The Outlander Reading Challenge!

Tracey just sent me a link to The Outlander Reading Challenge website. I love it! I'm hoping they'll let me take the challenge. It started in November and I started reading Outlander in October. But you have until November 17th, 2010 to finish.  Enjoying every second of reading, Sassenachs!

Outlandish Observations

Let me tell you something I love about the Outlander community. Everyone is so friendly - and so willing to spread the Outlander love. We got a very cool mention from Karen over at Outlandish Observations yesterday.  It's a GREAT Outlander site and I can't wait to more thoroughly check it out once I finish the series!!

The Outlandish Companion II is Coming!

Diana has posted on her own blog - Voyages of the Artemis - that she is working on The Outlandish Companion II  - ALONG WITH BOOK 8 (squeeee!) - and is actually interested in finding out what the fans want to see in the books.

I have to throw out a big, ol' THANK YOU, DIANA for giving a hoot about her fans the way she does. It's completely refreshing that she makes herself accessible by having a website, a blog, a youtube page, etc. The woman actually answers some of the comments. And if she has an assistant doing a lot of it? Doesna matter. Good for her.  I think it's absolutely wonderful.

Let me tell you something about my life regarding the Outlander series. My friends and I meet at school pick-up and we read. We meet for coffee and we discuss Diana's characters. We meet my sister for drinks and discuss Jamie Fraser's anatomy (ooops! Did I say that?!) The bottom line here is that we're all hard-working women - some with young children and a lot of stress... and these books have brought a lot of joy and comfort to our lives.  It's heartwarming to know the author actually cares.

Oh Bannocks!

I don't know what came over me today... maybe it was the FREEZING COLD northeast US weather... maybe it was the dream I had last night about STALE BANNOCKS. (Crazy, party of 1?)

Either way - I tried my hand at baking Bannocks after finding a truly easy recipe on iChef.com.

I've reprinted the recipe below - and linked to it for your convenience.

It's definitely true that they are somewhere in between an oatmeal cookie and a biscuit. I'd say it's a sweet biscuit. Kindof like a scone - but much more apt to get crunchy verra soon after you bake them. They are really good with butter and jam... and a cup of tea or coffee. I also made a few with raisins - and a few with chocolate chips. I preferred the plain ones, however, which is odd, seeing as I've got a sweet tooth the size of Nebraska.
Enjoy!

Scottish Bannocks Recipe
Yield: 10 Servings

Ingredients
1 1/2 c All-purpose flour
1 c Quick-cooking oats
1/4 c (1/2 stick) butter, room temperature
2 tb Sugar
1 tb Baking powder
1 pn Of salt
1/2 c (about) milk

Instructions

A cross between a chewy oatmeal cookie and a biscuit. Serve fresh from the oven as is or split and toasted. Excellent for breakfast or tea. Bannocks are best the day they are baked.

Makes 10 to 12

1. Preheat oven to 450 F. Combine flour, oats, butter, sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Rub mixture against side of bowl with wooden spoon until butter is completely blended in. Slowly stir in enough milk to make stiff dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead just until dough holds together. Reflour surface lightly. Roll dough out 1/3 inch thick. Cut into 2 1/2-inch rounds. Gather scraps together. Reroll and cut additional bannocks. Arrange on ungreased baking sheet, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake until light brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve hot or cool on racks.

**Post Scriptum:  I have recently changed the way I shape the bannocks and like them much better.  I don't roll them anymore; now I just knead the dough.  Then I grab a chunk of dough...roll it into a ball and flatten it out.  This way they are closer to 1/2 inch thick and come out higher - with more of a cakey consistency.  This way, they aren't as hard the next day and are much easier to slice or pull apart...and add butter, jam, etc.  Enjoy!

Just a typical (freezing cold) Sunday in NJ...

Found this book about Highlanders on a shelf in my husband's office... along with a beautiful book on Scotland... and a book on Scottish Clans. Interestingly enough, a book entitled "1776" about Washington's crossing and the Declaration of Independence,  among other things relating to the American Revolution, was right next to them. What amuses me is that I most likely gave him these books (since he's the Scot with relatives in Scotland) and yet I'm the one who now cherishes them. What's an Irish/Italian-American, Diana Gabaldon-loving gal to do?

Who is YOUR Outlander Mentor?

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have finished Drums of Autumn.
So my sister Tracey (and Outlander mentor) has been telling me I should post about Outlander mentors - and how it's vital to have one. Which, it is, Sassenachs. I have had more than one occasion where something happened in the books and I've had to call my sister - who is always at least a half a book ahead of me - and ask questions. Or complain. Or yell. Or cry my eyes out.

I called Tracey on the first page of Dragonfly in Amber to say "WHAT THE F*%#???????"

I called her again at the end (and many times in between) to cry my eyes out and spend an hour discussing the books - our lives - and just generally sound like Nancy Kerrigan whilst chanting "Why? WHY?" over and over again.

Tracey, Jenn and I had a massive one hour conference call when Marsali burst in on Jamie and Claire in Voyager.  THAT was an interesting call.

And I called Tracey in tears - with a desperate need for guidance when Ian became a Mohawk. (Poor Shannon had to endure this alone as she was in Florida visiting relatives.) I shudder to think of not being able to call my mentor when I need to discuss.

So again - I ask you: Who is YOUR Outlander Mentor??

Authentic Gaelic Music

Give a listen to Griogair Labhruidh over at MySpace. Tremendous Gaelic tuneage - being SUNG in Gaelic. Sounds like Roger's in the houseeeee!