dahlia dewinters

Uncategorized

Blogtoberfest -Swallow that Sweet Fear: Halloween Cookie Recipe

It’s cookie recipe day!  If you’re like me,  you plan way ahead for any type of party or treat fest because you’ve just GOT to be sure that everything is going to go right.  I worked with my daughter this summer in perfecting her cupcake and frosting recipe so she would have the most lovely cupcakes to take to school for her birthday. Mind you, I can’t stand everyday cooking, but baking is my thing.  I like the fact that it’s fun, short and you get a sweet treat at the end. Now, I’m giving you this cookie recipe early enough so you have time to experiment with it, mess it up and start again.    Halloween Bat Sugar Cookies – Recipe courtesy of Domino Sugar YIELDS 3 to 4 dozen cookies INGREDIENTS Cookies 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened 3/4 cup firmly packed Domino® Light Brown Sugar… Continued

Uncategorized

Horror Movie Review – The Vault

Title:   The Vault Summary: Two estranged sisters are forced to rob a bank in order to save their brother. But this is no ordinary bank. (from imdb.com) Genre: Horror, Thriller Opinion To say this was a pleasant surprise is an understatement. I didn’t expect much. I didn’t realize James Franco was in it until halfway through. This means that I kept looking at this guy and thinking that I know him from some movie. Like I said, it was only mid-movie that I said to myself “That’s James Franco! What’s he doing in this movie.” My silly epiphany aside, The Vault was an interesting movie. It started out as one thing, then after a cliche line, it turned into something else, which I was completely fine with. I won’t go any further with the plot. Suffice it to say, the movie held my attention all the way through. I wasn’t

Uncategorized

Blogtoberfest – Recipes – Cinnamon Sugar Spider Webs

Total Time: 40 min Prep: 10 min Cook: 30 min Yield: about 30 webs Ingredients Vegetable oil, for frying 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon fine salt 3/4 cup milk 1 large egg 1 tablespoon maple syrup, plus 1/4 cup for brushing 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar Jelly spiders, orange or black nonpareils, for garnish, optional Directions Pour enough oil in a large skillet so it’s about 1 inch deep. Heat oil over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers between 280 to 300 degree F. Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center; add the milk, egg, and 1 tablespoon maple syrup. Whisk the dry and wet ingredients together until smooth. Transfer batter into a large size pastry bag with a # 3 or 4

Uncategorized

Horror Movie Review: The Autopsy of Jane Doe

Title:  The Autopsy of Jane Doe Genre:  Horror, Drama Summary: A father and son, both coroners, are pulled into a complex mystery while attempting to identify the body of a young woman, who was apparently harboring dark secrets. (from IMDB) Starring:  Emile Hirsch and Brian Cox Brian Cox is ‘that guy’ for me.  I remember him as Daphne Moon’s gadabout father from Frasier and as Col Stryker from the first series of X-Men movies.  I love the way he pops up as a villain or as a supporting character in the movies I enjoy watching.  He has presence and improves any scene he appears in. On the other hand, I only know Emile Hirsch from some strange movie called “Alpha Dog” in which he plays a kidnap “victim”. I can’t remember seeing him in anything much at all, although his IMDB resume reveals more than a few films and TV

Writing

For Writers Only: Coping with Criticism

Writing is not a profession for the faint of heart. Sure, you wrote a paragraph or two about how the end of The Walking Dead should have been, or an alternate version of Breaking Bad’s nursing home scene (I’m still sick sick sick over that) , but when you REALLY take the plunge, you’ll know. The Degraded Life of a Writer Let’s look at the downward spiral you will take. First, you have to complete a story, a task in and of itself. Many different endings will present themselves to you, if you’re lucky to get that far. Otherwise, you’ll dilly dally around the middle, adding in a character, or three, perhaps a death or some kind of natural disaster to get you through the classic “center of story” slump. Or, you’ll shilly shally around the beginning, crafting that perfect first word, sentence, paragraph, chapter, over and over again. Whatever

Uncategorized

Horror Movie Review: The Ritual

Title:  The Ritual Genre:  Horror, Drama, Snoozefest Summary: A group of college friends reunite for a trip to the forest, but encounter a menacing presence in the woods that’s stalking them. (from IMDB) Starring:  This Guy, That Guy, Glasses Guy, Red Coat Guy Usually I’m down for a horror movie where the actors go on a hike and get lost in the woods.  They can find anything there, from an evil killer, to a time loop or even a supernatural force that will tear them limb from limb.  A good monster, such as Bigfoot or the Jersey Devil does well too.  Alsi, alien invasions, government experiments gone wrong or mechanic cannibals. Basically, anything. I’ve seen everything I’ve listed and more and have enjoyed the movie at one level or another..  or simply turned it off halfway through.   The Ritual is based on a book that my daughter is currently reading

Scroll to Top