Author: Allyson

  • Prepping – Are you ready?

    Prepping – Are you ready?

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    So there’s a lot going on right now. Politically speaking, here in America we’re preparing for the “no kings day” bullshit. There are the usual California summer riots (pick your flavor), though it should be noted they’re only taking up a tiny portion of Los Angeles despite what the media would like you to believe.…

  • FBEL: Riots

    FBEL: Riots

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    There are currently riots happening in Los Angeles and other California towns. I’ve so far watched a reporter FAFO and get shot in the leg with a rubber bullet, seen rioters dump rocks off an overpass onto cars below (police and non-police vehicles), witnessed “peaceful” folk set fire to cars, and heard about those self…

  • The Weekly Feast – Refreshing Gazpacho Soup

    The Weekly Feast – Refreshing Gazpacho Soup

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    When the deep heat of summer hits, and the idea of cooking anything makes you queasy, this is the perfect meal for any time of the day. I adore gazpacho soup because it’s all the deliciousness of a salsa but in a soup. There are layers of delicate flavor that combine to make something incredibly…

  • Prepping – Failure

    Prepping – Failure

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    Allyson
    in

    On Wednesday, I went to the Fort to do some interpreting for a home schooling group. I always love when I have homeschoolers in, because they ask the BEST questions. This group was a fantastic one, and it included a bunch of kids who were very obviously not normal students but who nonetheless were engaged…

  • FBEL: Judgmental Cookbooks

    FBEL: Judgmental Cookbooks

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    I belong to several writer’s groups on Facebook, partly because I like to connect with other authors and partly to hear about new opportunities when they come by. One of the groups I belong to is run by a very successful cookbook author (who I’m not at liberty to talk about in public, as the…

  • The Weekly Feast – Buran

    The Weekly Feast – Buran

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    A Middle Eastern, medieval recipe for meatballs in an eggplant yogurt sauce. Take eggplant, and boil lightly in water and salt, then take out and dry for an hour. Fry this in fresh sesame oil until cooked; peel, put into a dish or a large cup, and beat well with a ladle, until it becomes…

  • Prepping – RTE Meals

    Prepping – RTE Meals

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    When I prep, I store a variety of types of meals. I have a lot of rice and beans, as I can make those into dozens of different meals with very different spice pallets. There’s one type of meal that I do store at least a few of, for emergencies. That’s RTE, or Ready To…

  • FBEL – Conservative Women

    FBEL – Conservative Women

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    So I’ve just gotten home from the Fort, where I stayed for a whole week. One week with minimal running water (cold only, from a single slow tap in the staff kitchen, which I had to then carry to where I was cooking/cleaning/etc). One week with minimal electricity (I could charge my phone at night,…

  • The Weekly Feast – Tourtière!

    The Weekly Feast – Tourtière!

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    Tourtière is one of those iconic dishes that gets served in Northern areas. While it hales originally from France, it was popularized in Quebec, Canada. Early settlers made Tourtière frequently, and it’s a filling and very tasty pie. I don’t normally like French Canadian stuff, but Tourtière and Poutine are acceptable. Ingredients: pie crust 2…

  • Prepping – Practice Makes Perfect

    Prepping – Practice Makes Perfect

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    by

    Allyson
    in

    I know I harp on about practicing all the time, but it is THAT important. I do that on a fairly regular basis, more and more so as I pick up events as an author. When I go to an event, I’m cooking over an open flame at the very least, and sometimes living on…