My Most Recent Blog Posts

Brussel Sprouts = Yummy? Yes, Indeed!

ShirleyJump — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:08:42 -0500

I don't know about your family but my family DESPISES brussel sprouts. When my kids saw me buy not one, but two one-pound packages of brussel sprouts at the supermarket this week, they started gagging right there in the vegetable aisle. Begging me to put them back. Offering to do chores if I would please not torture them with those hideous mini cabbages.

Creating Characters by Asking the Right Questions

ShirleyJump — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:55:26 -0500

First, a note--I'll be doing a writing workshop at the Carnegie Library in Angola, IN this Wednesday night on Show, Not Tell. If you're in that area, you'll want to stop by!

Parmesan Crusted Chicken & Ginger-Honey Carrots

ShirleyJump — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:21:11 -0400

Just typing that subject headline made me hungry again. :-). I wish I had enough leftovers from this meal to have had it more than once, that's for sure. Although if I do it again, I think I might add just a bit of a kick to the chicken. Maybe a teeny bit of cayenne pepper, just to take it up a notch.

A Hot Recipe for a Cold Night: White Chili

ShirleyJump — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:50:06 -0400

I like chili, especially traditional chili, but I've never been a big fan of white chili. Then I came across a couple of recipes for it, and decided to blend the best features of both, and try my own variation.

A Quick and Easy Stir-Fry

ShirleyJump — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:53:12 -0400

At this rate, I'm going to have to get a second wok, I swear ;-). I've been a Chinese food cooking fan lately, making tons and tons of it.

This picture definitely doesn't do the dish any justice. I had to rush to grab a snapshot before the family dug in. They were hungry, and the scents of this dish were very tantalizing. Oranges, plum sauce, soy, beef...

Worth the Effort: Ricotta Gnocchi

ShirleyJump — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:07:17 -0400

Sometimes, you just have to go that extra step. I have two recipes (coming up this week on the blog, I'll have Peking Pork, which hands-down was the best Chinese Food recipe I've made, because it came closest to being like what you order in a restaurant) and then this YUMMY Ricotta Gnocchi.

Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Two Rockin' Side Dishes...

ShirleyJump — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:19:32 -0400

All I can say about this dinner is...

I wish my stomach was bigger. I'm not usually a huge fan of pork, because to me, it's just one of those blah meats. But I now have two recipes that really kick butt. One is the ever-popular Roast Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Ginger Sauce, the recipe that gets a hit every single day on my regular blog, and the second is this one.

Show Not Tell Tips for Writers

ShirleyJump — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:03:04 -0400

Today I'm blogging over at Seekerville with Show Not Tell tips for writers, if you wanted to stop on by and see the REALLY long post I had. Geez, I'm wordy, LOL.

Here's an excerpt:

Perfect Barbecue Recipes

ShirleyJump — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:58:07 -0400

Last night we had a bunch of friends over and had what I think was the perfect summer barbecue. It almost didn't happen--lots of things going wrong; one of those Murphy's Law days. The lawnmower refused to start (and our grass was like knee-high, LOL). DH went and got gas.

That wasn't it.

Went and got new spark plugs.

That wasn't it.

Raspberry Mojito Lemonade

ShirleyJump — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:49:31 -0400

I have a new all-time favorite drink. The other day, I was at Red Robin, I had something similar to the following, and it was SO SO SO GOOD, I wanted to make the same thing at home. At the restaurant, they offer it in both an alcoholic and non-alcoholic version (and I've made it at home both ways). It's great either way: