Quote

"I cannot live without books: but fewer will suffice where amusement, and not use, is the only future object." -- Thomas Jefferson

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Michael Hardeman - Narrator -- Gina's Dream

Michael Hardeman — Narrator

By accident, I meet Rocky Mountain Mike (Michael Hardeman) on Twitter. His name was familiar from his political parody songs played on online radio shows. On his Twitter profile, I learned he also narrated audiobooks.
 
Michael Hardeman
After contacting Michael regarding an audiobook project, I learned he had been a DJ and radio show host for more than 20 years.
 
After many years in radio, Michael returned to college to get a BS in electronics engineering technology and he worked in engineering and software development for the next 20+ years.

Over time, Michael had also been writing, producing and performing political parody songs and audio sketch comedy. He developed a variety of songs that are played on various radio stations and you can find them on his YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSB-tl1Xbo8jtq8q45N7STQ.

In 2013, Mike and a friend, made a comedy album based on his political parody songs called Politically Incoherent. Within the first weeks after launching the album, it became #1 on iTunes Comedy, #1 and #2 on Amazon Comedy and #3 on Billboard Comedy, according to Michael.

Today, Mike continues to write and produce audio sketch comedy and political parody songs like The Electoral College —the Chipmunks Song. He also sells large format color photographs he takes in various national and state parks as well as other scenic locations which have been featured in major outdoor magazines.

Michael Hardeman
@RockyMntnMike
 
 
 Available at Google Play:
 
 

Gina's Dream -- Now Available as an Audio Book

PRESS RELEASE
10/20/2020
 Ria.stonemail@gmail.com
 
 

Gina's Dream
An Environmental Manifesto Wrapped in a Science-Fiction Romance
Now Available as an Audio Book (English)

30% Off until 10/29/2020



MERIDA, MEXICO -- Expat, Ria Stone published her first Smashwords fiction eBook, Gina’s Dream in 2013. 

In Gina’s Dream, Kit Brennan, SETA’s (Space Exploration Through Astronomy) Assistant Director, meets an unusual woman at a convention. She claims she is an alien. What is he to believe? What is he to do?

Kit’s co-worker sees her as a threat, first to his friend and then to humankind. The co-worker seeks to discover Gina’s secrets and to stop her.

Gina has broken the emissaries’ primary rule by telling Kit who she is. But, she is here to defend her world from a future invasion by humans. As Gina’s safety is threatened, what will she do to defend herself?

Caught in the middle between his co-worker’s fears and her defense, Kit has few choices but to let Gina follow her dream.

What would you do if you met an alien?

 

Now, You Can Listen to Gina's Story!

Find Gina's Dream Audio Book at Google Play at:
 
 
Michael Hardeman narrates Gina's Dream. 

 

Yucatán Writers Association Blog Tour

Yucatán Writers Association Presents its
First Members Blog Tour

https://yucatanwriters.blogspot.com/


 
Yucatán Writers Association Blog Tour 
November 21, 2020 - December 21, 2020

Over the next 30 days, visit our members' blogs or websites to see what's new. Our members are authors, writers, bloggers, vloggers, poets and more.
 

11/21/2020
Ria Stone


11/26/2020
Betty Steinmuller 
New Publication -- From Havana - A Novel




12/5/2020
Cherry Muhanji
Author: Her -- A Novel
Blog: https://cherrymuhanji.blogspot.com/


12/10/2020
Egyirba M. HIgh
Berijoy's Bliss

12/15/2020
Judy Jones
 

12/21/2020
Ralf Hollman
Author: The Modern Yucatan Dictionary
https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Yucatan-Dictionary-Ralf-Hollmann/dp/0988433753



 


Sunday, October 18, 2020

Hotplate: Three and Four Bean / Pea Salads

I am on a bean kick!
 
I used to make a great three bean salad with canned and drained Kidney beans, Green beans and Garbanzo beans with a ready-made Italian dressing.
 
Look at me now, cooking dry beans!
 
While I can get fresh green beans here and maybe dry kidney beans, I wanted to use the “Use What I Have” method rather than run to the store during a pandemic in a hot zone to get these items.
 
I used the recipes under Resources below as guides.



Hotplate: Three and Four Bean / Pea Salads

The day before making these salads, I made about a cup of Pinto beans, one cup of Black-eyed peas and about two cups Black beans from dry beans. The peas and Garbanzo beans came from cans.

There are plenty of how-to cook dry beans tutorials available like:

How to Cook Black-eyed Peas
https://www.wikihow.com/Cook-Black-Eyed-Peas 

No amounts are noted because you can make any size bean salad you desire

I made three sample combinations as a test.
 

 
#1
Black beans, cooked and drained
Pinto beans, cooked and drained
Black-eyed peas, cooked and drained
With ready-made Italian dressing
 
 
#2
Black-eyed peas, cooked and drained
Green peas, canned, drained and rinsed
Garbanzo beans, cooked and drained
Black-eyed peas, cooked and drained
With DIY Vinaigrette per Wikipedia with lime juice and dry parsley.
 
 
Wikipedia Vinaigrette:
 
3 parts oil
1 part apple cider vinegar
Herbs / Spices
 
 
#3
Pinto beans, cooked and drained 
Garbanzo beans, canned, drained and rinsed
Black beans, cooked and drained
With DIY Vinaigrette
 
 

 
I liked all three bean/pea salads but I liked #2 and #3 because of the DIY Vinaigrette. The DIY Vinaigrette had a surprisingly light and bright flavor. 
 
 
Resources: 
 
Goya
 
Wikipedia
 
Spending with Pennies
 

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Microwave: Mug O'Black Bean Chocolate Cake

In a search for black bean recipes, I was surprised to find recipes for Black Bean Chocolate Cake, including a mug version.

As usual, I adapted the mug recipe to what I had on hand. Also, the original recipe was for two mug cakes. I created a one cake mug version.
 
I actually used black beans I had just cooked. I used a different method than the one noted on SpruceEats (see Resources below).
 
I put about a half of cup of dry black beans (rinsed) into a container and filled the container with water and let the beans soak for several hours. Then, I transferred the beans to a pot and added about 1 1/2 cups of water. I brought the beans to a boil then lowered the temperature to a simmer and let the beans simmer for about an hour or more. When I checked the beans, they were soft. I turned off the beans but let the covered pot sit on the counter to cool down before I put the beans into a jar and then into the frig.

 
 
Microwave: Mug O’Black Bean Chocolate Cake


Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Black beans, cooked and drained
1 TBspn Flour
1 TBspn Cocoa powder
1 TBspn Honey
1 TBspn DIY milk (milk made with lactose-free dry milk)
1 Tspn Vanilla flavoring
1 Egg
1/4 Tspn Baking powder
Topping: Honey
Suggested extra toppings: almond slivers, chocolate syrup
 
 

Process:

Add beans to mug.
Use a fork to mash the beans. Stir and mash until all the beans are mashed.
Add flour and cocoa powder.
Stir and mix ingredients until thoroughly mixed.
Add honey, milk and vanilla.
Stir ingredients thoroughly.
Add egg and baking powder.
Whip and stir ingredients thoroughly.
Put mug in microwave, cover with a saucer.
Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
Tip mug over and use a fork to help the cake slide onto the plate.
Add topping(s).

 
I was surprised, this turned out well. It tastes like chocolate cake with a subtle flavor of the black beans.
 

Resources:
 
Spruce Eats
How to Cook Black Beans

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

DIY: Coffee Stain Remover

I thank the "Gentlemen's Gazette" YouTube Channel for this idea and many more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHzLckkSATI&feature=youtu.be

We all have our little pet peeves. One of mine is coffee in the morning. I struggled for months trying to figure how to make a cup of coffee without spillage. Sounds silly.

 I have almost nailed it. I, now, use a large commuter coffee cup with a screw on lid. But, if I did not screw the lid on in an exact manner, it would leak when I took a sip, so I have stained a lot of tops. I am more careful, now, so I usually do not have any spillage.

But, when I had a spill recently, I found the Gentlemen's Gazette's video on clothing stains and how to remove them.


Spray coffee stain with rubbing alcohol, blot with cloth, then hand wash garment.

I tried the advice for removing coffee stains and it worked!!!

Monday, October 12, 2020

Refrigerator: Vanilla or Horchata Chia Pudding

Chia seeds are incredibly small, amazing and alien.
 
By Magister Mathematicae - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15245222

While I sprinkle Chia on many dishes, but Chia pudding has become a favorite dish.
 
 

Refrigerator: Vanilla or Horchata Chia Pudding
 
 

Ingredients:

1 Cup Dry Milk mixture (Lactose free)
1/3 Cup chia seeds
1/2 TBspn white sugar
1 Capful vanilla extract

Or just use 1 Cup of Horchata and eliminate, sugar and vanilla.

Makes about 11oz.
 
 

Process:

Combine milk, chia seeds, sugar, and vanilla extract in a container with a lid.
Stir to mix thoroughly.
Add lid.
Put in frig overnight.
 
The Chia seeds will absorb the liquid, expand and jellify.

The next day, serve pudding, offer various toppings like: fresh fruit, dried blueberries, raisins, crushed nuts, sesame seeds or other items.


Over time, the pudding will thicken, add more liquid to keep it the consistency desired.*

*The more milk/Horchata I added, the more pudding I had as the Chia continued to expand.