H.A. Larson's Blog, page 50

Recipe of the Week: Fried Tofu with Homemade BBQ Sauce

Mmm, mmm, mmm. To me, there's nothing better on a cool night than a nice hearty meal, and one of my favorites is crispy, fried tofu. People have a love/hate relationship with the block of soy protein known as tofu, but I'm here to tell you: if you cook it right, it's amazing.
First off, when you buy your tofu, put one in the fridge and one in the freezer. Why? Well, tofu, like everything else, will keep indefinitely in the freezer. I know this for a fact because I accidentally forgot about a block of tofu that had been hiding in my deep freezer for a year....still perfect! Also, once you freeze tofu, the texture changes. This texture change is more appealing to people, especially those who aren't particularly into it. Second, you need to lightly batter and fry it up. Here, then, is my fool-proof recipe for perfect fried tofu. I'm including the easy-peasy bbq sauce I make with it, but you can use your favorite store-bought.



Fried Tofu with Homemade BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:
Tofu:
1 block of frozen tofu, thawed and drained. *1/2 c. cornstarch1 t. corn meal1 t. each garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, turmeric, smoked paprika, salt, and pepperOil for frying
BBQ Sauce:
1 can tomato paste1.5 c. water1/4 c. brown sugar1/4 c. maple syrup2 T. brown mustard1 T. apple cider vinegar1 t. molasses2 t. each garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, parsley, chives, lemon-pepper1 t. cayenne pepper1 T. olive oil

Instructions:
1. Whisk together all the sauce ingredients in a sauce pan, then bring to a boil on the stove.2. As soon as the sauce comes to a boil, turn down the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.3. Cut your tofu into four pieces, set aside. **4. Mix up the rest of the tofu ingredients in a shallow bowl.5. Dredge the tofu, making sure to get the sides as well.6. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat until ripples begin to form.7. Put two pieces of the tofu in the pan, frying on both sides for approx. 5 minutes on each side. ***8. Set the tofu aside to drain.9. Turn off the sauce when it's done, then spoon it over the tofu.


Notes:

* You can literally squeeze the thawed out tofu to drain of water, otherwise, wrap in paper towels, sandwich between two plates, then stack canned goods on the plate. It takes about 15 minutes to get most of the moisture out.** You can make more tofu if you want. Just double the dredge ingredients per block of tofu.*** Cook times can vary with stoves, so keep a good eye on it while frying. 

I served this with roasted brussel sprouts and this great millet cake recipes from Forks over Knives for a fantastically delicious meal. Enjoy, and comment if you try and like this!  

Coffee Talk: Illness, Playing Catch-up, and the Latest Word

Good morning, and welcome to another edition of Coffee Talk! Have you got your coffee? Me too, so let's get started.
First up, SICKNESS. Oh my god you guys, I have been sick for two and a half weeks now, and I fear that I'm never going to get over it. I got sick the Sunday before vacation week, was sick all through vacation, went back to work sick, and, yep, you guessed it, I'm still freaking sick! I can't even remember the last time I've felt so poor for so long, but it's really hampering my life. 
I was pretty unproductive the week before vacation, I powered through vacation but at a slower pace, and I've been pretty unproductive since I've gotten back. This has sucked, in more ways than one, and I want to feel better. I went to the doctor when I first got sick, but I'm going back today. Hopefully, they can do something to help.

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The flip side of being sick & exhausted all the time is that it's really thrown my life into limbo. I haven't been able to do the things I want and need to do. I have obligations and The Write Life that need tending, but I've had zero energy to do them.

I am so close to finishing The Box that it's not even funny, but I haven't felt well enough to complete it yet! I've been reminding myself that I shouldn't get down on myself for being sick, and that it won't be long before it's back to business as usual.

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Never fear though, I will finish that book, and I've already got big plans for The Write Life here in the near future. I've got a decent plot line thought out for my next book, which -- while still a thriller -- will be a bit different from my other stuff. I also have a trilogy planned for farther down the road. This means that I'm still plenty rife with ideas, and that I'm not going anywhere soon, even if my clinging-on sickness makes me feel like I'm not getting anywhere with anything.

I've started editing my vacation photos, so I'm thinking that Saturday is the day for the big post!

Until then, have a good day, and I'll see you on Friday.

I'm Back!

Good morning! It's Monday, I got back from vacation yesterday evening, I have a cup of coffee in my hand, and it's time to go back to work. I'm am not quite ready for real life yet -- which makes me think I should've taken an extra day off to recuperate from vacation -- but, at the same time, I'm kind of ready to get back to the grind. Vacation is a nice break from reality, but it's also like living in a sort of limbo, so I imagine heading back into my routine will be good.
This week, I'll be writing some more on The Box (hopefully I can finally finish it), and posting a few cool blogs. Ipsy came while I was gone, I have a great tofu recipe, and, of course, I will have more than a few posts dedicated to activities I participated in while on vacay. So, stay tuned for those, because you won't want to miss them.
Until Wednesday!
-H.A.

Short and Bittersweet

Good morning! It's Friday and I hope you're getting ready to enjoy your weekend. Today is a bittersweet day for me as my week of vacation is nearing its end. I've had a really great time, and I've done & seen many cool things this week that it will be hard to go back to the grind next week. 
As it typical for a week spent away from normal life, it's given me time to reflect on many things. Long walks in the woods, climbing mountains, and scenic drives through the forest have really got me thinking. Discovery has come my way as well, revealing things ignored and things hidden. It's been eye-opening to say the least.
So, what does this mean for me? I'm not sure, to be honest. Often, I make hasty decisions -- as humans are wont to do -- but this time I want to take time to really think things through. It's not a race, but rather a journey, and I want to make the best of that journey, no matter how rocky the path may be.
Am I speaking in riddles today? Kinda maybe. You know me though, my blog is an insight to me. More than an view into my writing life, it's a small window into my whole world, and it allows me a place to write out my thoughts and feelings. That's what writers do, you know, put it all out there in the written (or, in this case, typed) word.
I won't be putting up my usual Saturday post tomorrow, and we'll be packing up and heading for a one-night stay in the northern part of the state. You never know though, I might post something this weekend yet. Until then, enjoy this gorgeous weather, and live life with a little adventure. There's only one life for us to live, so make the most of it.
-H.A.

Mount Magazine

Good morning! I hope your week is going well. I'm on vacation, of course, but it hasn't been without a challenge. The sickness that I've been plagued with, just won't seem to leave me alone. I've been quite congested and afflicted with overall body exhaustion, but I haven't let it stop me! I didn't come all the way to the majestic forests and mountains of Arkansas to be stopped by leftover sickness.
Yesterday was our first full day here, and so we headed out to my pick: Mount Magazine. It's the tallest mountain in Arkansas and sits firmly within the Ozark Mountains. 




Signal Hill is the highest point in Arkansas and sits on the uppermost part of Mount Magazine. We hiked to it, of course.




There's a lodge on top of Mount Magazine, which, as you can see, was completely surrounded by fog. Mount Magazine creates its own weather, and it foggy nine days out of every month. Yesterday was one of those days.




After we climbed Signal Hill, we mosied over to the Visitor's Center where we hiked along the ridges of Mount Magazine. While the fog obscured far off visions, we could see it pretty well and it sure didn't take away from the magnificent beauty that surrounded us. We sure enjoyed every second we were there.

I'll be back Friday with another update post. Have a great day!

Headed to the Great Outdoors

Today is the day I've been waiting for for months: vacation!! We've known for the last several months when we were taking a family vacation, but hadn't nailed down where until a few months ago (which you can read about here if you're so inclined). And let me tell you, I couldn't be more excited. As I sit here, typing this, and drinking my morning cup of coffee, my mind is hundreds of miles away in the mountains and forests of the Ozarks.

Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.



View of the Ozark Mountains from a rock crop in Petit Jean State Park.



Cedar Falls at Petit Jean State Park.



View of the Ozark Mountains through a shelter at Mather Lodge.

I'm going to sign off now, it's time to round up the family. The car is packed and we're all ready for our outdoor adventure. I'm coming for you Mother Nature, and I'm going full speed.

This week, I'll be posting snippets of our trip. Sometime after we get back, however, I'll unleash a big old post about our vacation. So keep it glued right here! 
-H.A.

Latest Libations: 5th Edition

Good morning, and Happy Saturday. I'm so glad the weekend is here! I've been sick this week and, since I rarely get sick, it's been a doozy. I finally get over the body aches on Thursday, just to really begin coughing and blowing my nose. I'm on the mend though, it just takes forever it seems.
Anyway, it's time for another installment of Latest Libations! I've had some new, interesting, and good beers, so I thought I'd share, naturally. Let's get started.




New Belgium typically puts out a decent beer, and I do like my fruity blends, so when I saw this Juicy Watermelon Lime Ale, I thought I should try it. This beer gave me the fruity tastes that I love, and the watermelon-lime combination was quite good together, without being super sweet. In fact, this one was just barely sweet so it didn't take away from the taste of the ale either.




Deschutes India Red Ale was everything I expected in a India Red Ale. As far as IRAs go, this one is one of the better ones.




I love this beer. Like I've mentioned before, grapefruit beers cannot be overlooked! Schofferhofer makes this delicious Grapefruit Hefeweizen, and the combination is fantastic.




Wow. What can I say? This drink is amazing. I wasn't expecting anything other than "good" when I took my first sip of Crabbie's Cloudy Alcoholic Lemonade that my husband bought for me, but, man, I was sure surprised! This was probably the tastiest fruity drink I've ever had the pleasure of indulging in.





Breckenridge Brewery makes this Oatmeal Stout, and it's quite good. I really like a dark, heavy stout to balance out all those fruit beers I like, and this one was more than adequate. Dark, creamy, strong, and perfectly balanced, this drink will make your dessert sing. Give it a try!

The Short: Review of Fisthammer's Devour All You See

Hello there! Thanks for stopping by. Today, I'm going to introduce another new segment. It's called "The Short" and will consist of short, but sweet, reviews of music. I'll review mainly albums, but don't be surprised if a video or concert gets thrown in here once in awhile.
A bit of a backstory: I'm a metalhead. I love different genres and styles of music, like Classical, Blues, Renaissance Folk, Rock 'n Roll, Punk, and even some 60's Pop, but my one true love has always been Metal. A schoolmate lent me a copy of Judas Priest's Screaming for Vengeance, and Iron Maiden's Powerslave back in 5th Grade, and, as the saying goes, I never looked back. It shouldn't be much of a surprise, as a writer & fan of horror, that I'm a metalhead.
I mentioned recently that I had gotten into the whole bandcamp thing. It's there that new life has been breathed into my love of the metal genre. There's so much great music out there to find and explore, that it's been a real breath of fresh air. 





Fisthammer -- now defunct, R.I.P -- was a band from Philiadelphia, PA, USA. 2012's Devour All You See was their debut album (they put out one more in 2014 before splitting up). Mainly a Death Metal band, they did incorporate some technical and melodic aspects to their album. I say this because while it's an obviously death metal album, the complexity of the song structures and riffs weaves effortlessly between the technical and melodic side of the genre. 
Indeed, the opening riff begins like a standard death metal song that immediately shifts into the technical/melodic structure that I mentioned. This continues song after song until it becomes clear that this is their hallmark. They consistently, song after song, deliver a hard-driving, fast-paced, skillful treat for the ears. Unrelenting, it takes you effortlessly through the entire album.
I highly recommend this album, which can be purchased for $6.66 (or more if you'd like) on bandcamp. Find it here: Fisthammer's DAYS.
Favorite track: Bullet RapeFor fans of: Kataklysm

The Steamboat Bertrand

Good morning! So today will be the third, and last, installment of the Loess Hills Adventure I went on with my best friend and Nature Girl. Our last stop of the day was at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. One of the highlights there (besides the awesome wildlife and nature to explore) is the Steamboat Bertrand exhibit. 
Omaha is a Missouri River town -- which is exactly how it got it's start -- and DeSoto lies along the river as well, just farther North. Steamboats were the semi trucks of yesteryear, carrying goods and people to various parts of the country via rivers. Many towns and cities (Omaha among them) sprouted up along America's rivers as a drop off point for all these people and goods.
It was one such steamboat, The Bertrand, that hit a snag north of Omaha and sank in 1865. While no one lost their life, all the goods aboard sunk, and it wasn't until a couple of salvagers discovered the wreck at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in 1968 that they were recovered. For more information, click here, and for really detailed information, click here. 
Since the wreck was found on National Wildlife lands, the wreck -- and all its goods -- became the property of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. Everything recovered was carefully cleaned & cataloged, and DeSoto Wildlife Refuge, then, built a huge exhibit at the visitor's center, which you can see to this day. The cost of entry is a $3.00/car entry fee, so why not go? Besides, as I mentioned in this post and this one, there is plenty of things to do there.




The entrance to the exhibit.




This is the huge room that houses all the artifacts that were recovered from the wreck of the Bertrand. 




Cannonball shot, utensils/tools of some kind, and artillery shells.




Some clothing and fabric that would have been a nice addition to any general store in the wilds of 1800s America.




That big bellow would have been used to facilitate the fires that kept the steamboat going. If you're interested in how steamboats worked, here's the Wikipedia article on it.




Enclosed in glass is a model of what the Steamboat Bertrand looked like in its heyday.




I'm not sure what this is, but it would have been the center of the large wheels that helped the steamboat move down the river.




The Refuge is a huge place, and you can actually go to the pond where the Bertrand was found. This is it! Somewhere beneath these murky waters still lies the hull of the Steamboat Bertrand.




My best friend checking out the pond, hoping for a glimpse of the hull.

Cool, huh? If you ever find yourself in Missouri Valley, Iowa, or if you live in the area, take an hour and check out the DeSoto Wildlife Refuge. Even if the weather is cold, you'll be able to check out the visitor's center which includes the fascinating exhibit on the Bertrand.

Dollar Tree Vegan Snack Haul

I've always been a fan of the Dollar Tree. Where else can you spend $50 on things you didn't know you needed? Actually, they have a nice selection of things and there are plenty of great buys to be had. They are great for finding gift bags and wrapping supplies, great holiday cards, seeds for planting, seasonal decor, household supplies (like qtips, kleenex, and storage containers). 
As a vegan, though, some of my favorite snacks and treats come from the Dollar Tree. Yep, it's true, the DT has me covered. Here's a link to learn about some other Dollar Tree Vegan goodies, but keep in mind that you'll have some variation from store to store, and region to region. Anyway, they recently built a DT close to my home (oh yeah baby!), so I go there more frequently than I have in the past. A few weeks ago, we hit up DT in order to get some snacks for family movie night (they have an enormous section of movie theatre candy as well as other snacks), so I thought I'd share my vegan snack haul.




Oh my! Who doesn't love some warm, soft pretzels! They come with the salt packets separate, so you can decide if and how much salt you want to add. I'll whip up a quick vegan cheese sauce, and yum!




I have a thing for the Lay's Stax, plain of course, and so I always grab some for snacks. This dark chocolate bar is also vegan, and so I buy it for choco-attacks.




Fruity candy is my favorite, as well as a touch of sour sometimes, so these two lovelies came home with me.




Okay, so these aren't really snacks but I grabbed them anyway and thought I'd share. Coconut milk can be spendy, but I love having it on hand for when I have a hankering for Indian food. On the right is one of my favorite items from DT, El Pato's Salsa de Chile Fresco. Basically, it's a tomato sauce spiced up with chiles, garlic, and onions. OMG you guys, it's spicy and fabulous and is the PEFECT enchilada sauce. It's only a buck you guys....one dollar!
So there you have it, just a glimpse into the vegan goodies you can get at the Dollar Tree. They have tons of other good stuff, and, believe it or not, their freezer section is a vegan dream. Go check them out for yourself sometime!