Just in case you haven't heard, I am a Halloween *fanatic.*  It is my favorite holiday.  Which is bizarre, because I am a total wimp when it comes to scary movies & haunted theme parks.  I even get squeamish at the idea of the old children's game, "Bloody Mary."  Yeah--I am that kind of wimp.

I am not a wimp about spiders, though.  Unless they're huge.  And in my bathtub.

      But I have plenty of decorations put up, "Sweeny Todd" to sing along to, & creepy boardgames to play. And more than that, this year I put together the itinerary for the Perfect October Day for anyone who lives in western Washington.*  So if you're looking for something different to do this weekend--or if you have friends coming from out of town & you want to show them a great time--here's my recommendations.

      This little berg is out on the Olympic peninsula. It's one of my favorite day trips in the state & getting there is half the fun.  Here's my itinerary:

9:35am - Catch the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston.  Depending on where you are, this might mean getting up early, or giving you time to sleep in a little bit.  Either way, if there's a Top Pot on your route, stop for a pumpkin old fashioned doughnut and a cup of coffee to enjoy while waiting at the ferry dock.

      It's about a 30 minute crossing, & then you head west & north.  As you drive, set the mood with a creepy podcast: I suggest any of the Spooked episodes, or my current obsession, Lore.  Your route will take you through Port Gamble, a charming town so tiny you could miss it if you didn't have SLOW WAY THE F*** DOWN to make that hairpin turn through the middle.  It's one of the most haunted places on the West Coast, so if you feel like stopping & poking around, by all means, do!  Just make sure you get to...

11am - Farms Reach Cafe, Chimicum.  Small, casual, & homey-delicious food awaits you here.  I took the recommendation of a regular & had the beef stew with a buttermilk biscuit for lunch.  My belly was soooo happy.  I wanted to stay & try some of their amazing looking cookies with a cup of tea, but I knew I had to leave room for the next stop, which was only three blocks away.

12pm - Finnriver Cidery, Chimicum.  Ohhh, ho hooo...& you thought you knew hard cider!  Boy, were you wrong!  Go straight into the tasting room & treat yourself to a guided tasting.  Then beg to taste whatever's on tap that you haven't tried yet.  Then order a glass of something & stroll around the farm, enjoying the gorgeous scenery.  Then buy a couple bottles to take home.  The brandy wines make excellent holiday gifts!

What I have from them in my fridge at this moment.  See that one second from the right?  That's Salal Berry & Cedar hard apple cider!  It doesn't get more Pacific Northwest than that! No, Finnriver is not paying me to advertise.  But if they happen to see this & want to thank me with some free cider...I mean I wouldn't say "no."

Whenever you're sober enough to drive the last 30 minutes - Port Townsend.  There's so much to do here.  The Mt Townsend Creamery is off to your right before you descend the hill to downtown.  Or if you've a sweet tooth, Elevated Ice Cream is really, really good--& they sell it by the ounce instead of the scoop!  I've never gotten a bad coffee drink anywhere in town.  All the shops are cool, there's great local art, & some quality steampunk attire is available as well.  Check out every nook & cranny--including the antique mall--but be sure you're at the Haller Fountain on time for...

4:15pm - Twisted History Tour, Port Townsend.  Every boom town has it's history...most of which it would probably prefer to forget.  The Twisted History Tours of Port Townsend bring those stories back from the grave, & you will never look at the town the same again.  If you like macabre history, I recommend the Uptown Haunts.  If you like a little more ghost story in your history lessons, try the Downtown Dare.  Wear good walking shoes & a warm raincoat--& let the tales of dead liven up your evening!

The fanciest house in town was built by the undertaker.  Enough said.

      You'll wrap up around 6pm.  Depending on how you're feeling, you may decide to dine in town & take a late ferry back.  But if you want to keep the good times going, I suggest you grab a coffee to go & head back now.  If you live around Seattle or Bellevue, Mox Boarding House is your next destination.  If that's out of your way, plan ahead & order your favorite food for delivery, because it's game on.

Conclude your evening with a board game.  For a crowd, try One Night Ultimate Werewolf--an easy party game with short rounds & an app that practically walks you through it.  For smaller groups, try the goofy Betrayal at House on the Hill, the eldritch themed Mansions of Madness, the ghostly Mysterium (my favorite for Halloween), or any of the Zombicide games (we like Black Plague).  These will keep you up until the wee hours of the morning, steeped in eerie fun of the season.  And the next morning...another Top Pot doughnut, because those pumpkin old fashioned's are only around for a short time!




* If you don't live in western Washington, most of these activities are still available to you--you'll just have to research local substitutions for the rest.  Or come visit.  Either way.

      ...aaaaand I'm back!  No, for reals.  I'm really back this time.

      The move happened, and then it happened again as I went from temporary crash-pad to new studio apartment.  Then the spouse followed, flying the cat from Ohio to Washington, with a layover in Midway. Then where was the hustle and bustle of visits and furnishings and may I just say how awesome I am at assembling Ikea furniture?  But now it's all over, and I can breathe again, and be creative again.  Hurray!

The fuzzy heart flew under the seat in a carrier.  She was not pleased.

      Here's the updates in a nutshell:

Bad News #1 - the Shadows On the Sound podcast is no more.  :-(  It was tremendously fun, but proved too time-consuming and expensive for two struggling writers to maintain.  Camela and I may switch to the occasional vlog, but that's still to be determined.

Bad News #2 - the therapy firm where I work was hit by a computer virus called - and I am not making this up - the "CryptoLocker virus."  Which begs the question, who the heck names these things?  It sounds like something a 7th grade boy might come up with in his first attempt at writing a sci-fi story.

Billy's hands were so sweaty he could barely hold his LaserBlaster 5000. He followed his team through the enemy ship, trying to ignore the stickiness of alien blood and guts under his boots. When they finally reached the CryptoLocker on deck 72, he overcame the HyperGravity bolts on the door by setting a SuperNova SpaceBomb on the heavy metal doors. Shards of meteor titanium flew everywhere. When the spacedust finally settled, he heard Commander Ramsgroin swear in his native Plutonian. "They've used Ionian Sub-ice to cryogenically freeze the TimeSpace Ambassador at -42 degrees Kalvin! It'll take us two hours to safely thaw them! We'll have to hold the bastards off! At least half of us are going to die, men, but we'll take as many of them with us to hell as possible!"

Good News #1 - Tomorrow is National Strawberry Shortcake Day.  Dori Greenspan has the best shortcake recipe I've ever tasted, but try the biscuit from this recipe for an extra layer of flavor.  And for the love of Julia, go get your strawberries from the local farmer's market!

Good News #2 - Camela and I will be hosting my "Brainy Anime Babes Who Know More Science Than You" at Geek Girl Con this year!  If you are a geeky girl - or think geeky girls are awesome - or if you're just awesome - or if you're just a geek - then mark your calendar and come join us!  Major kudos to Camela who took the time and effort to get our submissions in and organize all of this. We can hardly wait to indulge in a full weekend of geeking out with the best in the Pacific Northwest!

Not this year's poster, but I love it soooo much!

     When Camela and I recorded out Shadows On the Sound's podcast for February 9th, we discussed some heavy topics around gender and writing.  Then we finished the serious topic with this very silly Weekly Geeky Query: If you could see any of Disney's animated fairy tales remade with the genders swapped, which would it be?
      And Holy $#!t, the ensuing conversations have been FASCINATING.  Not to mention, I have been directed to many awesome websites!  Carly pointed me towards some great photos of mermen (every one of these models deserves a free plate of sushi in my opinion).  Camela, on her blog, directed readers to this amazing artist on Deviantart, Sakimichan.  He has a few Disney-inspired pieces, most of which are gender swapped.  This was my favorite:

Cruella as a fur-obsessed male just SCREAMS evil fashion genius in ways the original could only try.  In my perfect universe, this movie was made, and David Bowie played this villain.

      You should definitely go check out his page.  Most of his posted work is inspired by anime and video games, so I essentially had one nerd-gasm after another as I browsed.
      Of better yet, just type in "Disney movie gender swaps" to Google Images and let it all wash over you!  The amount of thought and creativity that has gone into this artwork is fabulous, and it really gets your wheels turning.  Camlea wrote a whole post about the impossibility of some of these fairy tales ever being written if the genders were swapped, due to medieval sexual politics.  I, however, am happy to be more liberal with my interpretation--after all, these are frickin' fairy tales, there's nothing logical or realistic about them!

Brought to you by The D Continuum.  Just let it soak in.

      To me what's more interesting is to consider the Disney story with the personalities and the relationships with nothing different the genders of the characters.  All the characters.  Even the seven dwarves, and the talking mice, and the symphony composing crab.  Some of these stories take on very, VERY weird sexual overtones with just those changes.  My favorite?  "Tangled."  Age-defying wizard kidnaps boy and keeps him in a tall tower, brushing his hair for many years.
      Yeah.
      But perhaps even more fascinating are the stories that don't seem to change much at all.  So I challenge all writers out there - myself included - to run this little experiment in your head with each of your own compositions.  With the genders swapped, does your plot still work?  Do you still like it?  Do you still find the characters believable?  And for each answer, why or why not?  I think this is a great way to stay mindful of stereotypes, social issues, and our own personal growth.
     And this Disney thing?  Best party ice-breaker ever.  You're welcome.

      Before we go any further: if Disney was going to re-make one of it's classic fairy-tale animated films with the characters gender swapped, which one would you most want to see???

      Ok, thanks.  I'll explain why I asked at the end of this post.
      Now to business: If you've been an on-going reader of this blog (Hi, Mom!), you may recall that I sent out my second completed manuscript to several literary agents last fall.  I have been tracking the outcomes of this effort on my blog as they slowly unfold.  Yesterday, I received my 27th response (out of 37), and I am taking this as the sign that it's time to call it a wrap.  Here's a summary:
      Out of 37 submissions, I received 24 polite declines.
      I also had 3 agents with enough initial interest to request further materials.
      Ultimately, all three of them turned me down.

It's funny, because it's true.

      Statistically, however, that's a pretty damn good response for an unpublished writer, considering the number of submissions I sent out.  While I certainly would have been ecstatic to go further in the process, I feel content with this outcome, because it means I'm on track with realistic expectations.  It also means I'm doing well with the query process, which is a critical step!  And I still feel solid about my story.  I'll let it rest for a year or so, then give it another read-through to see if I want to tweak anything.  Then I'll give it another go!

But first, I'll sleep on it.

      On a completely different note, this week on Shadows On the Sound Camela and I talked about being women writers trying to create good, strong male heroes.  In other words, how to write Alpha Males and not Alpha Assholes.  Part of that conversation talked about abuse within relationships, and how it builds so slowly and sneakily victims almost never see it coming.  I mentioned an interview on an episode of the amazing radio show, "This American Life" where this experience is explained - simply and eloquently - from a survivor of one such relationship.  I promised I would link to it, and so here it is.  I highly recommend giving it a listen!

      Oh, and the Disney gender-swap is our Weekly Geeky Query, and I am more excited about this question than any we've asked so far!  The more you think about it, the more fascinating each movie becomes!

      During my panel at Ohayocon, an audience member asked a really great question: when, precisely, did the vampires/lycanthrope eternal grudge match originate?  It made me sit up and blink.  Oh yeah, when did that start?  Because it's so common nowadays, it feels like it's as old as ghost stories themselves.
      I did a little digging.  According to Wikipedia, in Greece an improperly killed werewolf could return from the grave as a vampire.  And in Serbia, the word vulkodlac refers to vampires and werewolves alike.  So...family in-fighting?  I turned this over to  my friend and podcast co-host Camela Thompson.  She one of those great paranormal novelists who does a ton of research, to make her fiction sound as convincing as possible.  Despite a crazy schedule, she put in the time and effort compose this guest post on the topic.  Enjoy!

http://moviepilot.com/posts/2744226

While I’ve found plenty of examples of werewolves and vampires both being feared in the 1800s, I can’t find any evidence of a war between the two creatures spanning the ages. The only reference I could find was a Romani story of werewolves guarding against vampires. It should be noted this source was a website with questionable grammar and a penchant for cheesy stock photos. The source used the term “vargulf,” a Norse word for a mad wolf who injures prey without consuming the animal. This makes me think that the person who wrote the piece watched a little too much Hemlock Grove (which has one of the most gruesome and therefore interesting werewolf transformation scenes in season one--I’m still getting over the disappointment of season two).

     I made up my mind to do a panel for Ohayocon 2016 about three days after Ohayocon 2015 came to an end.  But it wasn't until Camela and I started getting ramped up for our podcast that I hit on a topic: vampires.  It was perfect.  They're a fiction staple that never seems to lose momentum in either the U.S., or Japan.  There are tons of TV shows, movies, and (best of all) anime featuring vampires, ranging from the spell-binding to the flat-out horrible.  And best of all, I am perfectly content watching all of the above.

      Or so I thought.  As time went on, the number of emotionally tortured protagonists taxed even my melodramatic sensibilities.  I found myself pondering deep philosophical questions, such as: "Who broods harder? 'Bill' from season 3 of True Blood, or 'Angelus' from season 2 of Angel?"  It's a question that demands an answer, but all I had to go on was late-night conversations with girlfriends over too much riesling.  I needed hard data!  So I decided to put my 7+ years of psychology education to good use, and I created:

The Undead Depressive Preoccupation Inventory

      Or, you can just call it the Vampire Broodometer for shorthand.  I developed this tool based on some basic principals, starting with these dictionary definitions of the adjective "brooding:" showing deep unhappiness of thoughtl preoccupied with depressing, morbid, or painful memories or thoughts.  So that becomes my primary characteristic; if a vampire doesn't fit this basic dictionary definition, there's no point in applying the UDPI.  If he* does, however, then the following pseudo-psychological assessment becomes a useful tool for easy comparisons between moody, undead bloodsuckers.

      A completed UDPI score appears as a string of letters and numbers in three sections, separated by slashes.  For example: 2005/SGAP/4.  That may look complicated at first, but it's actually pretty straightforward.  Let me break it down for you:

SECTION ONE: ASSESSMENT CHRONOLOGY
      The first part of the code is the year the measurement was taken.  Vampires live a long time, after all, and their psychological states are changeable.  So our example score of 2005/SGAP/4 indicates that the assessment of the vampire's broodiness was taken in the year 2005.

Angelus from the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" TV series is a perfect example of how a vampire's level and expression of broodiness can change over time.

SECTION TWO: DEPRESSIVE TRAIT SCALE
      The second section of the score is a series of four letters.  I based this section of the assessment off the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or MBTI.  Before your eyes glaze over, let me point that you've probably taken at least part of this personality "test" before, because they're a popular tool for career assessment in high school.  It assesses four key personality traits, namely: Extroversion/Introversion. Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, and Judging/Perceiving.  The results are coded in four letters, such as: ENFJ.  Sound familiar? 
      Ok, except our UDPI assessed four key Broodiness factors: 
      Sad/Mad - Whether the vampire's emotional baseline is primarily melancholy or angry.
      Isolated/Grouped - Does the vampire typically live alone, or with others?
      Obsessive/Avoidant - Vampire brooding tends to fixate on an individual, either living or dead (or undead).  This section of the assessment measures whether the vampire hangs around things that remind him of the individual, or prefers to distance himself.
      Pacifist/Violent - A brooding vampire is usually either penitent or vengeful.  Or both.  This may express itself in self-denial and pacifism, or through aggressive acts in the name of justice.  Or both.  But the primary state at the time of the assessment is to be recorded in the score.

      These traits are assessed through questions, with five questions per section.  As you go through, circle the answer you believe is the best fit (go with your gut if you're on the fence).  Then tally your answers.  The letter selected most often within the section indicates your final answer.
      Go ahead, pick a vampire and give it a try!

Sad/Mad - To determine the vampire's emotional baseline as melancholy or angry.
1. When the vampire develops romantic attraction to someone, is he more likely to express this through:
    S: Stalking and cryptic messages, or
    M: killing the enemies of said love interest?

2. When the vampire is rejected by a love interest, is he more likely to respond by:
    S: isolating himself somewhere dramatic, or
    M: going out and committing acts of violence?

3. During free time, is the vampire in question more likely to:
    S: read books, or
    M: hunt or train for combat?

4. When the vampire is drinking blood directly from a human, is his facial expression more likely to denote:
    S: revulsion and sadness, or
    M: desperate ferocity?

5. When fighting against mortal enemies, which of the following verbalizations is the vampire more likely to utter?
    S: Poignant insights, spoken in a quiet voice?
    M: Pointed, witty threats offered in a growling tone?


Isolated/Grouped - Does the vampire typically dwell alone or with others?
1. Is it not uncommon for the vampire allow other individuals to sleep with him in his coffin?
    I: No.
    G: Yes.

2. Does the vampire reside in a building where other beings - mortal or otherwise - also reside, who welcome the vampire's presence?
    I: No.
    G: Yes.

3.When the vampire changes residences, do other vampires move with him?
    I: No.
    G: Yes.

4. Does the vampire keep moving around in order to avoid being found by others?
    I: Yes.
    G: No.

5. Is the vampire still tied in daily service to his Maker/Master?
    I: No.
    G: Yes.


Obsessive/Avoidant - Vampire brooding tends to fixate on an individual; for convenience, we will refer to this person as the Object Of Fixation, or "OOF" from hereon out.  This section of the assessment measures whether the vampire hangs around that individual (or, if said individual is dead, hangs around the grave, or places that remind him of the deceased), or prefers to distance himself, physically and/or mentally.

1. Does the vampire currently reside on a different continent than that where his OOF was last seen?
    O:  No.
    A: Yes.

2. Does the vampire carry reminders of his OOF with him, such as photographs, handkerchiefs, locks of hair, dry and crumbling bones, etc?
    O: Yes.
    A: No.

3. Does the vampire regularly visit his OOF's place of residence while is OOF is asleep without the OOF's knowledge (otherwise known as "stalking")?
    O: Yes.
    A:  No.

4. Has the vampire at any point deliberately sought out other beings who resemble his OOF, either as prey or company?
    O: Yes.
    A: No.

5. If the OOF has told the vampire s/he no longer wants to see him, and later gets into some kind of danger, does the vampire: 
    O: Disregard the OOF's desires and run to her/his defense, bracing himself for the dramatic scene likely to follow, or
    A: Determinedly stay away, fists clenched, staring fixedly at nothing?


Pacifist/Violent - Is the vampire primarily penitent and self-denying, or vengeful in the name of justice.

1. Does the vampire's diet consist primarily or human blood from live humans (willing or no)?
    P: No.
    V: Yes.

2. When the vampire feeds from living humans, does he usually:
    P: Leave them alive using his vampire powers to somehow heal/hypnotize the victim into tranquil forgetfulness, or
    V: Drain the victim to their death, and then dispose of the body in a dramatic location?

3. Does the vampire's daily life mainly consist of:
    P: Academic, political, or otherwise peaceful pursuits to further the well-being of all living animated beings?
    V: Relentlessly hunting down the wicked, and protecting those who cannot or will not fight for themselves?

4. When selecting humans for blood consumption, does the vampire:
    P: Only feed off of criminals or other socially abhorrent persons, turning his hateful appetite into a tool for good (despite the flavor), or
    V: Choose victims who tantalize his superior senses, providing the most personal satisfaction?

5. When confronted by a violent enemy, is the vampire's first response to:
    P:  Use the power of words in an attempt to find a resolution where nobody gets hurt, preferably in a win/win scenario, or
    V: Fight with all the hateful powers he possesses and attempt to destroy his enemy quickly?

Louis, from Anne Rice’s classic novel Interview with the Vampire: 1976/SIAV/5 

Angel, from Joss Whedon’s brilliant TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and it’s associated TV and comic spin-offs: 1999/SISV/5 and 2004/MGAV/6 

Edward, from the undeniably popular Twilight series: 2007/SGAP/2 

Kaname, from the quintessential anime and manga Vampire Knight: 2005/SGSP/4

     I sat down at my laptop this morning ready to write about this great new story idea I had.  Or my new vow to let every complete manuscript sit untouched for a year before I review it for possible publication attempt.  Or the fact that I just received a request from a third agent asking me for additional material.* But then I was interrupted by my cat.
      Or rather, I was distracted by the intent body language of my cat, who was suddenly paying very, very close attention to the space under the chaise.  I'll cut to the chase: it was a mouse.  And it startled the living daylights out of me.  And dealing with the situation took a couple hours.  And the whole story is pretty funny, but I plan on going on in greater detail in the next Shadows On the Sound podcast, because this whole incident inspired our upcoming topic: Phobias.
      No, I do not have a phobia of mice.  But I know people who do.

This is not my cat, nor is it my uninvited mouse.  But this was definitely the mindset of my cat this morning, and if she wasn't front declawed** that rodent would be ribbons.

      Anyway, the Weekly Geeky Query from our last episode (speaking of things that scare people) is: What would be your perfect setting for a horror story?  Don't worry if it's been done, I just want to know what tickles your terror bone.  So to speak.  So ahead and comment on this post with your answer, and we may share it on the next podcast!




*EXPLOSION OF CONFETTI!!!!

**I did not declaw my cat.  She was already declawed when we rescued her from the shelter.

      Twice a week on my way to work, I drive past a a fascinating crossroads just past the city limits.  In one corner is the entrance to a horse racing casino.  In another corner is a place that sells gazebos and home playgrounds, with brightly colored jungle gyms and slides on display.  On the corner next to that is a by-the-hour motel, and a Go-Go Dancer club.  And the final corner?  A big cemetery.
      I can't help but thinking that this particular intersection is somehow deeply symbolic of human existence, but I haven't yet worked out the details.  In the meantime, I want to remember the configuration as a possible setting for a story.

      This week on our podcast, Shadows on the Sound, Camela Thompson and I will discuss "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley.  It's such an interesting read, for so many reasons!  It's very different from the classic black and white film, so don't think you can get away with watching the movie.  Apparently, it's also a favorite book of Guillermo del Toro, and if he thinks it's a good book, you definitely ought to read it.  If you've already given it a read, listen to our podcast...and then comment on this post to answer our Weekly Geeky Query: "Would you rather live a life controlled by a benevolent A.I., or be responsible for guarding and reforming a malevolent A.I.?"*

Full artistic credit: http://keithseymour.deviantart.com/art/Frankenstein-s-monster-351434949

*Yes, this is a carry-over from last week--it's such an interesting question, we want more comments!

      I just posted the latest "Shadows on the Sound" podcast episode.  It's about possession.  We had a real priest as our guest (although we knew him back when he was just a big current events nerd in middle school).  And then I freaked myself out by doing a Google Image search for "The Exorcist."
      You've heard/read me say it before: I. Am. A. WIMP.  Total, cringing, mewling, hide-my-head-under-the-covers-and-eat-"Peeps" wimp.  I find the experience of being scared very unpleasant, so I generally avoid it.  But to prepare for recording this podcast 'sode, I needed to do some kind of research into the fiction of it.  So I went to the best known book on the topic: "The Exorcist," by William Peter Blatty.*  Allowing myself to skim some pages so I could focus on the possession-related parts, I read the whole thing in under 24 hours.  And I managed to not be too scared.  Just...disturbed.  Like, really, really disturbed.
      Then I updated the podcast page and needed to find an image to go with, hence the Google Image search.  And here's how much of a wimp I am: just looking at still images from a 1970's horror flick I've never even seen was enough to freak me the fuck out.
      I chose an image of the movie poster.  Then I promptly did a Google Image search of kittens to cleanse my mind.

Here is a kitten in a pile of marshmallows.  Looking at this image is very soothing to me.  And to give due credit, I got it from this website: http://toasty-kittens.deviantart.com/

      That's all I've got for you.  U.S. Independence Day is this weekend, if you're of the right nationality and/or in the right country to celebrate.  I suggest home made ice cream.  I'll also be making absurd amounts of pesto, so be prepared for a pesto-related breakfast post.



*Incidentally, anybody born with the last name "Blatty" is going to be teased like crazy.  S/he will have no other choice than to become a bitter recluse, a famous artist, or a stand-up comedian.

      If you've been listening to Shadows on the Sound, then you may have heard me mention that my husband insisted that I defeat Resident Evil 4 before we could get married. I think he was joking (I hope he was joking), but it was moot point because I loved the game, and completed it accordingly. You may wonder why the man was so fixated on this particular task. Was he that obsessed? Was it a gender-reversed contemporary version of a fairy tale ultimatum? Was he buying himself time, maybe hoping I wouldn't finish the game?
      The only video game console I'd owned up to that point was a Super Nintendo, and the only game I'd ever played to completion was Mario Bros. 2.* There was a long stretch of no video games, then a weird work situation where I was thrown into playing Mario Kart for the N64 almost every day. I got pretty damn good. Then, another long, barren stretch. To my video game obsessed significant other, this presented a big concern: how could he know that I would support his passion, if I was so out of touch? I understood--after all, if he hadn't liked eating the food I make (one of my passions), I wouldn't have wanted to marry him! So the whole RE4 thing was a test of compatibility...and also one of taste.

  

I'm not happy until I have the Hand Cannon.

P.S. - Sunday is National Strawberry Shortcake Day. Go to your farmer's market, get some berries, and do the right thing. And if the fact that I just finished a blog post about a zombie franchise with a statement about fruit desserts doesn't qualify me as an eccentric, I don't know what will.


*I still love that game.

**Yeah, that's right--I just used an anime series as a point if comparison for a live-action movie & video game franchise, using the famous tagline from Highlander. And I stand by it.

      Really fast, before we get to the Munch-tabulousness, I'm happy to announce that Camela and I have decided to increase our podcast frequency to once a week! Basically, we have so much fun finding guests and geeking out, we decided to do it more often. So check out "Shadows on the Sound" on iTunes, or follow the links on my blog, right here.

Now, WE BAKE!

My husband has a new camera, and he took this shot for me. I'm thinking I should have him take all my food photos from now on!

      When it comes to breakfast pastry, one of my favorites to mess around with is banana bread. It's a wonderfully versatile baked good: it can be sweet as cake, or mellow as fruit. You can spike it full of goodies, or just let the bananas shine. It can be light and fluffy, or dense and decadent. And - my favorite part - it freezes like a dream.
      Now that summer is here, I don't like to turn on my oven very much. So when a cool day slips in I try to seize the opportunity to bake a few things for freezing. Then I munch on them until the next break in the heat. Yesterday was one such day, so I went ahead and tried a new variation on banana bread. This recipe was inspired by Molly Wizenberg's Banana Bread with Crystalized Ginger, as printed in her book A Homemade Life. It's an excellent quick bread in and of itself, and I use her recipe as a template for a lot of experimentation. Yesterday I was craving something cocoa-y, so I rummaged through my pantry, and raided by spice stash.
      Note that I said "cocoa-y," and not "chocolatey"--there's a difference. When I want chocolate, I want chocolate, meaning the primary experience for all five senses should be nothing short of chocolate liquor blended with cocoa butter, sugar, dairy, salt, and some traces of support flavors such as vanilla. But when my taste buds are tending towards cocoa, that means I'm looking for that distinct, roasted Theobroma cacao flavor. And I'm happy to say that this recipe delivers. I kept the crystalized ginger because I love the zing, and I added some cocoa nibs for crunch (and a pinch of caffeine--this is breakfast we're talking about). If you prefer something more chocolatey, I recommend replacing one or both with finely chopped chocolate chunks. Or, if you're lazy, purchased morsels. It's your kitchen.

Z.D.'s Cocoa Banana Bread with Crystalized Ginger

Ingredients:
3 oz unsalted butter
1.5 Cups AP flour
1/2 Cup cocoa powder
3/4 Cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt, generous
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/3 Cup crystalized ginger, finely chopped
1/4 Cup cocoa nibs
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 over-ripe bananas
2 tsp vanilla extract
Whole milk, as needed.

Directions:
 - Pre-heat your oven to 350º F, and grease two medium-size loaf pans (I like to use clarified butter for greasing, but each to his/her own). While your oven is warming up, cut your butter into 1/2 inch pieces, toss them in a heat-proof container (such as a Pyrex measuring cup) and leave it in your oven. By the time the oven is the correct temp, your butter will be melted!

You can take it out while there's still a few bits of unmelted butter, they'll continue to dissolve in the residual heat.

 - In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, and baking powder until very thoroughly mixed. Stir in the ginger and nibs.

The ginger is chewy, the nibs are crunchy. That's a win-win combo in my book.

 - In a medium bowl, mash together the eggs and bananas. Then beat in the vanilla and butter, until you have a well-mixed concoction.

It's Ok to have some banana chunks, they add nice flavor bursts in the bread, and won't mess up your texture.

 - Pour your wet mixture into the dry ingredients, and stir until thoroughly combined. This is a thick batter, but if it seems TOO stiff (in other words, if it holds it's shape instead of slowly oozing when you stop stirring it), add whole milk by Tablespoons until you reach the desired consistency.

Depending on the size and mushiness of your bananas, the stiffness of your batter will vary. It's not really a problem, but if you want a more consistent result try to aim for the same moisture level in every batch of batter.

 - Scrape the batter into your two loaf pans, and bake for 34 - 38 minutes, or just until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely in the pans on a rack.

A classic snack. I like this with cheesy scrambled eggs and a fruit salad of berries dressed with honey and lemon juice, topped with fresh mint.

      If you're eating right away, slice and enjoy with tea. For extra decadence, spread with Nutella. If you're going to freeze, don't slice it, but wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Then either pop into a zip-top bag and suck all the air out, or wrap in a second layer of aluminum foil. These will keep in the freezer up to three months, just take 'em out and thaw at room temp for a few hours before munching.