QUACKITY QUACK Q – U- A – C – K!!
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Even though we’d love to stir up a virtual earthquack to celebrate the official release of a cool new picture book called Mr. Duck Means Business by Tammi Sauer and Jeff Mack, we MUST REMAIN QUIET.
comfort and joy 2011
margaret’s new year’s dishes
A couple of weeks ago, I posted a slideshow featuring some of the Korean dishes typically served at my family’s New Year’s celebrations in Hawai’i (and as featured in my picture book, Dumpling Soup).
Several of you asked for recipes, which my mom was happy to provide. Keep in mind these quantities are her best guestimates; feel free to adjust according to your taste and needs. Enjoy!
KOREAN KALBI (Grilled Shortribs)
Marinade Sauce for approximately 3 lbs. shortribs:
1 cup shoyu
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 T garlic, crushed fine
2 T ginger root, crushed fine
1 tsp black pepper
2 T toasted sesame seed
5 T green (spring) onions, chopped fine
1 T sesame oil
2 T Wesson oil
sweet baby pie
Ooh, ooh!
Today is National Pie Day!!
Just in case you didn’t know, thought I’d send out a little reminder that it is your civic duty to eat, bake, share and/or revel in the wonder that is pie. Wouldn’t a piece of warm deep dish apple pie taste good right about now with a nice cup of tea? Perfect comfort food for a cold winter’s day.
I love all the fruit pies pictured above, and have baked all of them at some point in my life. Which do you prefer, the crust or the filling? A good shortcrust, light and flaky, is the mark of a good baker. I’d better go practice . . .
Meanwhile, this guy can bake me a pie anytime. Sweet!
What kind of pie are you having today?
♥ More 2011 Comfort and Joy posts here.
*Pie photo by Steve Buchanan/flickr.
Copyright © 2011 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan’s alphabet soup. All rights reserved.
the view from tuesday
Hello there! Hope you had a nice holiday weekend.
Unhappy to report I’m feeling quite poorly, so my posts may be sporadic this week. Was rushed to the ER because of a kidney stone, something I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. People have said the pain of trying to pass a kidney stone is worse than childbirth. I haven’t experienced that, so I can’t compare the two. Suffice to say, you do NOT want this to happen to you. For now, all there is to do is wait, take pain meds, drink plenty of fluids, and hope it’s all over soon.
Like everyone else in the kidlit world, I was saddened and shocked last week to learn of L.K. Madigan’s cancer diagnosis. Her brave and eloquent words speak volumes about the kind of person she is. If, by chance, you haven’t yet read her post titled "Hard News," you must, even if you don’t know Lisa personally or haven’t read her books.
It’s been simply wonderful getting to know Lisa here on LJ, reading her amazing books, and being inspired by her fine example as a professional author. We happily celebrated the publication of her debut novel Flash Burnout, and was thrilled when it won the 2010 William C. Morris Young Adult Debut Award. It was her second book, The Mermaid’s Mirror, which I read on the long plane ride to Hawai’i last September — a story so magical and compelling I read it straight through and even almost forgot how much I hated flying.
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Lisa last summer at the VCFA Katherine Paterson Tea — she was so lovely and unassuming, a little surprised that I was so anxious to have my picture taken with her. My gut instincts about people are usually right, and they told me here was a beautiful, unselfish spirit, an extremely talented writer, someone who values her relationships with others above all else, someone who is unfailingly kind and generous. It’s easy to see why she is so beloved by her peers.
If you’d like to show your love and support for Lisa’s fight against cancer, consider contributing to the Book of Love being compiled by Tiffany Trent and Melodye Shore. Lisa loves photography, so send along a photo that in some way depicts, represents, or symbolizes how your life has been touched or impacted by Lisa’s. You can also include a poem, anecdote or illustration if you like. All submissions will be printed in a special gift book and sent to Lisa. Get the full details here, and remember to act quickly, since the deadline for submissions is this Friday, January 21.
You’ve probably already heard about L.K. Madigan’s Feast of Awesome Giveaway sponsored by the 2009 Debs, but it certainly bears repeating. The Debs are giving away 40 sets of Lisa’s books, and all you have to do to enter is spread a little Lisa love by celebrating her books. There are several ways to do this (add her books to your Goodreads shelf, tell a friend about her books, post a review on your blog, etc.). Full details here. Giveaway runs through January 31.
Finally, LJ friend Sharon Putnam has started a Gratefulness Candelight Site for Lisa — a place where people can leave a message of love, support, hope and healing. As Sharon says, "May our tiny flames grow into a beacon of healing light shining through the darkness."
I wish you all a good week, whether writing, working, playing, seeking, growing, or just being. More 2011 Winter Comfort and Joy coming your way as soon as I can manage. Stay warm!
Copyright © 2011 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan’s alphabet soup. All rights reserved.
soup of the day: the great wall of lucy wu by wendy wan-long shang!
“When we sat down to dinner, even I had to admit that Yi Po’s dumplings were something special. Better than the dumplings Mom bought at the store, better than the ones at Panda Café. There were lots of different flavors in the filling — a little ginger, a little garlic, some sesame oil — and they all stood out and blended together in turns. Every bite left me wanting more.” ~ Wendy Wan-Long Shang, The Great Wall of Lucy Wu
Dribble, dribble, pass, shoot . . . SCORE!!
*the crowd roars and chants*
“Wen-dy, Wen-dy, Wen-dy, Wen-dy!”
It’s our very first Soup of the Day celebration this year, and we can’t stop cheering for Virginia author Wendy Wan-Long Shang! Her debut middle grade novel, The Great Wall of Lucy Wu (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2011) has officially hit the streets!!
You know how excited I get about first books. Well, my normal level of enthusiasm is ramped up to the nines for this tender, funny, poignant and indescribably delicious story. Love love love it! *smacks lips*
Eleven-year-old Lucy Wu is looking forward to having a perfect year: she and her fellow six graders will rule the school, she’s going to try out for captain of the basketball team, and her “Miss Perfect” sister Regina is going off to college, so she’ll have their room all to herself. Lucy can’t wait to start decorating! But her all great plans begin to crumble when she learns her long-lost great-aunt Yi Po will be visiting from Shanghai and staying in her room — not for a week or two, but for several months!
Jama's Alphabet Soup 