Mstrust's #6: Frozen Treats

Esto es una continuación del tema Mstrust's #5: A Weird and Spooky Place .

Charlas75 Books Challenge for 2022

Únete a LibraryThing para publicar.

Mstrust's #6: Frozen Treats

1mstrust
Editado: Nov 2, 2022, 1:54 pm



Welcome to my last thread of 2022! Rough year, rough year...

Hi, I'm Jennifer in Phoenix. I've been an LTer since March of 2008, which means I'm going to be one cranky adolescent by the time my 15th thingaversary rolls around.

As this thread will cover some Winter and the holidays, I thought it was appropriate to mix both the cold weather and some winter baking and drinks. Get ready to lick the screen.

My goals for the rest of the year- to pick up my Doorstop of the Year, A Confederacy of Dunces, and finally finish it. To finish the three or four other books that I put aside throughout the year. To make eleven tins of cookies in December, cook Thanksgiving, find a way to have my entire garden of veg and flowers survive the cold.
If you like to read some weird and unusual articles, true crime, or grab a good recipe, head over to my Substack, Autumn Lives Here. You are always on the list!
https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/

Now, come in out of the cold!

2mstrust
Editado: Dic 18, 2022, 4:18 pm



2022 Reads

1. Horrorstor- 4.5
2. Fantastic Mr. Fox- 4
3. What Now, King Lear?- 3.8
4. The Giver- 4.5
5. James and the Giant Peach- 4
6. Foodheim- 2.5
7. Nothing But Blackened Teeth-2
8. The Magic Finger- 3.5
9. Murder at Melrose Court- 4.5
10. Diary of a Bookseller- 4
11. Gastro Obscura- 5
12. Danny Champion of the World- 3
13. Much Dithering- 3
14. 100 Things We've Lost to the Internet- 3.5
15. Flight- 4
16. Best Wishes, Warmest Regards- 4
17. The Geography of Bliss- 4
18. The Icepick Surgeon- 4
19. Murder at Teal's Pond- 3
20. Vintage Cocktails- 3.5
21. Cocktail Hour- 3.5
22. Their Eyes Were Watching God- 4
23. Jamie's Food Revolution- 4
24. Jamie at Home- 4
25. The Westing Game- 4.2
26. Elvis in Vegas- 4.5
27. Winesburg, Ohio- 4
28. Winter's Bone- 4
29. Gertrude and Claudius- 2.5
30. Disney Villains: Devilishly Delicious Cookbook- 3.5
31. Travel Hacks- 3
32. Welcome to Night Vale- 5
33. What's the Difference?- 3.5
34. Las Vegas Then and Now- 4
35. A Taste for Poison- 4.5
36. Cape Cod: Gardens and Houses- 3
37. Farewell, My Lovely- 4.5
38. Welocme to Dunder Mifflin- 4
39. The Cricket in Times Square- 3.5
40. The Great Glowing Coils of the Universe- 4.2
41. Witch: The True Story- 3.5
42. Two horror stories
43. Al Capone Throws Me a Curve- 4
44. Blood on Snow- 4.2
45. When the Mob Ran Vegas- 4
46. Esio Trot- 3.5
47. Cream Teas, Traffic Jams and Sunburn- 3
48. Don't Applaud. Either Laugh Or Don't- 3.5
49. Every Living Thing- 4
50. The Praying Mantis Bride -3
51. Gin Made Me Do It
52. The Martian Chronicles- 4
53. The Storied Life of A.J. Firky- 4.5
54. Fat Vampire 2: Tastes Like Chicken- 4
55. The Big Blueberry Barf-Off- 3.5
56. The Case of the Terrified Typist -2.5
57. Patty Jane's House of Curl- 4
58. True Grit- 5 stars
59. Shake Strain Done- 5
60. Halloween Merrymaking- 2.5
61. An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed- 4
62. The Tricky Art of Co-Existing- 3
63. Pericles, Prince of Tyre- 3.5
64. Floors- 3.5
65. Vacationland-3
66. We Sold Our Souls-4
67. 1922-4
68. Heck: Where The Bad Kids Go- 4
69. Yours Cruelly, Elvira- 3.5
70. The Mansion in the Mist- 3.5
71. Goosebumps Most Wanted: The Haunter-4
72. Goosebumps Most Wanted: Zombie Halloween- 4
73. The Smashed Man of Dread End- 4
The Dunwich Horror
74. Mexican Gothic- 5
75. The Dead Beat- 3.5
76. Spooksville: The Witch's Revenge- 3.5
77. A Very British Murder- 4
78. Tales from the Haunted Mansion III- 5
79. The October Country-
80. End of Watch- 4.5
81. Excuse Me While I Disappear- 4
82. The Killer Across the Table- 4
83. Secret Santa- 4
84. The Middlesteins- 4

3mstrust
Nov 2, 2022, 1:43 pm


...and welcome!

4drneutron
Nov 2, 2022, 6:53 pm

Happy new thread!

5PaulCranswick
Nov 2, 2022, 7:03 pm

Happy new one Jennifer. x

6figsfromthistle
Nov 2, 2022, 8:08 pm

Happy new thread!

7quondame
Nov 3, 2022, 12:06 am

Happy new thread Jennifer!

8FAMeulstee
Nov 3, 2022, 5:43 am

Happy new thread, Jennifer!

>3 mstrust: Our doorbell was broken last month, knocking on the door worked well. One of the wires inside got loose, and I was proud to mend it all by myself :-)

9SirThomas
Nov 3, 2022, 5:50 am

DING DONG...
Happy new thread, Jennifer!

10mstrust
Nov 3, 2022, 12:12 pm



Just setting out the cupcakes.

>4 drneutron: Hi Jim, thanks for your bravery in being here first! See everyone, I put the sharp knives away.

>5 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

>6 figsfromthistle: Thank you!

>7 quondame: Thanks, Susan!

>8 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita, and congrats on your new skill!

>9 SirThomas: I hear you, Thomas! Thanks for coming!

11hredwards
Nov 3, 2022, 12:29 pm

Ding Dong! We just got a ring doorbell.

Happy New Thread!! Such a change from the last one. Did you know Valencourt books has a series of British Victorian Christmas Ghost Story Books? My Brother loaned me some. They are pretty good. Of course, the stories range from humorous to scary, but I'm in the third book and enjoying them so far. Seems like something you might enjoy.

12mstrust
Nov 3, 2022, 4:21 pm

Good to see you, Harold!
I've read just one or two Valencourts, though not the Christmas editions. They are very well-curated, and I'd say the editors craft them to become classics right away.

13mstrust
Nov 3, 2022, 4:24 pm

We had a bit of hail just a little while ago, and the temps got down to 56F, which is exciting here. I started a little fire, the first in six months or more, and the flue must be blocked, because in five minutes the house was filled with smoke. Luckily I had a new box of baking soda because it took the whole box to put the fire out. All the windows are open and the fans are on.

14SirThomas
Nov 4, 2022, 2:09 am

Did Santa do an early test run and realized he needs to lose weight?
All the best for the weekend, Jenifer.

15mstrust
Nov 4, 2022, 1:01 pm

:-D I guess I should get a flashlight and look. Or start another fire and wait for him to cook down.
You have a good weekend! Our plans always include shopping, but I'd like to visit the art museum, so maybe we can squeeze that in.

Found out last night that my brother will come to Vegas for Christmas, and he's made reservations for all of us at a steak and seafood restaurant. So far, my niece won't be coming for the first time, but she moved to Oregon for work last month.

16PaperbackPirate
Nov 4, 2022, 9:33 pm

Hi! Brr! It's cold in here. I like how our fall is hot, 2 weeks of perfection, then cold.

17Carmenere
Nov 4, 2022, 9:41 pm

Happy new one and last one for 2022! I can’t believe it was 23 years ago when we were worried about Y2K.

Ooo, sorry about the smoky house. Did fire alarms go off?

18mstrust
Nov 5, 2022, 12:06 pm


Oh, look, even our cocktails are wearing sweaters now.

>16 PaperbackPirate: I was moving plants around in the backyard yesterday morning and could see my breath! (To anyone outside of Phoenix, this is unusual, especially in November.) I looove cold weather, but this is my first winter with a garden and I'm trying to figure out how I'll keep them warm.

>17 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda!
I felt old a few days ago when, because of our anniversary, my sister kept repeating how many years Mike and I have been together. She said it with such astonishment, ha!
I didn't even think about it, but no, the alarm didn't go off. Must be time to change the batteries. I was able to clear the smoke out in a little over an hour but it smelled like a campfire in here for the rest of the night.

Autumn Lives Here will remain spooky throughout the year, but I'm working on my list of Christmas cookies ideas for this year's tins. Ten tins will go to Mike's business guys, and I expect to take two or three tins to Vegas for Christmas. And here I used up all my baking soda in the fireplace.

19PaperbackPirate
Nov 6, 2022, 1:43 am

>18 mstrust: Ooh, I see some nice weather in our forecast!

20mstrust
Nov 6, 2022, 8:43 am

Yes, a bump up to the high 70s for a few days. It's 47 right now and Mike has gone for a walk.

21mstrust
Nov 6, 2022, 8:57 am



Wow, it's been a long time since I finished a book. This is a leftover from last week.
79. The October Country by Ray Bradbury.
A collection of horror and fantasy published in 1955. There are several in this collection that were used in the tv series Ray Bradbury Theater, including "The Crowd", about a man who survives a car accident but notices that a crowd appears within seconds of car accidents all over the city. "The Man Upstairs" is surprising because of the fearless little boy who hates his grandmother's new lodger the minute he sees the man. I think "The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Mantisse" has a contemporary feel. An incredibly boring man becomes the ironic obsession of a group of hipsters who seek out the mundane. They observe him like he's an exhibit, listen to him prattle on about boring subjects, and he finds himself popular for the first time in his life. But he's aware when the novelty of his dullness wears thin and works at finding ways to keep them interested in him.
4 stars

22mstrust
Editado: Nov 8, 2022, 1:33 pm


The newest Autumn Lives Here is up! The Scariest books I've read, the legend of the Hand of Glory, and some fine haunted house stories.
https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/p/autumn-lives-here-646

23SomeGuyInVirginia
Nov 8, 2022, 2:25 pm

DING DONG!!!!

24mstrust
Editado: Nov 8, 2022, 6:31 pm

Hooray, my mystery date has arrived!
Where ya been, Buckeroo?

25Berly
Nov 12, 2022, 10:45 pm

>15 mstrust: I think you should come visit your niece in Oregon! : )

And love the doormat. LOL

26mstrust
Nov 13, 2022, 9:27 am



I'd love to, I've never been to Oregon! But she's gone there to work non-stop. She's a nurse and is in a town none of us has ever heard of, so I can't even say where she is in the state. It's supposed to be for just a year. But maybe I'll have a good reason to visit ;-D

27Berly
Editado: Nov 14, 2022, 2:09 am

Crossing my fingers for an Oregon trip. And those cookies made me laugh -- they make me think of the Grinch!! Just his color. And a very small heart. Am I right? LOL. Now I am hungry....

28mstrust
Nov 14, 2022, 1:18 pm

That's exactly what those cookies are called, Grinch cookies. I love the look!

29Berly
Nov 14, 2022, 1:28 pm

They are awesome!! I think I will have to give them a try this holiday season.

30figsfromthistle
Nov 14, 2022, 8:32 pm

>26 mstrust: Wow! That is quite the neon green!

Happy week ahead.

31mstrust
Nov 15, 2022, 9:57 am

>29 Berly: I might try them too. I have eleven or twelve cookie tins to fill.

>30 figsfromthistle: Eye catching! Thanks, and you have a good week too!

My little container garden produced enough mizuna, radish sprouts, and a brocade marigold to add to our salad last night. I have about five tomatoes growing and lots of blooms on the five other tomato plants. The broccoli has sprouted, and the celtuce and milkweed. The Swiss chard has sprouted in a couple of containers but seems to grow at a snail's pace.

32mstrust
Editado: Nov 15, 2022, 10:01 am


The new Autumn Lives Here is up and it's all The Walking Dead. We're down to the last episode.
https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/p/autumn-lives-here-67c

33Berly
Nov 18, 2022, 11:41 am

Jealous! I only managed tomatoes this year.

34mstrust
Nov 18, 2022, 12:53 pm

I was able to use some of my lemon basil and a garlic clove I'd been growing in a chicken marinade last night. I'd actually forgotten if that one big stem was garlic or onion, so I yanked and yanked and it fought me. It was garlic that had ten inch roots!
A few days ago I went out with a shovel and dug out a 3x2 foot bed in the backyard. I filled it with perlite and compost and growing soil, then sowed Uzbek golden carrots, Evil Olive tomatoes, Texas onions and Calima beans. Fingers crossed.

35CassieBash
Nov 18, 2022, 9:35 pm

>34 mstrust: How come I’m not surprised that, out of all the varieties of tomatoes out there, you would choose the variety with “evil” in its name, lol!

36Berly
Nov 19, 2022, 12:32 am

>35 CassieBash: SO true!! LOL

37mstrust
Editado: Nov 19, 2022, 9:34 am

>35 CassieBash: >36 Berly: Ha! I know it seems like I'd choose it just for the name alone, which is pretty fun. It was actually the appearance. In the photo that went along with the seeds, the little green tomatoes looked like oversized cocktail olives. This is a different pic but gives you an idea.


So far, I have little bitty tomatoes all over the Black Strawberry tomato and yesterday I saw three baby tomatoes on the Dark Galaxy, which produces spotted purple tomatoes.


I usually choose the unusual heirloom seeds over the more popular stuff. Someone has to keep them growing. The biggest surprise has been how well the mizuna has done. Compact, super flavorful and regenerates quickly after clipping.

38SirThomas
Nov 19, 2022, 9:54 am

If they taste like they look they are extremely delicious!
Have a great weekend!

39mstrust
Nov 20, 2022, 3:20 pm

I've never tried either yet, but aren't they pretty?
Hope you're having a good weekend! We've just come back from a Cuban restaurant, and I bought more seeds and containers this morning. Also, I bought a new baking chip that I'd never seen before- cream cheese flavored. Mike is excited about the tought of red velvet cookies for Christmas, ha!

40mstrust
Nov 20, 2022, 3:29 pm

Lookee here, I finished a book!



80. End of Watch by Stephen King. The last in the Bill Hodges trilogy, this sees Bill and Holly running a sort of detective agency as partners, which has opened up Holly's world considerably. Jerome is in Arizona for a while, and Bill has stopped going to the hospital to see if he can prove that Brady Hartsfield, aka Mr Mercedes, is faking his brain damage. But Bill was right. Brady's doctor, Babineau, has been giving Brady illegal, experimental drugs that have woken something in him, along with the outdated gaming tablet Library Al dropped off just on the off chance Brady would like looking at the cartoon fish. He does, because the hypnotic fish allow him to reach out to strangers.
A page-turner that involves crime, murder, telekinesis, and Bill's adopted family. Nearly 500 pages long, but it wraps up the whole story.4.5 stars

41klobrien2
Nov 21, 2022, 12:12 pm

>40 mstrust: I really enjoyed the Mr Mercedes trilogy! A TV show was made of the trilogy, starring Brendan Gleeson, also really good (IMDB rates it 7.8, which is pretty darn good).

Karen O

42mstrust
Nov 21, 2022, 3:22 pm

I saw maybe the first two episodes of the show and really liked it. Maybe I'll get to finish it, but for some reason the SYFY network just played a couple. But hey, I just saw Escape from New York last week, so it takes me time to get around to things.

43mstrust
Nov 21, 2022, 5:43 pm

Not counting this as it's an essay.



I Choose Darkness by Jenny Lawson. The author's childhood memories of Halloween, including being forced to wear costumes she didn't want and attending Fall festivals because their home was too rural to trick or treat.
Funny and fast.

44mstrust
Editado: Nov 22, 2022, 10:14 am

The latest Autumn Lives Here is up, and it's got the easiest strudel recipe ever, toxic flowers, and a new creepy bookshop.
https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/p/autumn-lives-here-9db

45Carmenere
Nov 22, 2022, 2:24 pm

>43 mstrust: awe that looks good. On to TBR it goes.

46mstrust
Nov 23, 2022, 4:43 pm

I think you'll like it.

47mstrust
Nov 23, 2022, 4:44 pm

Wishing my American visitors a Happy Thanksgiving!

48figsfromthistle
Nov 24, 2022, 5:52 am

Hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving!

49PaulCranswick
Nov 24, 2022, 8:01 am



Thank you as always for books, thank you for this group and thanks for you. Have a lovely day, Jennifer.

50PaperbackPirate
Nov 24, 2022, 10:06 am

Happy Thanksgiving!

51Carmenere
Nov 24, 2022, 10:10 am

Happy T-day!

52mstrust
Nov 25, 2022, 12:17 pm


Who's feeling Christmas?

>48 figsfromthistle: Thanks! I spent it with my MIL, so at least it's over. Hope you had a great one!

>49 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul! Now, you promised me a book list...

>50 PaperbackPirate: Thanks, and to you!

>51 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda, and I hope you had a good one!

53CassieBash
Nov 27, 2022, 9:33 am

>52 mstrust: I was feeling it until I saw that picture. Now I’m feeling stalked! ;D

54mstrust
Nov 28, 2022, 12:03 pm

He'll probably let you pet his stuffed cat.

55mstrust
Editado: Nov 29, 2022, 10:11 am

The new Autumn Lives Here is up! More beverages and a short story about a bad birthday:
https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/p/autumn-lives-here-3e4

56CassieBash
Nov 29, 2022, 9:12 pm

>54 mstrust: That doesn’t help and in fact raises the creepy factor even more, lol! (Thanks, but no thanks….)

57mstrust
Nov 30, 2022, 12:29 pm

Feeling your skin crawl makes you feel alive!

58mstrust
Nov 30, 2022, 12:44 pm



81. Excuse Me While I Disappear by Laurie Notaro.
Notaro has been a go-to for me for years when I want a laugh, she never fails to deliver. She started out as a humor columnist for a Phoenix paper, then came out with a series of memoirs, my favorite being The Potty-Mouth at the Table.
In this latest book, she continues with her over-sharing, this time about aging, menopause, and getting a colonoscopy (she woke in the middle, even after telling them to "drug me like I'm Judy Garland"), and her surprise at finding her GenX punk rock self being avoided by younger people. Of all the embarrassing private moments she writes about, the most surprising to me was that someone who has 20 years of books and articles under her belt was dumped by her editor because one book of historical non-fiction didn't sell. Needing health insurance, Notaro went back to working in an office, which became the subject of several essays here, including fighting the office building owner. 4 stars

59mstrust
Nov 30, 2022, 1:06 pm



We went to the local chocolate company this morning to buy some Christmas stuff, and to get my brother a box of chocolates. He'll be coming out here on business in a few days and we haven't seen him since summer.
Oh, and I got myself a big ol' handful of chocolates too, especially the dark chocolate orange meltaways. And Mike got himself a big bag of kettle korn.
I've started on my extensive Christmas cookies list. So far: apple cinnamon bars and pumpkin spice buttons. I haven't decided what I'll make today.
And my vegetables are taking off: black-seeded and bronze beauty lettuces are doing really well, so are the marigolds and sunflowers. My largest pepper plant is only about five inches tall but is sprouting peppers. All the different tomato plants are either covered in fruit or blooms, the bean plant sprouted and the broccoli.
So of course I needed to buy more seeds, for Spring. I got May Queen lettuce, Tunisian hot peppers and Barry's crazy tomatoes, a yellow cherry tomato. And the 500 pages catalog so I can spend days picking more seeds. Hmmm.

60quondame
Editado: Nov 30, 2022, 5:10 pm

>57 mstrust: This is true, but it also makes me question whether I want to be!

>59 mstrust: A deserved lump of coal?

61SirThomas
Dic 1, 2022, 8:06 am

>58 mstrust: Sounds like fun - I will look around for the author.
Have a wonderful day!

62mstrust
Dic 1, 2022, 6:24 pm

>60 quondame: 1. Santa knew this kid. He must have been real bad.
2. I still hope he got a case of Rogain for Christmas, because a ten year old with a receding hairline deserves it.

>61 SirThomas: Thanks, Thomas, and to you!

63mstrust
Editado: Dic 5, 2022, 1:32 pm



82. The Killer Across the Table by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker.
Douglas is the original FBI profiler and the author of Mind Hunter, along with several other books about the work he and his early colleagues did in creating profiles on the worst criminals in America. In this book, he discusses many murders, some that involve children, where he was able to conduct extensive interviews with the killers. Much of the book is about how he studied the murderers beforehand, and what techniques he used or advised parole boards to use in order to get the murderer talking, and often giving unintentionally honest answers. 4 stars

64hredwards
Dic 5, 2022, 11:44 am

>63 mstrust: Looks good. Read an earlier book by these men that was very good. also enjoyed the TV series on Netflix.

65mstrust
Dic 5, 2022, 1:31 pm

This my first from Douglas, and we watched the Mindhunter series too, and loved it. I never would have noticed it if my sister had recommended it.
I don't know why I left the second author's name off, but I'll correct it.

66mstrust
Dic 5, 2022, 1:38 pm



So far, Christmas cookies baked:
chocolate chip walnut
pumpkin spice buttons
s'mores brownies
apple cinnamon squares
black sesame golden syrup

And I have a cranberry, orange & candied ginger dough chilling.

67mstrust
Editado: Dic 6, 2022, 10:28 am

A new Autumn Lives Here is up, and I've got holiday horrors and piranhas, just like you wanted.
https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/p/autumn-lives-here-5c3

68hredwards
Dic 6, 2022, 11:16 am

>65 mstrust: I really liked the guy who played Kemper, which I guess is a scary thing to admit. Saw him in a couple of other shows and couldn't believe it was the same guy.

69klobrien2
Dic 6, 2022, 11:37 am

>67 mstrust: I feel so mean, but that picture of the very unhappy kids with Santa is funny…

Karen O

70Carmenere
Dic 6, 2022, 5:48 pm

Oooo, did you visit Ethel M?! I salivate just thinkin about them.

Anyway, the reason I'm here is, have you watched Wednesday on Netflix. I binged it while recovering from flu. Seems it would be your cup of tea.

71mstrust
Dic 6, 2022, 7:13 pm

>68 hredwards: You're right to like Cameron Britton, he was excellent and got an Emmy nomination for playing Kemper. And he played that guy exactly as he is, very calm and polite, which made it so weird.

>69 klobrien2: I think it's pretty funny! That one kid looks like he'd throw himself off a cliff to get away from Santa.

>70 Carmenere: Are you asking me, Lynda? I have been to Ethel M's, even did a tasting class a few years ago, and I recommend it. Pretty grounds and excellent chocolate! We bought these last chocolates from Cerreta's, a local company that does quick tours and has done some candy for Disneyland.
I haven't started Wednesday yet, it's in my queue, but I've been watching an episode of Dexter nearly every day. I'm on season 7 and have all of the new revival episodes recorded and waiting. I know I'll like Wednesday when I get to it.

72Carmenere
Dic 6, 2022, 8:06 pm

Oh yeah,yeah I forgot your in AZ not NV. I couldn’t contain my excitement because I love Ethel Ms liquor laced chocolates.
I have never watched Dexter and I don’t know why.

73figsfromthistle
Dic 6, 2022, 8:38 pm

>66 mstrust: Sounds delicious! I have to get to my Christmas baking. My mom and I usually do this together ( since my childhood) Now of course it involves music, baking and wine tasting ;)

74mstrust
Dic 7, 2022, 2:40 pm



>72 Carmenere: I'll remember to look for them, I've never tried the liquor filled from Ethel M. My usual, as far as chocolate goes, is dark, but the Ethel M plain milk chocolate bars are so creamy I love them. Mike likes their Mars bars.
I'm pretty hooked on Dexter, and a large part of it is the group of coworkers at the police station. And I'm surprised by the actors who have popped up in story arcs: John Lithgow, Julia Stiles, Ray Stevenson, Colin Hanks.

>73 figsfromthistle: I have a deadline to finish all these cookies, so I end up baking a batch a day up. I do my mixing and baking while listening to podcasts, but Mom, my sister and I get together to ice and decorate Mom's sugar cookies. I'm not kidding when I say that Mike sits at the end of the dining table production line and eats them right of the cooling racks. He's asked for a whole batch for himself this year.

More cookies done: almond sugar cookies, chocolate crinkles and today was blueberry cheesecake.

75mstrust
Dic 7, 2022, 2:42 pm

I ran up to the library for some holds and bought a few from the sale room:
I Capture the Castle- for Julie, she'll love it
Mr Monk Is Open for Business
Dearly Devoted Dexter
Audie Murphy: To Hell and Back

76SirThomas
Dic 10, 2022, 4:48 am

>74 mstrust: yummy cookies and >75 mstrust: dexter and Mr Monk - what a wonderful combination!
All the best for the weekend!

77mstrust
Dic 10, 2022, 2:04 pm

Hi, Thomas!
Today's cookies is maple peanut butter. It may be my last Christmas bake because my deep freeze is filled to the top, I have no more room. That's my cut-off point, a dozen cookie varieties.
Have a great weekend!

78SirThomas
Dic 12, 2022, 9:03 am

Thank you, Jennifer - we only have 6 varieties, but they are already ready to eat - after Christmas they no longer taste good to us - maybe because we had too much of them before?
The weekend was nice, also because I read a BB from you - Snow - thanks for that and a great start to the week!

79mstrust
Dic 12, 2022, 10:34 am

I thought I was done, but Mike added three more people to the cookie list on Saturday, so I may have to squeeze another cookie into my fridge freezer. I have til Saturday to have most of the tins ready to go.
You picked from my "Holiday Horror" list! Glad you liked it, and I've finished one from the list too.

80mstrust
Editado: Dic 12, 2022, 10:46 am



83. Secret Santa by Andrew Shaffer. Lussi interviews for a position at Blackwood-Patterson publishing, a firm with a reputation for dull, serious fiction that doesn't sell, yet somehow they are able to maintain a huge Gothic building in Manhattan. She quickly angers ancient Xavier Blackwood, who collapses right in front of her, and dies soon after, which a desperate Lussi turns into a job offer and a promotion from Blackwood's incompetent son. She's the head of the new horror department, but if she thought a bit of hazing would blow over, it's clear she has a lot to learn about her coworkers.

Set in the 80's, this is a fun horror set over Christmas in NYC. 4 stars

81mstrust
Dic 13, 2022, 1:59 pm

A new Autumn Lives Here is up! Poe museums, true crime podcasts, and a black sesame cookie recipe.
https://jennifermorrow.substack.com/

82mstrust
Editado: Dic 17, 2022, 11:25 am



Ten cookie tins out the door this morning, three to go!
I ended up with a dozen varieties:
almond sugar
chocolate chip walnut
black sesame and golden syrup
s'mores & coffee brownies
chocolate crinkles
snickerdoodles
cherry almond
maple peanut butter
orange, ginger & cranberry
apple cinnamon squares
blueberry cheesecake
pumpkin spice buttons

83SirThomas
Dic 17, 2022, 11:43 am

I wish I could pick some out of the pic.
They look so yummy!

84mstrust
Dic 17, 2022, 3:38 pm

The cookies in the pic do look good, but it's an internet pic, not mine. I took a few pics to send to Mike at work, but I don't remember if I kept them. I was particularly pleased with the black sesame and blueberry cheesecake cookies.

85mstrust
Dic 18, 2022, 4:17 pm



84. The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg.
The story of a Jewish Chicago family that crumbles under such dysfunction over the decades that it can't hold together anymore.
The matriarch, Edie, is by far the more dominant personality in her marriage, and has been able to push people into what she wants since she was a small child. Her husband, Richard, was an outgoing young husband who became a civic leader for some years, but the younger generations stopped shopping at his outdated pharmacy. Edie was a successful lawyer who gained a significant amount of weight and frightened everyone with her sudden anger, and her daughter and granddaughter are copies of her.
After 40 years of marriage, Richard finally left Edie, knowing for years that they would both be happier apart. He's right, but that doesn't stop the friends and family from taking sides and blaming Richard for the family falling apart.
Going between humor and despair, I always looked forward to picking this up again. 4 stars

86mstrust
Dic 18, 2022, 4:35 pm

I didn't cover my plants last night as it was going to get to 44F, and I didn't think it was that bad. I went out today and found that I lost seven plants overnight. Two tomatoes, two peppers, a big marigold and a multi-branched lemon basil that I'd grown from seed and used often. *sighhhhhh*

87CassieBash
Dic 18, 2022, 8:48 pm

We are jealous here at our house by your baking prowess; illness has set us back badly. Nothing life-threatening but all I wanted to do Thursday and Friday was sleep.

The orange, ginger, and cranberry cookies sound especially good; would you be willing to share the recipe?

88hredwards
Dic 19, 2022, 11:32 am

You had me at blueberry cheesecake cookies. Sounds amazing.
I want to take the opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I have enjoyed your posts so much this year!!!
Harold

89mstrust
Editado: Dic 19, 2022, 12:34 pm

>87 CassieBash: I created this recipe last year for an orange cranberry cookies, but this was the first time I added in candied ginger and it turned out great. Mike doesn't like ginger or cranberry, but he liked these.
I only ask that when you hand these out, you lean in, make eye contact, and whisper, "mstruuussttt..." That's not too much to ask.

Orange Cranberry Ginger Cookies

1 stick butter, softened
1 c sugar
1 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
3/4 c dried cranberries, chopped
5 large pieces of candied ginger, chopped
1 tsp zest of organic orange
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp tangerine or orange extract (I use tangerine)

Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg, extracts and zest and mix well.
In a bowl, combine the flour, soda and salt together. Add to the wet mixture, mixing well.
Add in the cranberries and ginger, stir in by hand.
Form into a ball and chill at least two hours.

Heat oven to 350F.
Roll the dough into 1 1/2" balls and place 3" apart on a parchment lined baking sheet. They will flatten out slightly. Bake about 8 minutes, just until lightly golden.

>88 hredwards: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Harold!
I really appreciate that you have been a constant reader of my creepy little Substack, and that you were my very first subscriber! You led the way, because once you subscribed, I started getting another and another and another...like going to an empty restaurant and suddenly the place is full! I'd love to get a comment from you on the site to let me know what's of interest to you.
Here's just a little Christmas present, to show my appreciation :


She's old, but I'm sure you'll give her a good home.

90hredwards
Dic 19, 2022, 1:33 pm

>89 mstrust: Oh my!
That is the oddest present I've ever received.
Thank you! I'm speechless...

91CassieBash
Dic 19, 2022, 2:04 pm

>89 mstrust: I wasn’t thinking of sharing beyond myself but I’ll make sure I credit you on the recipe card and any subsequent copies. :)

Actually, I think we could give her a good home. We have a small creepy doll collection. Actually, she looks ready to stand by the Christmas tree singing carols!

92CassieBash
Dic 19, 2022, 2:39 pm

Oh, and thanks!

93mstrust
Editado: Dic 20, 2022, 12:24 pm

Look at this monstrous carrot I yanked up last night!


It was about seven inches long and fought me. The thing is, I never sowed white carrots, so this is not only a remarkable number of roots growing all over, but a recessive gene. I believe it's supposed to be a black nebula. I pulled one of those at the same time but from a different container and it was much smaller but deep purple. Freaky, eh?

>90 hredwards: That is the oddest present I've ever received. Excellent! Do you mind if I quote you on my Substack?

>91 CassieBash: Just making sure you know I was kidding. And why am I not surprised to hear you have a creepy doll collection. Her eyes look rather goatish to me.

>92 CassieBash: You're welcome!

Oh, and Mike suddenly added two more people to the cookie tin list. Their cookies went out this morning, but I'm making another pan of s'mores brownies this morning to make it up. I still have three tins to go to Vegas later this week.

94hredwards
Dic 21, 2022, 12:27 pm

>93 mstrust: Not at all. Quote away. :)
First Blueberry cheesecake and now S'mores brownies? What foul sorcery is this?

If that carrot thing was orange it reminds me of the Carrot guy in that Lost In Space episode.

95mstrust
Dic 21, 2022, 12:52 pm

The s'mores brownie didn't entail as much creativity as the blueberry cheesecake. It was either Nestle or Toll House that put out a bag of s'mores baking chips, little chocolate chips, marshmallows and tiny graham crackers. I put a cup of that and a tablespoon of brewed black coffee in a recipe for Hershey's brownies.
That's my cooking, I look around, see what I have, and throw it in.
I have to say that I've never seen an episode of Lost in Space, but if Carrot Guy looked like my carrot, that's scary.
Look for your quote in upcoming volumes of ALH!

96mstrust
Dic 22, 2022, 1:02 pm

Merry Christmas to All!

97Carmenere
Dic 23, 2022, 7:28 am

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Jennifer! Cheers!

98quondame
Dic 24, 2022, 1:09 am

Merry Christmas, Jennifer!

99mstrust
Dic 25, 2022, 10:54 am

Lynda & Susan, thank you, ladies! Merry Christmas!

100PaperbackPirate
Dic 25, 2022, 11:02 am

Merry Christmas!

101Berly
Dic 25, 2022, 8:17 pm


102CassieBash
Dic 26, 2022, 9:34 pm

>93 mstrust: Well, I didn’t really think you were serious about the leaning in and rasping your name out in a creepy whisper (though several people I know wouldn’t be surprised if I did), but I was serious about crediting you on the recipe card.

Hope you had a merry Christmas and here’s to a great new year!

103Carmenere
Dic 27, 2022, 10:22 am

Greetings! Hope you're enjoying the limbo week between Christmas and NY!!

104mstrust
Editado: Dic 28, 2022, 12:26 pm

>100 PaperbackPirate: Thank you, Nicole! It was fun!

>101 Berly: Thanks, and Happy New Year to you!

>102 CassieBash: I had a Merry Christmas and hope you did too! I've just ordered a box of skin care with one of my shiny gift cards!

>103 Carmenere: Hello, Lynda! What a busy week! Christmas in Vegas and everyone turned up, even my brother was able to make it the day after and took us all to dinner at Mastro's, which was fabulous! My niece brought along her boyfriend du jour, and Mike and I were able to drop by Frankie's and pick up the anniversary mug.
I hope you had a great Christmas and will have a Happy New Year!

internet pic

The 14th anniversary mug is a cryptkeeper holding a tiki drink. I don't love it.

105mstrust
Dic 28, 2022, 12:28 pm

106hredwards
Dic 28, 2022, 1:11 pm

>104 mstrust: That is so cool. A couple of years ago as a gag gift I got a set of mini Tiki mugs fashioned after Frodo Baggins and Gollum. I love them.

107mstrust
Dic 28, 2022, 4:20 pm

I believe I've seen that set!
We have a fairly large tiki mug collection, and my favorites are the authentic looking ones that look like carved wood, though I do like my Frankenstein mugs a lot too.

108mstrust
Dic 29, 2022, 2:35 pm

Well, I did it again. I had to get to the library to pick up a hold, and I stuck my head in the sale room. I bought The Red Green Book, which I was surprised to see, and The Devil's Rooming House.

109mstrust
Dic 30, 2022, 10:17 am

Wishing my visitors a Happy New Year!

110Berly
Dic 30, 2022, 11:42 pm

>104 mstrust: Love it!!

111mstrust
Ene 1, 2023, 10:44 am

It isn't a favorite of mine but Mike likes it. To me, it looks like a preliminary drawing.

112mstrust
Ene 1, 2023, 10:45 am

Come see me this year in my new digs: https://www.librarything.com/topic/346883#n8017068

Happy new year!