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beyond-the-cherokee-trail/.

Summertime Tomato Sandwich #recipe

Straight from your garden or the local farmer’s market

Slice one ripe tomato.

Slather white bread with your favorite mayonnaise.

Mayo loyalty in the South ranges between Duke’s or Miracle Whip.

Salt and pepper tomato wheels.

A taste of summer brought to you from Beyond the Cherokee Trail. Enjoy.

For more recipes or photos from Beyond the Cherokee Trail, visit https://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beyond-the-cherokee-trail/.

 

 

Ready to Learn to Play Stickball? A 3 minute #video

And you thought lacrosse was difficult?

For behind-the-scenes photos of Beyond the Cherokee Trail, visit https://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beyond-the-cherokee-trail/.

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in the Nantahala National Forest

“This forest is one of the America’s most impressive remnants of old-growth forest. The forest contains magnificent examples of more than 100 tree species, many over 400-years-old, and some more than 20 feet in circumference and 100 feet tall. This 3,800-acre forest was set aside in 1936 as a memorial to the author of the poem “Trees,” Joyce Kilmer, who was killed in action in France during World War I. This forest, part of the Joyce Kilmer-Slick Rock Wilderness, is maintained in its primitive state. The only way to see this forest is on foot. A 2-mile trail leads to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial and loops through giant trees. ” Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

There’s something ethereal about the Joyce Kilmer National Forest. Like Walker Crowe states in Beyond the Cherokee Trail, here lies a green cathedral made not with human hands but divine hands that arch toward the Creator of all things.

Once when my girls were very small, we took them hiking in the Joyce Kilmer. To rest for a moment, I settled them next to each other on top of a very large boulder in the middle of the forest. When I turned around, a shaft of light fell upon them from the sky through the immense tree canopy. Dappled in light, the beam created a sort of halo around their little heads. It was one of those blink of the eye moments, like a blessed benediction from God. I immediately snapped the photo and that picture remains one of my favorites.

So I’m a true believer. There is something very special about the Joyce Kilmer. Have you ever ventured there?

For more behind-the-scenes photos of Beyond the Cherokee Trail, visit https://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beyond-the-cherokee-trail/.

Why I Wrote Beyond the Cherokee Trail

I’m going to be honest with you—I’m not sure how this story came to be on the printed page. Sure, I’m the one who typed the words. Sure, I’m the little girl who refused to leave the Cherokee exhibit at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. Every single year . . .

And sure, my first encounter involved coming face to face with fake Cherokee Indians on board the Tweetsie Railroad when I wandered too close to the staged Indian attack as a 3-year-old. Raised tomahawks leave an impression—fake or not. How in my preschool terror I vaulted over a fenced partition twice my height to get to my daddy is still the stuff of legends in my family.

But hence, my fascination—to the best of my recollection—with the Cherokee and with the larger Native American population began. That’s it in a nutshell. Thank you very much, Tweetsie.

I am not and have never been Native American. Nor am I a wannabe. Just fascinated and intrigued by their persistence and perseverance to survive despite overwhelming odds.

For those of you who know me well, sounds like a page out of my own personal history.

So I studied about them in school. Took college classes. Read everything I could get my hands on. And become sort of an unofficial expert. When my family traveled to Alaska, I insisted we visit the Native Cultural Center. When my in-laws settled in Colorado near Four Corners, guess where I wanted to go?

Out of that was born Beneath a Navajo Moon and Under a Turquoise Sky.

But my thoughts drifted back home eventually to North Carolina, which has the largest Native American population east of the Mississippi. I knew a lot of Lumbee as a teenager at summer camp so I wrote Vines of Entanglement next.

And I kind of knew my next one had to be about the Cherokee. I started with my preliminary research and I kid you not, I got cold shivers when I read about the Snowbird Cherokee and how they’d escaped the mass roundup during the Trail of Tears. I realized the 180th commemoration of the Trail was on the horizon, and I intended as always to write about what fascinates me most—the modern-day Indian and their juxtaposition into the larger American culture.

But somehow in the process of creating Linden and Walker, Sarah Jane and Pierce, Touch the Clouds and Leila were born. They just came to me. Whole and complete.

One of the best things about writing is that often I get to visit the actual places where I’ve set my stories. I hope this special place in the mountains of North Carolina and the Snowbird people will capture your imagination and grip your heart as they do mine. Though the characters in this story are fictional, the historic events recounted are not.

Another great thing about writing stories is the people I meet along the way. Like T.J. Holland, Cultural Resources Manager for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina and curator of the tribally-owned Junaluska Museum. A renown Snowbird Cherokee artist, he patiently answered my many questions and helped me to locate what remains of the Tatham Gap Road where the gouged wagon ruts made on the Trail can still be seen. Deep in the woods outside Robbinsville, it is a painfully beautiful yet slightly haunted place. As if the earth itself remembers the suffering of those who once trod this path.

One more great thing about writing is what I learn about Jesus and what He does in me through the writing of the story. This story became—for me—about how far God’s mercy reaches. And so at the cross, here I raise my Ebenezer. By Your help I’ve come. You are the beginning and the end of my journey. For truly, the farther we’ve traveled together, the sweeter will come the end.

All this to say, this story is not mine, but one of those things which you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is God’s story. An eternal story of His mercy and grace, not just to Linden, Sarah, Walker, Pierce, Touch the Clouds or Leila, but to all who’ve been broken and felt abandoned by the guilt of their transgressions or the pain of loss.

If you’ve ever felt unwanted or unloved or weary, God invites you to come. Because in Christ, there are no outcasts.

My prayer for you, today, if you’ve fallen or if you grieve, is that you would discover for yourself the God of all peace and all comfort. That you would lay hold of the God who offers grace in the hour of your greatest need.

And Beyond.

 

For behind-the-scenes photos of Beyond the Cherokee Trail, visit https://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beyond-the-cherokee-trail/.

Beyond the Cherokee Trail book trailer

 

 

For more behind-the-scenes photos of Beyond the Cherokee Trail, visit https://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beyond-the-cherokee-trail/.