Elizabeth A. Reeves's Blog, page 6
August 10, 2012
Adrift Contest: Awesome Prizes, Easy Entry
Contest is open from NOW until Adrift has been available for 8 days. Adrift will be available soon!
*$25 Amazon gift certificate
*Free Kindle edition of Adrift
*Free Nook edition of Adrift
How to play:
Tweet with hashtags #LastSelkie and #Adrift @SelkieHorse (1 entry per tweet)
Buy Adrift and comment below (10 entries per purchase, enter unique quote from book to verify)
'Like' my Facebook page (5 entries)
Review Adrift (on blog, Amazon, Goodreads, or BN, then post link here) (10 entries/review)
Review Avow (on blog, Amazon, Goodreads, or BN, then post link here) (5 entries/review)
'Like' and Share the Adrift book trailer on YouTube (1 entry)
You can enter as many times as you want. If we reach 500 sales on premiere week, I will give one lucky reader a $50 gift certificate to their bookseller of choice.
Results will be randomly drawn.
Make sure you comment with what you have done!
August 5, 2012
The Selkie Legend
Long ago the selkie came to shore, seeking lovers among the mortals. They would linger with their families until the call of the sea became to great for them to bear... then they would don their seal-skins and disappear into the mists... or so the selkie legend says.
I assume that I am descended from a selkie myself. I come from an Irish line with curly dark hair and a strong affinity to water.
I've never been able to stay away from water. I'm the kind of person who stands out in the rain, no matter how cold it may be. My brother and I would swim from February to November every year as we were growing up. My parents had to instate a rule that we had to get out if our lips turned blue.
The ocean, of course, has a magic all of its own. The waves, the colors, the hiss of the water cresting onto the sand... I am very much in love with the sea.
I have always wondered if I might actually be a part of the selkie legend. What if one of my ancestors really came out of the water and lived as a mortal? Would s/he have stayed with the family or left when the call of the sea became to strong?
I dream of swimming in the depths of the ocean all the time. In my dreams I am quick and supple in the water. I don't have to hold my breath because I am so at one with the element.
I live in a desert, far away from any beaches, far away from the sea... but I am pretty sure I have saltwater in my veins.
I assume that I am descended from a selkie myself. I come from an Irish line with curly dark hair and a strong affinity to water.
I've never been able to stay away from water. I'm the kind of person who stands out in the rain, no matter how cold it may be. My brother and I would swim from February to November every year as we were growing up. My parents had to instate a rule that we had to get out if our lips turned blue.
The ocean, of course, has a magic all of its own. The waves, the colors, the hiss of the water cresting onto the sand... I am very much in love with the sea.
I have always wondered if I might actually be a part of the selkie legend. What if one of my ancestors really came out of the water and lived as a mortal? Would s/he have stayed with the family or left when the call of the sea became to strong?
I dream of swimming in the depths of the ocean all the time. In my dreams I am quick and supple in the water. I don't have to hold my breath because I am so at one with the element.
I live in a desert, far away from any beaches, far away from the sea... but I am pretty sure I have saltwater in my veins.
July 10, 2012
Miranda Cupcakes
I whipped up a batch of chocolate chipotle cupcakes with a dark chocolate cinnamon ganache and filled with homemade marshmallow fluff, just to hit the other end of the spectrum. It was rich, decadent, and slightly evil.As I was still a little miffed with my mother, I named it the Miranda cupcake.
Miranda Cupcakes
3 sticks butter3 1/2 cups sugar2 2/3 C Flour2 1/4 C buttermilk1 1/2 C unsweetened cocoa powder1 1/2 tsp baking powder1 tsp baking soda4 large eggs8 oz dark chocolate, melteddark, milk, and bittersweet chocolate chips (1 cup each)1 teaspoon salt3 teaspoons cayenne pepper3 teaspoons chipotle pepper powder1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven to 325Cream together better and sugar until light in color. Add eggs, buttermilk, and melted chocolate. Sift together dry ingredients. Add to wet ingredients. Do not over mix or cupcakes will be tough. Add chocolate chips, fold in. Bake for about 20 minutes. Cool.
Filling:2 egg whites
2/3 cups light corn syrup1/4 teaspoon salt2/3 cups granulated sugar1 tablespoon vanilla extract
In a large bowl of an electric mixer, add egg whites, corn syrup, and salt.Using your electric mixer on high speed, mix for approximately 5 minutes or until the mixture is thick and volume has almost doubled. On low speed, add powdered sugar and mix until well blended. Add vanilla extract just until well blended.
Cinnamon Chocolate Ganache:1 cup heavy cream8 oz dark chocolate1/4 C sugar1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Heat heavy cream and sugar to a low boil in saucepan. Pour over chocolate and cinnamon in a bowl, stir until chocolate melted and silky. Chill until use.
Cut or poke a hole in the cooled cupcakes. Fill with filling. Dip in ganache.
