Pumpkin Carving with Zo

October 9, 2021 By Captain Maiel Leave a Comment

The best time of the year! Is there anything more heartwarming than a beautifully shaped pumpkin? Between the color, and the strong grizzled skin there’s nothing more beautiful. Even the smell of a freshly cut pumpkin is comfort. Bring on the spice! Bring on the pie! Heck, bring on the cake roll and cookies and breads! Have you tried pumpkin soup?

Whatever recipe you love, please share, because I’m absolutely positive that’s all this pumpkin will be good for once Zo is done putting a chainsaw to it. You can’t tell her that, though. She’s determined to be the best pumpkin carver in the universe, and thinks this tool is the path to the award. I just see pumpkin splattered all over the kitchen. And, Alex is of no help, of course. He’s just too fascinated by what he sees.

Just look at this tomfoolery! Zo, you better wait for me!

Wish me luck…

Love my duck? Support this blog by buying a book. More Zo Here.

Zo Duck collage with web address and author name, K. Williams, The Blue Honor Blog — Shop Zo Duck on Cafe Press

K’s Butternut Squash and Roasted Red Pepper Soup

January 29, 2021 By Captain Maiel Leave a Comment

This is a nice fall and winter recipe that I put together for the first time in October. The idea bubbled up to the top of my waking thoughts one morning as I snoozed. I’ve made several soups. The base wasn’t going to be a mystery to put together, but I wasn’t entirely certain about the red pepper. When I got up, however, I did a quick look and there were a lot of recipes calling for it.

I didn’t use any of those recipes for this, because I wanted to create on my own, and so I did. Once complete, I took to Facebook and other spaces to talk about it, including mentioning it on another blog hop. The recipe has been requested by several people, and I apologize for taking so long to get to this point. Let’s not wait any longer…

What you will need: 1 large stock pot, 1 very large bowl, cutting board, large chopping knife, blender, ladle, 1 box of vegetable stock, 2 butternut squash, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, 1/2 of a red bell pepper, heavy cream, water, salt, and pepper.

Ingredients:

2 – Butternut Squash
1 – Box (32 0z) of Vegetable Stock
1/2 – Red Bell Pepper
3 – Carrots
1 – Celery Stalk
1 – Small Onion
3 – Cloves of Garlic (or 1 Elephant Clove)
4 Oz. – Heavy Cream
Water
Salt
Pepper

Place the half of a red bell pepper in a baking dish. You can roast it without oil, but if you use oil, choose one that doesn’t change the flavor (olive oil would not work here a couple drops of vegetable oil would be fine). Roast the Red pepper at 350° for 15-20 minutes until wrinkled and thoroughly cooked (just enough time to peel the squash). Set aside.

Peel, seed, chop both squash. Try to make the chunks about 1 inch so they cook evenly with the rest of the vegetables. Wash and chop the remaining vegetables.

Pour the stock into the stock pot and add the vegetables. Poor in enough water to mostly cover the vegetables. Bring to a boil and then simmer until all vegetables are fork tender (approximately 30 minutes). Let cool.

Transfer cooked vegetables, including the roasted red pepper you had set aside, and liquid to the blender in batches, processing everything until smooth. Pour the processed vegetables into a large bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste along with 4 Oz. of heavy cream (you may want a little more depending on the amount of soup you’ve produced). Stir to blend completely.

Serve with a slice of baguette and butter. Makes a great starter or satisfying lunch soup. Freezes beautifully to extend the life of the soup.

I would rate this an easy recipe, despite the effort of peeling two squash.

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Cutting Board that reads Culinary K, The Blue Honor Blog

An Author’s Halloween – Open Book Blog Hop #245

October 26, 2020 By Captain Maiel 6 Comments

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #245
Halloween/Fall is coming, do you celebrate?
What does that look like? Is it different this year?

Welcome back to another Open Book Blog Hop! The authors included in this ongoing series wish to thank you for your reads. We appreciate, even more so, when you share our writings with your friends. If you’re new to the series, welcome aboard. The authors engage and impress weekly. Prepare to become a regular reader.

If you’re like me, then you probably do wonder what others do during your favorite time of year, especially when they also love the season. An author’s halloween is a great way to delve into at least one group’s practices! My author’s halloween is pretty fun, every single year. I love to talk about this. It is my favorite holiday and my favorite season is obviously autumn.

Did you know that I love the color orange? Of course I do! It’s the premiere tone of Halloween and all things Fall. I love when the trees change colors and there’s a blazing maple in fire orange! I feel so cozy and happy. For someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, the reprieve from negative feelings is a welcome one. Embracing this time of year is healing.

In my home, the celebration begins in September with Apple Picking. We make pies and treats, get cider donuts and cider, and enjoy the harvest. This year, I also made a giant pot of Butternut Squash and Roasted Red Pepper Soup (I swear that recipe really is coming). I’ve been working on my health, though, so only one apple pie this year and one crisp. I got a smaller pack of apples, too. Eating them fresh has been the favored form. I’ve lost almost 30 pounds and I plan on keeping it off. Thus, cakes and pies have are kept at a minimum. After the last check up, I have no choice unless I want to start taking medications for the rest of my life.

Chili is another recipe I like to throw together during this time of chilly weather. I make mine with ground turkey and italian flavor turkey sausage. I haven’t missed using beef, mainly because the food sensitivity I have to beef is so unpleasant. But, the turkey is healthier anyway. I’m someone who struggles to get enough proteins, so this is a great recipe between the beans and turkey to meet the daily nutritional need without bad fats. An author’s Halloween really can go deep!

This year, I’ll also steam a couple of the pumpkins I grew in the backyard to have for baking. I use pumpkin to make pies and dog cookies, mostly, but also I could make a nice pumpkin cake roll for November. I need to think about that, though because of the sugar and fat. Since I have to watch both now, and my daughter is the only one who could eat the majority of it, I cannot justify the whole cake! It’s pretty big. However, if I wrap it well, freeze it in sections, and carefully dole out over the year…but then, there is the storage factor. I own a big freezer, but the chest is already full of stocks and baked goods…

If I were a six foot tall athlete, I wouldn’t have these issues! But, alas. I’m an author.

K. Williams dressed as Daphne Blake from Scooby-Doo

Decorating is the next big matter in my home. An author’s Halloween can’t ignore this important facet of the celebration. I decorate the backyard like a graveyard, putting the mock tombstones among the pumpkin plants that remain. In my flower bed, I post a zombie flamingo and smaller stones, along with a couple ghosts. This year, I purchased a blow up tree. It has a couple ghosts, a couple pumpkins, an owl, and a tombstone. It’s fabulous! The daughter loves it, so I’m extra pleased. (Fionn is freaked out by the fan noise and the size of it, but has gotten used to it.)

My front window is a lovely bay window that allows me to do a holiday display. I’ve set it up this year with my witch in a crystal ball head and witch parts in the window–because we are dressing up as the Scooby gang. Little one is scooby, and I am Daphne. Her auntie will be Velma. Fionn is Shaggy. If I were dating someone, he’d be Fred, but that slot is absent.

I dreamt of constructing the Space Kook out of cardboard, but I there was no time to get it done. It would have taken a huge effort, and spray paint. Toddlers and projects like this aren’t compatible without someone to keep them distracted and happy while you work on the construction. Oh, well. Someday I’ll revisit. In lieu of the kook, I chose a witch, as they were featured in the series and they’re very Halloween. Plus, I had plenty of witchy things to fill it out.

Yes, every year goes down like this. I spend a lot of time considering what the group should do, then consult those involved, and (as the kiddo gets older) I am going to have to convince baby, too! So far, she’s been super cooperative. Last year, we went as the PowerPuff Girls. It was great fun, and it worked out so well.

Maybe next year, we will do DC Super Hero Girls, as I like to call my daughter Kara Danvers anyway. And it works across the group just like the PPGs did. I’m already plotting! But how to decorate the house? This will take some thought…

While I mull that over, hop through the links below to see what the other authors have to say about the season…

The Blue Honor Vlog #55

October 16, 2020 By Captain Maiel Leave a Comment

Welcome back for another installment of The Blue Honor Vlog. Subscribe to my channel on YouTube. As a subscriber, you’ll get episodes of Shagbottom Theater, updates from the blog, and watch the process of making book trailers. And! You’ll be first in line to see it all. Once a video is ready, it’s uploaded, and you don’t have to wait for it to come out on the blog or even in the newsletter. Let’s get started!

I’m pretty sure that I’ve already mentioned on my blog, every time this month comes around, that this is my favorite time of year. If you’ve seen the art I have created in this annual period, you get a sense of the nostalgia and joy. Every year, I try to make it memorable for those around me in positive ways. Last year (2019), I took my daughter trick or treating dressed as the Powerpuff Girls (her auntie tagged along as Buttercup, as I took up Blossom, and Katie was Bubbles). We didn’t buy costumes, either. We built them from real clothes. So, when Katie went to school afterward wearing the dress, she was instantly recognized as Bubbles. Pig tails were the icing on the cake.

Some time in September, the fall festivities get underway. Usually apple picking kicks it off. Of course, there is baking, and costume planning (which has probably been underway since last October). When you build your costumes on a budget from real clothing, it can take a while to get everything together. This year, however, Katie will be Scooby-Doo, which is easy for planning her outfit. That said, that means Mama is Daphne (red hair–get it?). I have had the perfect shoes since last winter. Getting the dress and applying the right touches came next: that lime scarf, the headband, and wondering if she wore earrings ever…

Daphne is pretty easy to put together, but these vlogs are getting harder to complete with all my work and parenting responsibilities! I promise that I will persevere. I talk here about my love of October, not just Halloween costumes.

Image of K.Williams and the Shadow Soul Book, second image of cast of table reading of the shadow soul — Table Reading of The Shadow Soul at Imagine This Women’s Film Festival.

Other Episodes From 2020:

Blue Honor Vlog Archive

(Scroll below the december video for the links to the episodes for the year).

Prior to January 2018
Episodes from 2018
Episodes from 2019

Fall Favorites Giveaway Blog Hop

November 9, 2015 By Captain Maiel 2 Comments

Fall Favorites

Who knew there would be two blog hops in one week? It’s the perfect way to introduce you to some great content across the web. And, this one is attached to a bunch of contests. Check out the links below and see what you could win. It’s almost always super easy to enter and you could walk away with some great prizes.

Autumn, Fall, Der Herbst…It’s my favorite time of year no matter what you want to call the season. My favorite holiday just passed and now we’re gearing up for Feast Day, as we call it in my house. From late September until early December, there just isn’t any better time of year. It seems short lived, as the cold weather rolls in and summer becomes a distant memory, thoughts turn to green and red sparkles, family gatherings and a new year. The Fall allows us to slow that process down and gather to us the things we’ve been growing all year. Now is the harvest, when we reap what we have sown. Nothing embodies this more than going apple picking, carving a pumpkin and preparing our homes for the coming chills. Of course there are more metaphysical and intangible examples of the harvest, as well. The cultivation of relationships begin to culminate in a harvest of another kind. What we put into them is what shapes the bounty from them.

My favorite thing about the fall is the cozy nature of the season. The changing leaves lend a decadence to the scenery, and the treats we bake from apples and pumpkins, other squash, corn and a myriad of plants reflect that richness of life. The harvest time is a time of bounty. It is now that, while we enjoy our abundance, we remember that not all people are so well fitted for the coming winter. To share our bounty with them is the greatest gift this season can bring. Did you know the number one thing shelters are asking for is socks? When giving to a food pantry, please select items that are not beyond their expiration date. People are in need of good nutrition regardless of their circumstances. Unhealthy eating, due to spoiled goods, can make their situation worse. Don’t make them have to chose between cast offs and the doctor. There is no reason to punish someone who is down on their luck. We’re all fighting battles and it’s good to remember that compassion and cooperation are the only way out of the fight. It’s pretty passive aggressive to throw your expired au gratin on the food pantry shelves for someone else who has little choice in their table setting.

For my charitable work, I often reach out to the forgotten pets. This year my Alma Mater partnered with a local pet store to raise funds and food donations for their pet care program, proceeds going to the care and feeding of stray animals. Nutro Pet Food matched all food donations, pound for pound. We’ve done an incredible job getting the word out and raised a lot of money and brought together quite a bundle of food. The numbers are yet to be final, as the donations are running through November 13.

Giving is one of my favorite things year round, but the Fall Season makes it even more special.

Thanks for stopping by and continue with the blog hop on the links below. Before you go…

Enter to win an autographed copy of The Shadow Soul, Book One of the Trailokya Trilogy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Shadow Soul

Book 1 of The Trailokya Trilogy

2015 Hollywood Book Festival Honorable Mention in Science Fiction, The Shadow Soul is the first part of The Trailokya Trilogy, a Fantasy series that follows the rise and fall of fabled races and souls at the junction of three worlds: Zion, Earth and Jahannam. K. Williams weaves a tale that will leave you questioning long held convictions about the human legends of Heaven and Hell. Are you ready to enter the gates of Zion and learn the truth?

Captain Maiel is a duta warrior of Zion, a race of giant, winged guardians and chroniclers of the lesser souls. Maiel’s assurances are shaken when she nearly loses a young human girl to the dark forces of Jahannam, the prison realm where the lowest beings reside. To avoid answering to the leaders of her world, Maiel seeks refuge on Earth, but she is pursued by a baron of Jahannam intent on destroying her. Can she be saved before time runs out? Or will she be sacrificed to secure the borders of Zion and to hide the lie her journey uncovers?

With each step further into darkness, long held secrets are revealed and shadows rise from the past to challenge absolutes.

Read an Excerpt

Read Some Reviews

Trailokya Trilogy Maps

To order from your local retailer use ISBN13: 9781620155837

Available on Amazon Paperback | Amazon Kindle | B&N Paperback | B&N Nook | iBooks