Recipes 'n Reads: with Author Helen Henderson's Recipe for Lokse and her Fantasy Book Fire and Redemption #recipesandreads

 

Recipes 'n Reads Series
Guest author Helen Henderson

I am thrilled to have my friend and multi-genre author, Helen Henderson, return to Focused on Story blog to share her recipe and book on the Recipes 'n Reads series, scheduled every third Wednesday of the month. 

Helen and I have much in common. Helen is a Gemini, she wrote feature articles for magazines, and she is a multi-genre author. However, unlike me, she builds fantasy worlds and deals with dragons.

Welcome back, Helen!

Thank you for sharing the recipe, Lokshe, a Slovak dish, given to you by your Old World grandmother.  This one sounds like a winner. I love potatoes, so we must have that in common too! 

Lokshe--"an indispensable part of the Slovak kitchen"

Lokse (lokše, lokša singular) has been called an indispensable part of the Slovak kitchen. They are thin, rolled pancakes made out of potato dough that are baked on a hot plate or an ungreased frying pan. We originally learned how to make them on a cast-iron coal-fired stove.

Lokse were a special treat we only had during the summer vacations at my grandparent's mountain home or during her stays with us during the snowy, cold, winter months when her home was winterized and closed. The reason we only had them on these occasions was not because we didn't have the recipe. Grammy shared the recipe.

She shared the ingredients, including a dash, pinch, and handful, as she did for making pierogi, halupka (filled cabbage), homemade noodles, and my favorite kolatchki. She also attempted to teach us the technique of making  lokse, to be able to get it into the pan without tearing, and the spinning maneuver so that it didn't stick. My Old World grandmother could create the dough, roll it out to the right thickness (that of a tortilla) without using so much flour it got too soft, place the pancake into the frying pan without it falling to pieces, and spin and flip the pancakes using her fingers. We always had to use a spatula and fork.

The decision to share lokse is partly because I recently tried making them for the first time in years. No, I won't tell how they came out other than to say they barely made it from the pan to the plate.

RECIPE:  Without further distraction, the modernized recipe for lokse.

Boil six medium size potatoes until soft.

·       Coarsely mash and let cool.

·       Mix in 2 eggs and 1/2 cup flour. Add additional flour as needed until a soft dough forms.

·       Roll out by 1/4 cup balls on a floured board until some 1 or 2 millimeters thick.

·       Sprinkle a pinch of salt in the bottom of an iron flying pan, and place the pancake in the pan. Prick with a fork.

·       Brown on one side, spinning occasionally.

·       Flip over and brown on other side.

·       When done, rub with a stick of butter on both sides.

·       Fold into a roll and eat. (For those more elegant circumstances, you can cut the roll into inch-long sections and eat with a fork.)

·       An Additional Note: To avoid a rush, they can be wrapped in foil and kept warm in a toaster oven. That is if you can stop them from disappearing as soon as they come out of the frying pan.

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Fire and Redemption (Book 2 of the Tear Stone Collectors)
by Helen Henderson
Fantasy

BACK OF THE BOOK--Fire and Redemption (Book 2 of the Tear Stone Collectors)

Expelled from the dragon isle, Medraut is forced to shed his wings and take on human form to live amongst the people of the mainland. To have the future she desires, Brial must survive the fever, raiders, and most of all, Medraut’s dragon ability to control minds. Karst, son of the head slayer, disowned and sent on an impossible quest to kill a dragon, made himself a home in the trading wagons of Clan Vreis. His newfound happiness is threatened when the caravan stops to help an injured man lying in the caravan’s path.

Three men and a dragon desire the same woman. One wants her for power, one for her beauty, and one for love. The dragon just wants her.

Buy Links:

Paperback and ebook: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

More Sites

 

ABOUT HELEN HENDERSON:

A former feature-story writer and correspondent, Henderson has also written fiction as long as she could remember. Her heritage reflects the contrasts of her Gemini sign. This dichotomy shows in her writing which crosses genres from historical adventures and westerns to science fiction and fantasy. In the world of 

Author Helen Henderson

fantasy and fantasy romance, she is the author of the Dragshi Chronicles, the Windmaster Novels and the Tear Stone Collectors. Her stand-alone works include the dark fantasy, Imprisoned in Stone and the military tribute collection, Hearth and Sand.

In her books, she invites readers to join her on travels through the stars, or among fantasy worlds of the imagination.

Find her on online at: Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Goodreads. Excerpts of her work, writing tips, and information on new releases can be found at https://helenhenderson-author.blogspot.com. 

She loves hearing from readers. Write her at helenhenderson.author@gmail.com.

Thanks so much for being my guest, Helen!!

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BIG NEWS from JQ Rose--Just in time for Mother's Day, my journal for moms, Mom's Memories and Reflections on Motherhood is now on Amazon. !! The premium hardcover book is definitely a project I loved to create for mom and of course grandma too. Read the book blurb below to find out more.

Mom's Memories and Reflections on Motherhood
Book 3 in the Books for Life Storytellers Series
by JQ Rose

BACK OF THE BOOK:

Mom’s Memories and Reflections on Motherhood: A Guided Journal is adorned with bright yellow sunflowers and created with pages to chronicle mom's unique journey, capturing the laughter, tears, and growth that define motherhood.

Each page is thoughtfully designed with prompts that inspire reflection on daily joys and challenges, accompanied by insightful quotations that resonate within a mother's heart.

Use the journal pages :

• to sketch scenes, pets, or persons who are important in your life,
• scribble notes and memories you want to be reminded to write,
• ask questions,
• recall snippets of conversations,
• and reflect on new understandings revealed during the writing.

Whether it's a personal purchase or a heartfelt gift for mom on any occasion, this journal promises to be a timeless heirloom, safeguarding memories and reflections for generations to cherish. So grab a pen and dive into this keepsake that promises to be as cherished as that macaroni necklace you can't bring yourself to throw away.

Three sunflowers in a bunch. I love this cheery flower.

Now is the time to share the memories that transform an ordinary life into an extraordinary life.

Order Mom’s Memories and Reflections on Motherhood: A Guided Journal for yourself or as a gift to someone you love.

Available at Amazon

Click here to order in time for Mother's Day gift giving.

🌻🌻🌻🌻

Thank you for stopping by. Will you try to make this recipe? Sounds sooooo good. Please leave a comment below.

Click here to link to my new Substack page. It's FREE. My Substack title, Picking Noses, is all about keeping your Easter lily looking fresh. Click the link to find out, especially if you have an Easter lily at your house or office.

Click here to be notified when a new article is posted on the J.Q. Rose blog.

Click here to follow me on Facebook at J.Q. Rose, Author.

🌻🌻🌻🌻

 

Insecure Writers Support Group: Is Blogging a Chore or a Joy? #IWSGbloghop

 

Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop

#IWSGbloghop

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. 

To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group is 

* to share and encourage. 

* Writers can express doubts and concerns 

without fear of appearing foolish or weak. 

* Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. 

*It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 

You're invited to become a member of this supportive group. 

Click here to sign-up and/or to visit the bloggers this week.

Happy IWSG Day!

Happy April!

Our awesome co-hosts for the April 3 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, T. Powell Coltrin, Natalie Aguirre, and Pat Garcia

April 3 question - 

How long have you been blogging? (Or on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?) What do you like about it and how has it changed?

I believe I started seriously blogging in 2011. I tried Word Press and gave up. Too complicated for me. Then I tried Blogger. I discovered I could get the gist of Blogger a lot better than WP. Perhaps it was because of my attempt to master WP that opened the door to understanding how to use Blogger.

Oddly, today's question is about blogging. I just saw an announcement from an author friend who is giving up blogging. She titled the article "MY FINAL  Blog Post." Wow. I felt a bit of grief when I realized I would not have a window open into her world anymore. 

I must admit I have thought about giving up blogging. But for some reason, I feel such an attachment to JQRose.com, I can’t imagine dropping it completely…yet. I have started writing an article every week at Substack.com, so this could take the place of my blog. Hopefully, my readers would follow me to Substack. But who knows how long I’ll keep writing there??? And a newsletter? I won’t be sad to see it go. Do you notice how insecure I am in making the decision to drop blogging or not?

My blog is my "home" on the web. I am comfortable here. Everything is on this blog--my books, my media kit, my series through the years, my history, interviews with guest authors, and the IWSG blog hop and friends I can keep in touch with every first Wednesday of the month. Gosh, I'm getting misty-eyed just thinking about it.

Do you have a warm, fuzzy feeling for your blog? Or has it become a chore? Please leave your thoughts in a comment below. Thank you!

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Updates

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Recipes 'n Reads Series
Guest author Helen Henderson

*Please stop in on Wednesday, April 17, when author Helen Henderson will share her favorite recipe and her latest book release.

     *WIP--I am working on a journal for Mother's Day sales. I know, I know. It's pretty late to be ready for 2024 sales, but I'll have it ready for 2025!! 

Click here to visit more Insecure Writers Support Group  

members participating in this month's IWSG Blog Hop! 

Scroll down the page to find the bloggers' sites.

Click here to link to my new Substack page. It's FREE. My Substack title, Picking Noses, is all about keeping your Easter lily looking fresh. Click the link to find out, especially if you have an Easter lily at your house or office.

Click here to be notified when a new article is posted on the J.Q. Rose blog.

Click here to follow me on Facebook at J.Q. Rose, Author.

Thank you for stopping by today! And for clicking around this post!

Recipes 'n Reads series with Classical Historical Romance Author Rosemary Morris and a Curry Recipe #recipesandreads

 

Recipes 'n Reads Series
Guest author Rosemary Morris

I am thrilled to have my friend and talented author, Rosemary Morris, return this month to share her recipe and book on the Recipes 'n Reads series, scheduled every third Wednesday of the month. Rosemary brings one of her favorite family recipes, Spinach, Peas, and Paneer (Curd Cheese) Curry.

Rosemary is a gardener so of course her recipe uses veggies from her homegrown garden. My hubby, Gardener Ted, raises vegetables every year for our table, so I appreciate the work and the delicious harvest when gardening. 

Rosemary said, "I enjoy organic gardening, and grow herbs, fruit, vegetables and ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers.  Even when there are thick frosts on the ground, I have some homegrown produce in the garden – Swiss chard, New Zealand spinach, curly kale, red kale & parsnips.  I store homegrown carrots and turnips in my garden shed and have a shelf of homemade jam, pickle and chutney in the kitchen."

Spinach, Peas, and Paneer (Curd Cheese) Curry  

Serves four served with chapattis, other flat breads, or rice. 

Preparation 30 minutes.

 

Ingredients.

 

Two bags of fresh baby spinach.

Eight ounces cooked fresh or frozen peas.

One packet paneer (Indian curd cheese) available from Indian groceries and supermarkets

Vegetable cooking oil to deep fry the paner.

Three Tbsp vegetable cooking oil

Two level dessert spoons of finely grated fresh ginger.

One chili (optional)

Salt to taste

Four lemons cut into quarters.

 

Cut the paneer into half inch cubes. Deep fry until they are light brown. Put them in water to keep them moist.

 

Microwave spinach or cook in a little water. Shred the spinach. Remove the stalks from fresh spinach, shred the leaves and wash them and cook in a little boiling water with salt to taste. Drain and squeeze out excess water.

 

Return spinach to the saucepan and simmer the spinach with the fresh or frozen peas until they are cooked or defrosted.

 

Stir fry the fresh ginger or minced ginger paste and chili on a low heat. Add the spinach, peas and paneer and stir well.

 

Serve hot with chapatis, other flat bread or rice and squeeze lemon juice over each serving.

 

This curry is suitable to deep freeze.

Far Beyond Rubies by Rosemary Morris
Classical Historic Romance

 Back of the Book: Far Beyond Rubies

Set in 1706 during Queen Anne Stuart’s reign, Far Beyond Rubies begins when William, Baron Kemp, Juliana’s half-brother claims she and her young sister, Henrietta, are bastards. Spirited Juliana is determined to prove the allegation is false, and that she is the rightful heiress to Riverside, a great estate.

After Gervaise’s wife died, on his way to deliver a letter to William, Gervaise sees Juliana for the first time The sight of her draws him back to India. When “her form changed to one he knew intimately – but not in this lifetime,” Gervaise knows he would do everything in his power to protect her.

Although Juliana and Gervaise are attracted to each other, they have not been formally introduced and assume they will never meet again. However, when Juliana flees from home and is on her way to London, she encounters quixotic Gervaise at an inn. Circumstances force Juliana to accept his kind help. After Juliana’s life becomes irrevocably tangled with his, she discovers all is not as it seems. Yet, she cannot believe ill of him for, despite his exotic background, he behaves with scrupulous propriety while trying to help her find evidence to prove she and her sister are legitimate.

 

Theme and Plot

The theme and plot for Far Beyond Rubies were inspired by non-fiction about the East India Company, when its ambitious employees, including very young ones, hoped to return to England with a fortune.

When Fourteen-year-old Gervaise Seymour was sent to establish trade in North India. His only communication with the company was by messenger.   Some men in his situation became Muslims. Gervaise did not, but he married a Hindu lady and respected her culture and religion. During a discussion, a brahmin remarked that the commandment in The Bible, ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ did not only refer to human beings. It made such a profound impression on him that he adopted a vegetarian diet.

Click here to download Far  Beyond Rubies at your favourite bookstore

* * * *

About Rosemary Morris

People are surprised by the amount of time needed to write and research my classic historical romances.

The more I read about the eras my novels are set in, the more fascinated  I become, and aware of the gulf between the past and present. Those who lived in the past shared the same emotions as we do, but their attitudes and way of life were different in many ways, An example is the social position and treatment of women and children in bygone ages. For example, in the middle ages a husband was legally allowed to beat his wife with a cane no thicker than his thumb.

Author Rosemary Moss

 My characters are of their time, not men, women and children dressed in costume who behave like 21st-century people. 

Researching my chosen eras, sparks my imagination. The seeds of my novels are sown, and from them come the themes, plots, characters and events which shape their lives.

 In the morning I check my e-mails then write from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. On most days, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. I deal with various ‘writerly’ matters I post on face book, interact with face book friends, participate in an online constructive critique group, and much more.

I enjoy arts and crafts and find a time to knit, embroider or work on my patchwork quilt.

Prior to Covid, I visited the local sports centre where I swam before relaxing in the sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.  On other days, I try to find time to go for a walk round the green backed by woodland behind my house, where according to season, I pick blackberries, elderberries, sloes and gather mushrooms.

I treasure time spent with my family, most of whom live near me. I have close relationships with my grandchildren, who are between 21 and 14 years old. When we get together, we still play Monopoly and other games.

Life has some ups and downs but I am blessed.

Connect online with Rosemary

BWL Publishing  

Facebook 

twitter@rosemarymorris

Rosemary's website www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

Thank you for dropping by today. Do you love reading romance and/or historical novels? Please leave a comment below.

Click here to receive the Rose Courier, 
delivered quarterly to your inbox. 

However, if I am bursting with news I can't wait to share,

 I will send out a Special Edition!

Filled with photos, updates, new book releases and more!

Click here to link to my new Substack page. It's FREE.

Click here to be notified when a new article is posted on the J.Q. Rose blog.

Click here to follow me on Facebook at J.Q. Rose, Author.

Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) Blog Post: Now About That AI! #IWSGbloghop

 

Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop

#IWSGbloghop

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. 

To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group is 

* to share and encourage. 

* Writers can express doubts and concerns 

without fear of appearing foolish or weak. 

* Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. 

*It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 

You're invited to become a member of this supportive group. 

Click here to sign-up and/or to visit the bloggers this week.

Happy IWSG Day!

Happy Women's History Month!

Celebrating Women's History Month
every year in March

Thank you to our awesome co-hosts for the March 6 posting of the IWSG are Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

QUESTION FOR MARCH 6

Have you "played" with AI to write those nasty synopses, or do you refuse to go that route? How do you feel about AI's impact on creative writing?

Yes, I have used Grammarly for years, and I like the editor that comes with MS Word, but I don't rely on them completely. Human eyes, especially eyes that belong to a new person, catch a lot of errors, even the errors by Grammarly!

I never thought these programs were AI until I submitted my book to Amazon KDP and discovered the content is considered AI-assisted. AI-generated means the content of the book was written by AI. Yesterday I noticed the question offers degrees of using AI in the book. Minimum to All of the book.

I just updated the content in my print book for writing life stories and designed a new book cover. Needless to say, I felt insecure figuring

Your Words, Your Life Story

out the formatting for the KDP book. Thank goodness for the KDP template and the cover calculator. I haven't looked at the book through the KDP preview viewer. Fingers crossed all is well.

I must confess I wrote the book description and used AI to improve it. But when Professor AI returned the results, I almost laughed. It didn't sound like I had written it, not my voice, but I did use one phrase from the AI description. 

I have tried creating images for book covers using Bing's co-pilot AI. It takes a lot of "playing" with it to even get close to what I want. I believe a lot of practice is needed to develop the skill to be happy with what Professor AI suggests.

Whether to use AI for creative writing is up to the individual. From all reports about AI, it is not going away. We can choose if we want to learn how to use it or not. We are entering a new era, just like how the Model A changed the lifestyle of the folks in the early 20th century or how the microwave changed my way of cooking meals! 

It will be interesting to revisit this question in 5 years and see how writers have handled AI. Ya'all come back then. What are your thoughts about using AI as a tool in your author's toolbox? Please leave a comment below. Thank you.

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Read an eBook Week at Smashwords!!

Do you know Smashwords is celebrating Read an eBook Week? March 3-9. My publisher 

BWL Publishing, is participating in the sale. All of the BWL authors' books are half off! My indie-published books are on sale too!! Yes, all of my books are 50% off this week! Grab some great beach reads for the summer.

Are you participating in the sale? You're welcome to drop your link in the comments section.

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Recipes 'n Reads Series
Guest author Rosemary Morris

You're invited to welcome classic historical romance author Rosemary Morris to our Recipes 'n Reads series which is scheduled every third Wednesday of the month. Rosemary writes "characters who are of their time, not men, women and children dressed in costume who behave like 21st-century people."  

On March 20, Rosemary, an English author, will share one of her favorite recipes, Spinach, Peas, and Paneer (Curd Cheese) Curry, and the reason why she chose this particular one. Plus I'll feature one of her books, Far Beyond Rubies. 

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Click here to receive the Rose Courier, 
delivered quarterly to your inbox. 

However, if I am bursting with news I can't wait to share,

 I will send out a Special Edition!

Filled with photos, updates, new book releases and more!

Click here to visit more Insecure Writers Support Group  

members participating in this month's IWSG Blog Hop! 

Scroll down the page to find all the bloggers sites.

Click here to link to my new Substack page. It's FREE.

Click here to be notified when a new article is posted on the J.Q. Rose blog.

Click here to follow me on Facebook at J.Q. Rose, Author.

Thank you for stopping by today! And for clicking around this post!