Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Ann Roth

I am taking the week off to work on the current work-in-progress and to get ready for Thanksgiving. Shopping, baking, getting the tables set and ready.

That’s right, tables. At our house, we host a big crowd of family, friends, and people who need a place to sit down and enjoy.

Even when life throws you a horrendous curve-ball, there is much to be grateful for. May you find something for which you can give thanks.

Until next time, and wishing you a thankful Thanksgiving,

Ann

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Be Still, My Brain… As if!

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Ann Roth

I envy those who spend endless hours in meditation. How do they do it?

My mind just won’t shut up.

That said, I wanted it to. Just for a while. Which is why, several years ago, I purchased an album of Tibetan monks chanting. http://bit.ly/1xaxm0j

From an American perspective, this “music” isn’t melodic or harmonious, but it is pretty darned amazing. For six months, every morning, after the gym and my shower, but before breakfast, I listened to pieces of a chant. I did this for 5-6 minutes, which was about as much as I could handle before my mind drifted away from the chant and went into its usual frenzied overdrive. And you know what? While I was still, I felt peaceful and centered. What a wonderful way to start the day.

But then I stopped taking the time to listen.

Why? Because my modus operandi is, “Hurry up and get crackin’. There’s writing to be done!”

It’s been a good three years, and I’m craving that peace again. So… drum role (and Tibetan chimes): I’m going to get back into the routine of spending 5-6 minutes, listening to something that clears my mind and helps me get peaceful and centered. Yes, I know that I have tons of writing to do, and that we are heading into a frenzied time of year. That is exactly why I’m starting again now.

Until next time, and wishing you peace and centeredness,

Ann

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Tada: Rough Draft Done!

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Ann Roth

I finished the rough draft of my latest novel! Shazam! And I do mean rough. It took me just shy of 7 weeks to get the thing on paper. That’s fast! Even so, at times it seemed as if I were swimming through quicksand, working so hard, but getting nowhere.

This story isn’t nearly finished. It’s going to need a multiple, thorough revisions, during which I will flesh out the characters and their emotional arcs, and make sure that all the threads in the book are complete. This will take awhile, but at least I have something to work from.

Once the book is in reasonably decent shape, off it goes to an editor for her suggestions. Because as experienced and seasoned a writer as I am, I always, always miss things that need revising. When the book comes back to me, I’ll give it another round of edits, and so on and so on.

But just now, I’m patting myself on the back and taking a few days to play. Because no matter how much work lies ahead, I need to replenish and refill my creative well. That way it is always full.

Until next time, and wishing you the joy of finishing whatever your rough draft happens to be,

Ann

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Tunnel of Fudge Cake

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Ann Roth

Years ago, I cut this recipe out of our now-defunct, and dearly missed daily morning pager, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (http://www.seattlepi.com/). The paper has since moved online, but I really liked reading the hard copy over breakfast and coffee. Anyway… I finally got around to trying this recipe. Wow. Scrumptious, and rich, with a lovely, fudgy center. The directions are a bit wonky in places (I mean, if the mixing bowl doesn’t feel cool, stop mixing and place in the freezer for 5 minutes? Give me a break!) , so I made a few changes.

Note: the amount of sugar in this thing is staggering. I worried that it would taste too sweet. But it came out just right. I will definitely make this one again.

Tunnel of Fudge Cake

Adapted from a recipe by Shirley O. Corriher

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a Bundt pan.

1 cup softened butter (original recipe called for more, but 1 cup is enough!)

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1 cup white sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/3 c vegetable oil

2 egg yolks

4 whole eggs

2 cups confectioners sugar (I used scant cups)

2 1/4 cup all purpose, unbleached flour (I avoid the bleached stuff–who wants to ingest anything that has been bleached?)

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup cocoa powder

In a bowl, mix together flour, and salt; set aside.

In mixer, cream butter and sugar and beat until airy. Add eggs and yolks and mix for about 20 seconds. Add vanilla and oil. Mix for about 30 seconds; add flour mixture. Mix until incorporated; add confectioners sugar and cocoa powder. When incorporated, pour into prepared Bundt pan. Bake about 38-45 minutes. Note: Because of the gooey center, there is no way to insert a toothpick to see if done. I have a convection oven, and baked for 38 minutes.

Place on a wire rack and let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Then gently press on the top with the palm of your hand to eliminate the air pocket that formed while baking. Cool in the pan for 2-3 hours; then invert pan onto a serving platter to finish cooling. Or serve warm.

Until next time, and droolingly yours,

Ann

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Scones: They do the body good.

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Ann Roth

You may recall that about a month ago, I made pumpkin puree from sugar pumpkins. The puree went into the freezer for later. The other day, I thawed some and made pumpkin scones.

Scones, baking in the oven

They smelled great, and I couldn’t wait to taste one.

The finished product

I wasn’t disappointed. These babies are buttery and flavorful.–all around delicious!

Here is the recipe, courtesy of Joy of Baking. com. http://www.joyofbaking.com/

Pumpkin Scones

Makes 8 scones– I doubled the recipe and froze the extras for later.

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup light or dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/3 cup raisins
1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1/3 – 1/2 cup buttermilk (in doubling the recipe, I used 2/3 cup)
1/2 cup fresh or canned pure pumpkin (if using canned pumpkin make sure there are no spices or sugar added)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Egg Wash:
No need to double this– it was more than enough for my doubled recipe
1 large egg
1 tablespoon milk or cream

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and place rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Stir in the raisins and pecans, if using. In a separate bowl mix together the buttermilk, pumpkin puree and vanilla and then add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Mix just until the dough comes together. Do not over mix.

Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead dough gently four or five times and then pat the dough into a circle that is about 7 inches round and about 1 1/2 inches thick. Using a table knife, cut circle in half, then cut each half into 4 pie-shaped wedges (triangles). If the triangles are too big, feel free to halve them. Place the scones on the baking sheet. Brush the tops with the egg wash.

Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Or give in and have one hot from the oven! I did. 🙂

Until next time, and happy eating,

Ann

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Don’t just sit there…

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Ann Roth

Sage advice, no?

There are those rare and magical times when I feel as if I am flying. Those are the best times, when I know I can do ANYTHING.

But sometimes, forging ahead seems impossible. When that happens, it’s tempting to throw up my hands and give up.

I have a confession to make: With nearly every novel I write, I feel this way at some point. There are times when I spend days or even weeks, banging my head against a seemingly immovable barrier, working and reworking a few crucial pages or a scene that just isn’t working. That may never work. And a little voice in my head, a voice I have come to think of as my own mini-demon taunts, “Finishing this book isn’t life or death. Why don’t you throw in the towel? Go ahead, quit.”

I think about that. But I’m no quitter. Never have been. So I give myself a mental kick in the butt, banish that mini-demon to a place where the sun don’t shine, and rework the darned thing again. And again. And again, until I have it right and can at last move forward.

You want to know the funny part? When I finish the draft and reread it, I can’t believe that those few pages or that scene almost beat me. And I’m relieved and proud that I moved forward, even when I wondered if I ever would.

Until next time, and wishing you continued movement forward,

Ann

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Go to sleep, darling brain

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Ann Roth

I can’t tell you how often this happens to me. Of course, sleep is forgotten while I lie in the dark and sift through the “what ifs” and “that could work” possibilities.

A couple times, I promised myself that I would remember my brilliant stroke of creativity in the morning, and went on to dreamland. But when morning came, I’d forgotten everything. Let me tell you, that’s the worst!

Having learned my painful lesson, I now write it all down–legibly. (Not being able to decipher my own handwriting is just about as bad than forgetting the idea.)

Knowing the idea will be spelled out in its full glory when I wake up is huge relief, and both my muse and I rest much easier.

Until next time, and wishing you brilliant ideas and a pen and paper or device to jot them down,

Ann

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The Care and Feeding of Yourself

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Ann Roth

Good advice, yes?

The folks who put this list together left out one very important item, though: Forgive yourself. Or maybe they lumped “forgive yourself” under “be kind to yourself.” To my mind, the two are related, but separate.

Let’s talk about forgiving ourselves. We all mess up. Heck, I sure do, sometimes several times in one day. Making mistakes is a big part of the human condition.

Some mistakes are bigger than others. Some can never be forgotten. But if we learn something from our missteps, then at least they have served some purpose.

Isn’t that what mistakes are all about-learning and growing so that we are able to forge ahead as slightly different, slightly wiser and more compassionate beings?

Something to think about…

Until next time, and wishing you self-forgiveness and self-love,

Ann

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Act Now!

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Ann Roth

“When xxx happens, then I will be on my way to (insert goal here).” My first memory of believing this goes way back to when I was 5 years old. I just knew that as soon as I turned 6, I’d have all the answers.

You know how that went…

At the time, I didn’t learn from my misbelief. I lived a big chunk my life waiting for that perfect moment when the stars aligned and fortune smiled at me. You can guess where all that waiting lead–nowhere.

So much time, squandered on hope that events completely out of my control fell into place just for me.

I know I’m not alone here. Admit it, you’ve done the same thing.

This saying is a great reminder that I can take control of my life and turn any moment into a step toward attaining my goals, however small that step may be.

It’s all about attitude and action. And guess what? It works. With a bonus: I’m a whole happier.

What are you going to do to take action and make this moment count?

Until next time, and wishing you control of your own life,

Ann

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Not Quite Back from the Dead

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Ann Roth

Over the weekend, I attended my first ever Day of the Dead party. What an interesting event! People decorated their faces and dressed in costumes commemorating the dead. Sounds macabre, doesn’t it? But it wasn’t. This holiday is all about remembering the dead with laughter and celebration. What better way to remember those who have passed away?

Arnie and Becca Moreno, the party hosts in their Day of the Dead makeup and costumes.

One of several shrines, commemorating loved ones who have departed this earth. Party attendees were invited to place photos of dead loved ones and/or beloved pets here.

This Day of the Dead skeleton cake was one of many on the tables and tables of food and drink. Did I mention that this was a party of laughter and celebration?

Just your friendly, everyday mummy, relaxing on the bed where we laid our coats!

This fanciful Day of the Dead plate certainly caught my eye.

What Day of the Dead party would be complete without a backyard “cemetery”?

It’s always good to try something new and different, and I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Who knows- it must might end up in a future book. 🙂

Until next time, and wishing you new and interesting experiences,

Ann

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