キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな?』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう?もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain's Log, Stardate 01.19.2009
Naturally, since I’m giving away healthy living books today, I have to blog about food. LOL
I have never had mincemeat, although I read about them in my Regency historical romances and I had an English coworker once who described them to me. I know they’re traditionally eaten at Christmas, and I wanted to try one at some point but never had the opportunity.
Then Captain Caffeine saw this box of commercially made mincemeat tarts at Marshall’s right after Christmas.
The fact they’re made with Glenfiddich single malt scotch whiskey is the main reason he bought it, but it happened to coincide with my desire to try mincemeat.
So we heated them up according to the package directions and tried them.
They weren’t bad, but BOY OH BOY was the whiskey strong in those puppies. I liked the currants in them, but Captain Caffeine didn’t care for them because he dislikes raisins, and the currants were too much like the texture of small raisins for him.
All in all, an interesting flavor but not mind-boggling. I’d probably feel differently if they were homemade and fresher, but it was good just to try.
Anyone who likes mincemeat out there?
Naturally, since I’m giving away healthy living books today, I have to blog about food. LOL
I have never had mincemeat, although I read about them in my Regency historical romances and I had an English coworker once who described them to me. I know they’re traditionally eaten at Christmas, and I wanted to try one at some point but never had the opportunity.
Then Captain Caffeine saw this box of commercially made mincemeat tarts at Marshall’s right after Christmas.
The fact they’re made with Glenfiddich single malt scotch whiskey is the main reason he bought it, but it happened to coincide with my desire to try mincemeat.
So we heated them up according to the package directions and tried them.
They weren’t bad, but BOY OH BOY was the whiskey strong in those puppies. I liked the currants in them, but Captain Caffeine didn’t care for them because he dislikes raisins, and the currants were too much like the texture of small raisins for him.
All in all, an interesting flavor but not mind-boggling. I’d probably feel differently if they were homemade and fresher, but it was good just to try.
Anyone who likes mincemeat out there?
Comments
My stepmother is English, so it's even around my dad's house when I visit. But like I said, I'm a wimp.
But they aren't bad at all!
You should try Haggis! now that's something different!
When the green tomatoes are in season, I make vegetarian mincemeat and preserve it in pint jars. Then, during the holiday season, I buy a pkg of ready made tart shells, open a jar of mincemeat and after a bit of baking, voila - mincemeat tarts.
If anyone is interested, I posted the recipe awhile back on the veggie recipe message boards at http://community.eharlequin.com/forums/cafe-social/recipe-file/main-course-vegetarian but I'll copy and paste it here:
Green Tomato Mincemeat
Chop 8 lbs green tomatoes
Cover with water
Add 1 tbsp salt
Cook until tender. Drain.
Add:
1 cup vinegar
1 tbsp mace
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp cloves
½ cup butter
1 lb raisins (or 2 lbs if no currants)
1 lb currants
2 lbs grated apples
4 lbs brown sugar
Cook everything together for 2 hrs on stove or in roaster in oven at 350 deg for 2 hrs.
Seal in sterile jars.
Makes about 10 pints
Camy