Carrrot Apple Slaw With Maple Vinaigrette

One of my favorite things about cooking is how dishes you throw together from leftovers can turn into magic. This delicious carrot apple slaw is the perfect example. 

I wanted some type of side salad to go with pork chops. I had a partial bag of matchstick carrots, an apple, a few grapes, and a sad stalk of celery. Since I have a mandolin slicer, I got the idea of making the apple into matchsticks the same size as the carrots. Then I made a variation on one of my favorite dressings. And a star was born. 

This crunchy salad is not only delicious, there's nothing in there to wilt. It stays crunchy for days, even after it's dressed.

Let's check out the ingredients.

For a large batch, you'll need a bag of matchstick carrots, two sweet apples like Fuji or honey crisp, seedless grapes, and two or three stalks of celery.

For the dressing, you'll need 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon of whole grain mustard, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, (real maple syrup, please. No Aunt Jemima's brown pancake goop. If you can't get maple syrup, use brown sugar.) 1 tablespoon of mayo (not Miracle Whip), and some salt and pepper. And about 4 tablespoons of olive oil.

I like to use a small jar to shake the dressing in. If you don't have a jar, you can whisk it in a bowl.

Combine the vinegar, mustard, and maple syrup with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Give it a good shake or whisk.

Once it is well-combined, add the mayo and olive oil. Then shake or whisk again to combine it all. Now let's make the slaw.

Having a V-slicer or mandolin like this with the matchstick blade makes this incredibly easy to put together. Otherwise, you can just cut into neat slices with a knife.

I start with a bag of matchstick carrots. You could also cut them into matchsticks yourself or just grate the carrots on a box grater.

Then I use the v-slicer to make matchsticks out of the apple. I leave it unpeeled to add color from the peel. Thanks to the acidity in the dressing, the apple will not brown in the salad. But don't leave them undressed for very long.

Now thinly slice the celery. The mandolin will make it super-thin, but you can use a knife.

If the seedless grapes are large, you can halve them.

Mix it all together. Pour on the dressing and coat everything thoroughly.

This is especially good for summer picnics. It was also absolutely beautiful on an Easter buffet.

The Accidental Christian Author

I wrote a book called What The Chat Dragged In that I'm very proud of. It's a mystery, an intense one that deals with some very dark subject matter. It's also a romance about two people who feel as if they are each irretrievably broken. And there's a lot of cracking wise, too. Because that's how I am in real life. The darker the situation, the more likely I am to let fly with the jokes. There's also a lot of talk about food in there, too. I like to cook, I like to eat. Generally my characters do as well. Part of it is that I can't imagine not loving cooking and it also gives my characters an interest I can write about without having to do a great deal of research. I don't know how to play golf, but I can tell you how to score a hole-in-one with a pot roast.

But as I read reviews for this book and talked to friends who read it, I discovered something else as well.

This was the first Amazon review: 

"I cannot pin down exactly what genre to put this book in. It's a quirky romance, it's a witty mystery, it's a foodie book, it's a crime novel, it's a little bit of a police procedural, there's elements of Christian fiction, it deals with non-combat PTSD... This is not entirely an easy novel to read because even though it's fiction we know that the evil that is a main character actually exists in our world."

I don't know that I've ever thought of my work as what is considered "Christian " fiction, at least not the kind that would end up under that genre on a bookstore shelf.

But according to another review, it's a pretty dominant theme.

"This is the second book I've read by this author and I liked them both. That's surprising because they have a bit of a Christian slant and I usually avoid these. Here it is not intrusive and it is part of the story. The ending is satisfying and I'm looking forward to the next book.

Unless you have a strong anti Christian bias this book is worth your time."

I'm not complaining at all about that review. It was five stars and I think the reviewer was honestly concerned that some people might be put off. 

So is What The Chat Dragged In a piece of Christian fiction? As I said before, you wouldn't find it in a Christian bookstore. There's violence, lots and lots of unapologetic pre-marital sex, and it deals with the dark, dark subject matter of pedophilia.  There's also some church-going. But I wonder if that shows my Midwestern self more than my faith.

Most people I know go to church. It's not a big deal. It's just part of their lives. White, straight conservative or gay, black liberal, church is just part of their lives. It comes up in conversation. People say they will pray for each other, and they mean it. It's not weird. It's not preachy. It just is.

In What The Chat Dragged In, a main character's brother-in-law is a pastor and that does figure into the plot. And the choice between the ideal of forgiveness and the satisfaction of revenge is central. I suppose that perhaps the unusual thing here is that in a book that features pastors and pedophiles, the pastor is not the pedophile.

I see much stronger religious overtones in my first mystery American Goth, though I promise you it was not something I planned. It just happened.

Although as my main character in that book explains, she doesn't think she's that good of a Christian, “Sometimes I am. I don’t tithe and I take the Lord’s name in vain and I don’t have much sympathy for people in prison and sometimes I wish the homeless would just go home.”

In my books, as in life, questions about God and faith and doing the right thing are mixed in with tragedy, comedy, sex, and all kinds of other stuff.

Like a lot of folks, the first thing that pops into my mind when I hear a piece of popular culture labeled "Christian" is the hope that it will not be preachy or bland. Which is interesting, since the Bible is one of the juiciest, spiciest, most violent reads you'll ever see. It's chocked full of flawed individuals that fall short of their ideals. It's kind of what I aim for, too.

Star Trek Deep Space Nine - House Ishka: How Quark's Mom Won The Game Of Thrones

I've had the pleasure recently of re-watching all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine again on Netflix and Amazon Prime. It has always been my favorite Trek series, even though back when I watched it for the first time in the 1990s, I thought the pace was a little slow sometimes. 
 
Now that I'm binge-watching, I see something else. Of course, I don't have to wait a week or months between episodes now.  While you might think at first glance that DS9 is the story of The Emissary and of Bajor, I think it there's another story arc that stands out: the rise of the House of Ishka.  Quark's mother played the game of thrones perfectly - and she won.
 
In the first episode, we meet Quark, the greedy, shady, Ferengi bar owner and his nephew, Nog, a petty thief who is breaking into quarters .  Later, we meet Quark's brother and Nog's father, Rom. Rom is seemingly a babbling idiot.


Early on we learn that there's a little more to everyone than we first saw. Nog wants to go to school and learn. Rom actually takes part in a plot to bump off his brother. And we learn that Quark is sharp and smart and sometimes has a tiny bit of a soft spot.

We also learn that Ferengi females do not have it easy. They are forbidden to travel, so they can't leave the home world. They are not permitted to wear clothes. (It invites others to unclothe them)  They cannot earn profit own. (Profit is to Ferengi what honor is to Klingons and logic to Vulcans - the entire basis of your standing in society) They mustn't speak to strangers, and they even have to chew the food for their husband and sons. 

By the time the series moves into season 3, we learn that Nog wants to be the first Ferengi to attend Starfleet Academy.  He knows, that like his father, he's not good at earning profit, and he wants a different kind of life for himself.  Rom, it turns out is a mechanical genius. (he once fixed a holodeck with string and a spoon)  However, being a mechanical genius doesn't matter in Ferengi society, so he's stuck as a lackey for his brother Quark.

Then we meet Quark and Rom's mother, Ishka.  She's in big trouble back on their home world. Not only is she wearing clothes and talking to strangers, she's EARNING PROFIT. If she doesn't fess up and give the profit back, Quark will lose his assets and his mother will be put into indentured servitude.  Quark is horrified to learn that his mother has earned far more money than the Ferengi authorities know about. Much more than he could ever pay back by turning over all of his profit. 

We learn that Rom is Ishka's favorite because he is just like his late father Keldar. Keldar had no head for profit, but he was a kind man who understood people. Quark, on the other hand is just like his mother, ruthless with a sharp head for business.  But he's unwilling to budge on Ferengi law. He thinks the law is the law.  

Rom and Ishka come up with a plan where it appears to Quark and the Ferengi authorities that Ishka has given back her profits and repented, when she's actually kept 2/3 of her profits and plans on doing a better job hiding her transactions.

Meanwhile, Rom's mechanical abilities do not go unnoticed and he begins to work with engineering on Deep Space Nine as his son goes off to Starfleet Academy.  Since, we know that Nog has gone back to see his grandmother for extended visits, you have to wonder if she wasn't the one who put the bug in his ear about attending Starfleet.

Ishka begins a relationship with Grand Nagus Zek - the political and economic leader of the Ferengi Alliance. His mind is beginning to fail, and Ishka becomes the power behind the scenes, offering economic and political advice.

Quark ultimately sees that his mother is doing what's best for their people and supports her, even though it troubles him to see society change so rapidly. When she's kidnapped, he helps lead a rescue along with his brother and nephew.

When the Nagus decides to retire, he names Rom as his successor. Ishka's son begins to implement rights for females as well as introducing a legislative body to rule the Ferengi along with other reforms.

Ishka retires to the Risa leisure planet along with Zek, though you can assume that her firm hand is still guiding her son Rom in his role as the Nagus.

Her grandson becomes a decorated officer in Starfleet and is surely on his way to being a captain, perhaps even an admiral someday, paving the way for other Ferengis to succeed as part of the Federation.

Quark, who just like Rick in Casablanca has his large ears open of everything, is still at the bar, taking in important intelligence that he can share either with the Federation, his brother, or to turn a tidy profit for himself.  Because everybody comes to Quark's.

Ishka changed Ferengi society forever and rose to a position of power without killing anyone and while ensuing the safety of her boys and he grandson.

She played the game of thrones, she won, she made profit, and she got to retire and enjoy it.

Well played, Ishka. Well played.

American Goth: Get A Free Taste Test

I keep telling you how great American Goth is, how about I give you a free preview? Just click below to read a free preview of the first 3 chapters. 

If you love it, you can buy it or read for free on Kindle Unlimited.

American Goth: Judging A Book By Its Cover

At long last American Goth is finally published! I'm excited to share this story and also incredibly excited about the cover. It was designed for me by my friend Melanie from Cuttlefish Graphics.

They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but we all know that we do.  The look of the cover was important to me. You don't want one of those covers that ends up on a site about lousy book covers.

Most truly awful book covers come about because writers think that a cover is a good DIY project. That can go wrong as quickly as trying to remodel your own bathroom.

Fortunately, I knew an extremely talented artist. We collaborated using a private Pinterest board where I posted examples of colors, graphics, text, and book covers I liked.

When I saw the result, it was a little bit like she had read my mind.

Thank you so much, Mel. You made my dreams come true. So go ahead, judge my book by this beautiful cover.

~ Cyn

American Goth: Judging A Book By Its Cover

At long last American Goth is finally published! I'm excited to share this story and also incredibly excited about the cover. It was designed for me by my friend Melanie from Cuttlefish Graphics.

They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but we all know that we do.  The look of the cover was important to me. You don't want of those covers that ends up on a site about lousy book covers.

Most truly awful book covers come about because writers think that a cover is a good DIY project. That can go wrong as quickly as trying to remodel your own bathroom.

Fortunately, I knew an extremely talented artist. We collaborated using a private Pinterest board where I posted examples of colors, graphics, text, and book covers I liked.

When I saw the result, it was a little bit like she had read my mind.

Thank you so much, Mel. You made my dreams come true. So go ahead, judge my book by this beautiful cover.

~ Cyn

Techromancy - Bringing A Vintage Radio To Life With A Robot Brain

I love the look of old radios and old radio cabinets. Sadly, most of them are non-functional. And while I love antiques, I only like them if they're still functional. So, while looking at a display of non-functioning radios at the Maumee Antique Mall, I got an idea. What if you could repurpose a beautiful exterior by giving it a modern interior?

As a tech writer, I'm familiar with the many Bluetooth devices on the market that can stream music from your phone, PC or tablet. Could I give a beautiful old body a new brain?

Victor Frankenstein may have been willing to settle for any old body parts, but I wanted something pretty and I settled on this beauty from 1950. Hello, Gorgeous!

The brand is Regal, and this lady certainly is. Look at her beautiful top! At $20, I felt like I got a great deal.

I'd like to point out that she was definitely dead. The power cord had even been cut away. I could never take the guts out of a working beauty like this. So I flipped her around and took off the back screws.

Then I gradually began to remove the electronic insides.

This all came out in one piece after loosening a couple of screws.

It was a little dusty in there.

When I detached the inside screws, the knobs came off. So I had to glue those back on.

 I was also pleased find the little red dial pointer inside the radio where it had fallen. I slipped it back on the original guide wire.

And replaced inside the radio.

For the interior speaker, I chose the rehargeable Eachine Vivid Jar speaker. It's very small and light. It functions as a Bluetooth speaker or you can plug a device into it. It also allows you to load a microSD card with music and slip it into the speaker to play.  As a bonus, is also lights up. The lights move in time to the beat of the music.  It was a great deal at only $20.

 Up, next, I'd like to introduce you to sticky-backed Velcro. I affixed some to the floor of the radio and another piece to the speaker.

 Here's the speaker inside the radio.

 I wanted the back to be easily removable in case I needed to access the speaker. So I affixed the Velcro to cover the screw holes on the radio.  Since the original cardboard cover was somewhat damaged, my husband traced an outline of it on a piece of cardboard.

 We cut out our new back and added Velcro the back. We lined it up with the Velcro on the screw holes.

 Then I affixed the remnants of the original back to the cardboard with glue.

After giving everything time to dry - On went the back.

I ran the charging cord for the speaker out the original hole for the electric cord. I also made sure to turn the on/off button for the speaker towards that space for easy access. 

And this is the result.

Up next, I think I'd like to take a crack at installing an Amazon Echo virtual assistant inside an old radio cabinet.

Thank You Miss America Pageant

It's time once again for the Miss America Pageant. That also means it's the "friendaversary" for me and my dear, dear friend Cheryl Lightfoot.

We have been there for each other for the best of times and the worst of times and it's all because of a beauty pageant.

Back in 1989 we were coworkers in the master control area of a cable company and acquaintances, but I don't think we particularly hit it off. That was until we were both working one Saturday night and the Miss America Pageant came on one of the many, many television monitors in the place.

Check out the video. We had so much to work with. I know it says 1990. Miss America is actually selected in the fall of the year before.

I don't know which on of us began to snark on the contestants first, but I do believe it had something to do with clogging as a talent.  (Fun fact: Jeri Lynn Zimmerman was third runner-up that year. She went on to gain fame as an actress on Star Trek: Voyager. Accusations she made in a divorce case against Paul Ryan are believed to have cost him the Senate seat that went to Barack Obama.)

As we sniped and talked, we learned that we have many interests in common. By the end of the evening, we were pals. We were mostly work friends (at that time she still lived in Fremont.) for some time, then she moved to Toledo and we fixed our husbands up on a "date" to go watch Ford Fairlaine together the following July. That resulted in one of the epic bromances of our time.

Once we were couple friends, we became pretty much inseparable. She was a bridesmaid at my wedding, we helped each other move, we drove her to the hospital when she was in labor with her second child. Her sons have spent nearly every Thanksgiving of their lives at our house. Our common interests in books, all thinks British, Barbie dolls, geeky television, glittery makeup and uncounted other things gives us plenty to talk about.

 

 

Let's be clear, I actually LOVE the Miss America Pageant. I love the clogging, the juggling and occasional ventriloquist act. I love evening gown and swimsuit competitions. I don't think there's anything wrong with giving out prizes for looks. I mean we give out prizes for being strong and smart - you have to work with what you have. And I really don't think a contest for being a really swell person would be anywhere near as entertaining to watch.

Every year at this time, we mark our friendaversary. One year we made shadow boxes. Thank you Cheryl for 26 spectacular years of friendship. And thank you Miss America Pageant! Now bring on some cloggers!

In parting, I'd like to add this video, which I think pretty much sums up our friendship. If we're ever in a pageant with a talent portion, we should do this one. While clogging and twirling a flaming baton.

Ritzy 2 by 2 Cheese Cake

I came up with this creamy, fruity and incredibly easy-to-make cheesecake for my friend Cheryl's birthday celebration.

I saw a recipe from pastry chef Christina Tosi for an icebox cake made with Ritz crackers, Cool Whip and grape jelly. I didn't make that recipe, but I did come up with one of my own. I call it my Ritzy 2 by 2 Cheesecake.

Ritzy, comes from the buttery Ritz cracker crust, while the 2 by 2 comes from the ingredient list. It's super-simple to remember because it is all in twos.

You will need:

2 sleeves of Ritz Crackers
2 8-ounce packages of softened cream cheese
2 8-ounce tubs of Cool Whip, thawed.
2 12 -ounce jars of fruit preserves. (any fruit you like, I used cherry here. Please make sure to use preserves here, we want the pieces of fruit.)
2 tablespoons of melted butter
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 teaspoons of vanilla

Start by blitzing the crackers and sugar together in the food processor. Alternately, you could put them in a plastic bag and bash them into crumbs.

Make sure there are no chunks of cracker left. You want crumbs.

Add the melted butter and press into a 10 inch spring form pan. You could also choose a 13 by 9 pan. Bake the crust for about 15 minutes in a 400 degree oven until it turns golden brown.

Put your preserves in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave the preserves 30 seconds at a time until the preserves melt, but don't get them too hot. Stir them every 30 seconds. You'll then want to let them cool to room temperature.

 

Add the softened cream cheese and vanilla to a mixing bowl.

 

 

 

 

Beat until fluffy.

 

 

Stir in the softened preserves.

 



Mix until well-combined.



 

Slowly mix in the Cool Whip.

 



Mix carefully with a spatula until there are no white streaks. Then spread the mixture into the spring form pan.

 

 

Cover with plastic and put either in the refrigerator or the freezer to set. I like to freeze this if I'm taking it somewhere in the summer or to a pot luck where it might sit out for awhile. Take it out when you leave and it will be nicely thawed to creamy perfection when it's time to eat. In the fridge, let it set for at least four hours.

 

The pectin in the preserves helps the cheesecake set up nicely. This cheesecake is cool, refreshing and fruity. But the only sugar comes from the preserves, so it's not too sweet. The buttery, salty contrast of the Ritz crust is irresistible.

 

Enjoy!