Breaking the Nexus Cover Reveal, A Debut Novel by Lindsay Avalon

 Guest Blogging, Inspirational  No Responses »
Nov 112012
 

When I first started this blog, I knew that I wanted to inspire others with what I wrote to have the courage to pursue their dreams. Sometimes I blog focused on this topic and sometimes I stray to aspects of my creativity that relate to my pursuit of my dreams and the life that I have always wanted for myself. Yes, this includes having fun cooking in the kitchen. It is this creativity in the kitchen that connected me with a lovely creative spirit, Lindsay Avalon.

Today, I am pleased to support her as she releases her debut novel. It is absolutely amazing to me that she is living her dream!!! This thrills me. It inspires me to continue my pursuit with the same energy I had the first day I truly realized I needed to reawaken my dream catching spirit. With that in mind, below you will find all the exciting details of her debut novel, Breaking the Nexus. I truly hope you will take  moment to check it out.

Now, more from Lindsay Avalon:

INTRODUCTION

My debut paranormal romance, Breaking the Nexus, is coming 12/12/12!  This gorgeous cover was designed by none other than Miranda Stork and I’m proud to share it with the world! Breaking the Nexus is the first in a series featuring the Mythrian Realm, and will be available from Amazon.com in ebook and print form on 12/12/12. Don’t miss your chance to discover what happens when mythology blends with reality!

BLURB

Throughout history, myths and legends of extraordinary creatures have been told and retold. Fantastic tales of demons and banshees, gryphons and dragons, and of course, magic. Stories that every child grows to learn are nothing more than fantasy…or are they?

Beyond the world you see lies a hidden realm, the Mythrian Realm, inhabited by all of the creatures you’ve been told are mere fiction. Only one thing lies between humans and the truth: the Nexus. A magical barrier erected millennia ago to separate the two realms, it has stood the test of time. Until now.

For Mythrian Sha Phoenix, magic is nothing new. But when she stumbles upon a portal on the verge of collapse, her fate will forever change. Pulled through the portal into the Human Realm, she lands in the middle of Detective Connor Flynn’s brutal murder scene. Soon it is obvious someone is using blood magic to try to bring down the Nexus. Together, Connor and Sha must work to unravel the secrets before the barrier falls and the realms collide.

The Nexus is breaking and all hell is about to unleash…literally.

 

LINKS

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.lindsay.avalon

Twitter: http://twitter.com/LindsayAvalon

Blog: http://lindsayavalon.blogspot.com

Amazon Author: http://amazon.com/author/lindsayavalon

To enter a special giveaway from Lindsay visit:  http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0a8d1f4

 

 

Sunflower Seed Muffins (gluten free)

 My Recipes  No Responses »
Nov 082012
 

As I continue my gluten free adventures, I decided it was time to explore some more alternative flours. I stumbled upon a healthy and scrumptious alternative, millet flour. The good news is it is available in most health food stores and also at Whole Foods. So hopefully, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding it.

This muffin is just perfect for breakfast and is very unique. You won’t find many people whom have tasted a muffin like this before. Additionally, you won’t even begin to notice that it is gluten free as the texture is just right!

Sunflower Seed Muffins (gluten free)

Ingredients

  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup of non-fat plain yogurt
  • 1/4 cup of vegetable oil
  • 1/2 tsp. of salt
  • 1 tsp. almond extract
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. guar gum
  • 3/4 cup of millet flour
  • 1/4 cup white rice flour
  • 1/4 cup of almond meal
  • 1/2 cup of unsalted shelled sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup of golden raisins
  • non-stick cooking spray

Instructions

  • Prepare a 6 cup muffin pan for the oven by spraying thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Preheat oven to 380F.
  • Beat together the egg, yogurt, salt, almond extract, and sugars.
  • Combine in a separate bowl the baking powder, guar gum, millet flour, rice flour and almond meal.
  • Pour dry ingredient mixture into your beaten ingredients. Gradually stir together till well combined. Do not beat with a mixer as you don’t want to overwork the flour.
  • Lastly, fold in the sunflower seeds and golden raisins.
  • Fill muffin tins to 1/2 full. Bake in a 380F oven for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean.

Servings: 6 large muffins

What Really Matters?

 Inspirational, My Life, Random Thoughts, Self Reflection  No Responses »
Nov 012012
 

I remember the day well. I was working non-stop for a start-up company at the time. I often traveled week after week and barely had even settled into my new home in downtown Philadelphia. I was on a path with my career and nothing could stop me. The phone could ring at any hour of the day or night and I would jump for it. My family and friends had become relatively non-existant in my life as I constantly cancelled plans or turned down invitations due to work obligations. The day had been a particularly draining one and it was nearing 8pm and I was just getting home on a Friday night. I walked over to my local coffee shop, Good Karma Cafe, and up on the wall I saw it. This painting, the one I have featured above.

I was so taken. It was like the visual was crying out to me. These young children on the hood of the car were taking a moment, sitting back and enjoying just being with each other. They were soaking up the outdoors and living life. It made me take pause. When had I last done this? Could I even remember?

At that moment I knew I needed to have this painting. But more than that, I knew I needed to make a change. It was like the sky had opened up and poured down upon me the revelation that there was a lot more to life than climbing up the corporate ladder and/or making lots of money. What good was all of it if I didn’t live my life? And moreover, what about not having anyone to share my life with?

I ended up finding out the artist was a local guy from Philadelphia named Adam Cohen. The coffee shop owner gave me his number and that was that. I called him and met him and got the painting. But there was so much more I knew I needed to do. I knew that I needed to figure out how to change my life so that I could soak up those moments that really matter and surround myself with my loved ones. I am proud to say, I was able to do this. I made some really drastic and dramatic changes to my life and now I am happily married and expecting my first baby. It seems like the former me is almost like a dream. I can’t even imagine going back to the shell of a person I was at that time.

So I as you, have you taken the time to define what really matters to you? Are you living your life in a way that you are honoring that? I hope you will. I also hope you will take away from my story that it isn’t too late. If you realize you are off course, make a shift. Chart your course back to what really matters for you in your life. Time is precious.

Picture Source: Adam Cohen, Philadelphia Artist and Illustrator

Greek Style Chicken Quinoa (gluten free)

 My Recipes  2 Responses »
Oct 292012
 

So far, I have stuck to posting my baking recipes. Honestly, because baking is where I usually get most creative. I am making an exception today because one of my dinner dishes turned out to be so scrumptious that I can’t resist sharing it with you.

Like my other recipes, it is gluten free. I would also like to add that this is extremely healthy and practical as a one dish meal. I made a side of corn with pan fried onions as I always like to have a side. However, everything you need for a complete nutritious meal will all be contained in this dish if you choose to make it.

If you haven’t used quinoa before, I highly suggest trying to make this dish. Quinoa is a great alternative to rice and has protein to boot, giving it that extra nutritional edge.

Greek Style Chicken Quinoa (gluten free)

Ingredients

  • 1 lb of chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 3 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups of quinoa (I like to use tri-color but it is not always available, whatever you can find will work just fine and taste delicious.)
  • 3 cups of Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth (I personally like Trader Joe’s brand, see link I provided.)
  • 1 medium white onion diced
  • 1 cup of your tomato of choice diced (I like to use small grape tomatoes or mini heirloom tomatoes.)
  • 1/2 cup of finely chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons of garlic
  • pepper to taste
  • 2 teaspoons of sea salt
  • 4 tablespoons of gluten free bisquick
  • 1/2 cup of kalamata olives diced
  • 6 oz. of crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
  • Start by chopping white onion, tomatoes, and cilantro and mixing all this together in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the garlic, sea salt and pepper to taste to this mixture and then set aside.
  • Using a 2 quart pot, combine the quinoa and the chicken broth and place on high heat with lid covering it. Wait for it to come to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and set a timer for 15 minutes and let it simmer on medium heat.
  • When the quinoa is fully cooked make sure to drain any excess liquid from the pot if there is any. Then in a large serving bowl, pour the quinoa into it and set aside.
  • Heat olive oil in a non-stick skillet on your stove and add your chicken to the pan. Cover the pan and let simmer for about 3 minutes and then open the lid and turn the chicken pieces over and cook an additional 3 minutes. After this is done, bring your skillet over to the sink and pour off all excess fat and water.
  • Return the chicken to the stove in the skillet and mix in the ingredients you chopped as your first step. Let this simmer for 3-5 minutes mixing all the ingredients thoroughly together in the pan and keeping on a low to medium heat.
  • Add the gluten free bisquick gradually to your stovetop mixture on the low heat until thoroughly combined. You will notice this thickens the sauce in the pan. This is exactly what you want.
  • Turn the heat off and mix in the kalamata olives.
  • Remove the skillet from the stove and pour the chicken mixture into your serving dish over the quinoa. Then gradually mix in the feta cheese until thoroughly combined.
  • Your meal is complete. I like this dish served hot, but if you prefer, it could definitely be served cold. I leave that choice up to you!
Serves 4 people if served as your main course, 6-8 if used as a side dish.

 

Apple Cinnamon Surprise Muffins (gluten free)

 My Recipes  No Responses »
Oct 282012
 

I love the flavors of fall. This morning I awoke with the desire to try and make a brand new muffin. I wanted it to be different than any of the other muffins you might have made that I have posted here. I managed to hit the mark with this muffin. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. As always, it is deliciously gluten free!!! I promise though, you won’t miss the gluten.

Apple Cinnamon Surprise Muffins (gluten free)

Ingredients

Filling Ingredients
Instructions
  • Preheat oven to 380F. Prepare an 8 muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl beat together with a hand beater the vegetable oil, sugars, egg, salt and yogurt.
  • In a separate mixing bowl combine baking soda, baking powder, guar gum, cinnamon, all purpose gluten free flour, white rice flour and corn flour.
  • Gradually add dry ingredients to the large mixing bowl. Do not beat this mixture. Use a large wooden spoon to mix but do not over mix. Just ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined. After all ingredients are mixed, fold in apple pieces.
  • Fill muffin cup 2/3 of the way.
  • Then, prepare the filling by combining all the filling ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Drop the filling by the teaspoon full into the center of each muffin.
  • Bake for 30 minutes at 380F or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Servings: 8 medium sized muffins

Who Are You?

 Random Thoughts, Self Reflection  No Responses »
Oct 262012
 
questionmarks
makeitgreat / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

What would you say if someone came up to you that didn’t know you and asked you, “Who Are You?” How would your best friend answer this question about you? How would you answer it if you were internally reflecting and asking yourself?

It is interesting how the answers to the above questions can vary greatly, but yet, aren’t you, you? I am intrigued as well as perplexed that we all show different aspects of ourselves to different people, even to ourselves. It can be a challenge sometimes to really know who we are.

I find myself contemplating these questions and realizing that a lot of how I developed my definition of myself came from people around me telling me who they see me as. The truth is, that isn’t necessarily who I am. I think about this more often knowing that I am soon to have my first baby (a boy). I realize that I want him to define himself. I don’t want other people to define him, nor do I want him to feel societal pressure to define himself in one direction or another. I honestly just want him to be who he is.

So, I ask you to go through the exercise of reflecting on the three questions above. Then, please sit  back and ask yourself the real question. Who are you when you strip away all the outside impressions and pressures? Do you know who this person is? Or have you yet to truly define you? A favorite song of mine reflects on this very thought. Join me in listening to an excerpt from a Chorus Line, “Who Am I Anyway.”

 

Paradisiacal Pumpkin Pie (gluten free)

 My Recipes  No Responses »
Oct 222012
 

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I wanted to practice making a pumpkin pie to ensure that the one I make on the actually holiday fits the bill.

Everyone has a different idea of the best tasting pumpkin pie. Some people like a very sweet version, some a more savory version. I would characterize the one that I am sharing with you more on the savory side. So if you are looking for a pumpkin pie that is just sweet enough and with a light, flaky and buttery crust, you have found your perfect choice. Honestly, while a gluten free crust is somewhat of a challenge to make, you will be rewarded with the taste. I promise!

Paradisiacal Pumpkin Pie (gluten free)

Filling Ingredients

  • 1 15oz can of pumpkin
  • 1 14 oz can of eagle sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice (blend of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg)
  • 1/2 tsp. salt

Deep Dish Rice Flour Pie Crust Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup Bob’s Red Mill White Rice Flour
  • 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder (your gluten free version of choice)
  • 2 tbsp. sugar
  • 2 pinches of salt
  • 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup melted butter (do not substitute with margarine or light butter)
  • 2 tbsp. ginger

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 425F. Set aside a large pie dish, preferably deep dish. If you use a smaller pie dish you will have extra filling and dough which you can use as you see fit (in the picture above you will note that I made too mini tarts with some excess I had left).
  • Combine all the ingredients for the filling in a medium sized bowl and whisk with a fork or wire whisk until blended thoroughly. Set this mixture aside.
  • In a small bowl, beat egg and melted butter together.
  • In another bowl, combine rice flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Make a hollow in the middle of this mixture and pour in the egg and melted butter mixture. Using a large spoon press this mixture together. It will not be easy but you need to keep working your dough until it all is sticking together nicely.
  • Place a sheet of wax paper down on the counter top and dust it generously with rice flour. Take out a rolling pin and also dust it generously with rice flour.
  • Take your dough out of the bowl and place it on the wax paper. Roll out the dough to a pie crust thinness. You will then need to cut the dough into a minimum of 6 pieces. You will be carefully placing the pieces into the pie pan and then piecing them together. Imagine like you were playing with play dough as a child. This is not a pretty process but will come out perfectly once you piece everything together. Do not expect the crust to act like other pie crusts you have made. It will be very delicate and it will fall apart. Your job will be to work it together in the pie pan.
  • Once the crust is pieced together nicely and no seams are showing any longer, you will pour the filling evenly into the shell. Make sure that you do not overfill the shell. You want to make sure you can still see a small area of white edge around the pie plate with the filling poured in it.
  • Bake the pie at 425F for 15 minutes. You will then reduce the heat to 350F to bake the pie an additional 30 minutes. If you decide to make small tarts on the side, you will only leave the tarts in for 15 minutes at 350F.

Makes 8 generous deep dish pie slices.

 

The Gift of Kindness

 Inspirational, Random Thoughts, Self Reflection  No Responses »
Oct 192012
 

Can you think of the last time someone was kind to you? How did you feel? Did a sense of warmth fill your heart? Did you find yourself wanting to show kindness in return or perhaps spread this wonderful feeling to others in your life?

As I quickly approach motherhood, less than 11 weeks away now, I find myself reflecting on all the things that are so important to teach my child and I have found myself stuck on kindness more than once. It is so easy to show kindness to others, yet, it seems like such a rare occurrence. It seems like the busier we all get in our lives, the easier it is to forget this beautiful gift we all have at our disposal on a regular basis to give to others that can make such a profound difference. I have found myself contemplating what it takes to teach kindness and honestly, the more I have thought about it, the more I think it is by example. The more kindness you receive the more you understand the beauty it holds and the more you want to share this with others.

I know in the coming weeks and months I will continue to reflect on kindness and how to give this beautiful gift to others on a more regular basis. It is amazing to me when I realize how simple it can be to impart kindness to others if we just take the time to keep it in our minds. Really, something as simple as a smile at someone can be what they need in that moment to shift their mood. I am sure I will return to post on this topic again and explore it more. But for now, I want to leave you with some quotes that I collected on the subject of kindness that specifically touched me.

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” ~Mother Teresa

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” ~Mother Teresa

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ~Aesop

“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” ~Oscar Wilde

“How beautiful a day can be, when kindness touches it!” ~George Elliston

 

Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/h-k-d/

Perfectly Pumpkin Muffins (gluten free)

 My Recipes  2 Responses »
Oct 112012
 

I personally adore the flavors of fall. When I can break out the cinnamon and nutmeg, I know that in less than a few hours I will be sipping a warm cup of tea and nibbling on a delectable delight. In honor of the season, I plan to feature a variety of fall flavor recipes starting with this one. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Perfectly Pumpkin Muffins (gluten free)

Ingredients

Instructions
  • Preheat oven to 375F. Prepare an 8 muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl beat together with a hand beater the pumpkin, vegetable oil, sugar, egg, salt and yogurt.
  • In a separate mixing bowl combine baking soda, baking powder, guar gum, pumpkin pie spice, all purpose gluten free flour, white rice flour and almond meal.
  • Gradually add dry ingredients to the large mixing bowl. Do not beat this mixture. Use a large wooden spoon to mix but do not over mix. Just ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined. After all ingredients are mixed, fold in the golden raisins last.
  • Fill muffin cup 2/3 of the way. Bake for 30 minutes at 375F or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Servings: 8 medium sized muffins

Internal Makeover

 Random Thoughts, Self Reflection  No Responses »
Oct 062012
 

Perhaps some of you have noticed I have been missing for the last little bit from my regular posting. Not something I like to do, but honestly, my brain was distracted and writing was just not an option. The time I was gone was spent moving and settling into a new home. The process while exhausting was simultaneously one of deep thought and discovery and brings me to the reflections I will share with you now.

A move does something very unique. It is one of the only times in life that we are forced to look at every object we own. An evaluation must take place, is the object in question of value enough to move. It is amazing the things you find that you have accumulated that are really of no value to you. If you stop and think, you are forced to evaluate what made you own the item to begin with if now the value is devoid. I’m not suggesting that every item we acquire has value only in a certain moment in time, but there definitely is an impermanence that exists in things and their value.

This concept of impermanence goes a lot further when you take it away from objects and apply it to behaviors and/or ways of acting. There are times in our lives we act based on what has served us in the past. We employ behaviors and coping mechanisms based on a different time and space in which there was a value in acting that particular way. But interestingly, like objects, there is impermanence in the value of behaviors. Moving forces you to do an inventory in which you look deeply at each object, assess the value, and perhaps do away with it if it no longer serves a purpose. How do we come to do the same in personal reflection on our behaviors/ways of acting? It must be an extremely purposeful choice. If one never sits back and looks deeply to reflect on patterns of behavior, it is very easy to get stuck in a virtual time warp in which one remains at the same socio-emotional level as his or her childhood.

So, I am suggesting to you, to do something for yourself. Set a yearly goal to do an internal makeover. This will be a time that you sit back and look closely at who you are today and what behaviors fit the you of today. It will be necessary to ask yourself some very hard questions, to look at the things you do through the eyes of a growing person as opposed to who you have always been. No, not easy, but well worth it.

I’m not 100% certain what Pink Floyd had in mind with the song The Great Gig in the Sky. I happen to know that there is suggestion that it relates to reflections on religion in our lives. When I listen to the song, I hear the process of a person going through the internal makeover I am suggesting. If you will, take a moment, close your eyes and listen.

 

Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pareeerica/

 

 

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