Guest Post by B. Snow

So, yeah, I procrastinate. (See my blog for proof) Back in July, Rhys very graciously offered a guest blog spot to promote the Project Fierce Chicago anthology, which came out on July 16. And now it’s WEEKS LATER and I’m only now getting around to taking her up on her offer….

The anthology came about because Piper Vaughn said, “Hey, there’s this great organization in Chicago called Project Fierce that helps LGBTQ youth! What do you think about an anthology where all the proceeds would go to them?” And we all said, “Hell, yeah!” Less Than Three Press took up the cause, donating their time and expertise as well to publish 20 stories about young people trying to find home.

Here’s an excerpt from my story, “Hearth and Home”, a complete rip-off of Cinderella:

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Hearth and Home by B. Snow

By the time winter blew into town from the lake, Natasha’s hair had grown down to her shoulders. Even dressed in Hannah’s husband’s old clothes, she got appreciative glances from men who came through the marketplace. “You need to flirt a bit, missy,” Hannah muttered after Natasha sent away a blushing young man with a bundle of herbs and a firm handshake.

“I don’t think so,” Natasha told her.

“How do you ever expect to get a husband? Men aren’t perceptive. You have to hit them over the head to let them know you like them.”

Natasha sighed. She knew she’d have to talk about it sometime; she just hoped that Hannah needed her enough to not send her away. “I don’t like men,” she said. “I like women.”

Martin whipped his head around to stare at her, but Hannah just raised her eyebrows. “Women? Well, that’s different.”

Natasha could barely believe what she’d heard. “It doesn’t bother you?”

Hannah shrugged. “An’ ye harm none, do what ye will. At least I won’t have to worry about you getting knocked up.”

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Here’s the buy link for the anthology

And here’s a link for Project Fierce Chicago (the organization) if you want to find out more about them and/or donate directly to them: http://projectfiercechicago.org/

When I asked Rhys what to include in the blog post, she said that recipes are always good. “Hearth and Home” mentions soup several times, so I thought about a soup recipe (because who doesn’t like soup??!?), but it’s summer here in GA….then I remembered that I usually make gazpacho in the summer because the spousal unit doesn’t like hot food in hot weather.

The recipe I use for gazpacho is based on the one from a cookbook that is either no longer for sale or I just can’t find it on the company’s website. The recipe they have at the website is different from this one, and I’m hoping to avoid copyright issues by changing the recipe slightly.

I make a half-recipe because a full recipe doesn’t fit into the Cuisinart. Even the half recipe sometimes sloshes out the top. So here’s how I make gazpacho.

Gazpacho

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup bread crumbs
• ¼ cup olive oil
• Garlic cloves (recipe calls for 2 for a FULL RECIPE, but come on! I usually put in at least 4 or 5)
• ½ red onion
• 1 cucumber
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 box of Pomi chopped tomatoes or a large can or tomatoes or several chopped fresh tomatoes
• 2 twelve-oz cans or 3 cups of tomato juice
• Cold water (I’ll explain amount later)
• 1/8 cup red wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper

Food processor instructions:

In the food processor with a metal blade*, combine the bread crumbs, garlic, and olive oil. Process until it’s a smooth paste.

Cut onion, cucumber, and bell pepper into pieces and add to food processor, along with the tomatoes. Process until smooth. (Sometimes take pushing chunks of cucumber out from underneath the blade.)

Put into bowl in fridge and chill for 2-3 hours.

LAST PART:

Stir/whisk in tomato juice, then rinse cans of tomato juice or measuring cup with a little water and add that water. (I don’t see the point of adding more water to soup than you need to.) Stir in red wine vinegar, season to taste with salt and pepper.

The spousal unit likes to toast some crusty bread and eat the soup with that instead of a spoon. I usually use a spoon and save the bread to sop up the last bit in the bowl.

Enjoy the soup recipe for the next few weeks while it’s warm out (or in six months, if you live in the Southern hemisphere), and I hope you check out the Project Fierce Chicago anthology. It’s for a great cause.

* might also work in a blender, but I won’t be held responsible for what your next batch of Margaritas tastes like.

Non-food-processor instructions (This version won’t come out as smooth, but I sort of like chunky gazpacho better):

Use garlic press or mince garlic, combine with bread crumbs and olive oil.

Finely chop onion, cucumber, green pepper and add to garlic/breadcrumbs/oil. Add tomatoes.

(If you’d like the actual recipe, email me at bsnow dot writer at gmail dot com and I’ll give it to you. A friend sharing a favorite recipe with a friend, not in any way a copyright violation….)

AND!

Oddly enough, I’ve got a story in another anthology coming out soon, Bedtime Stories, which will be released on August 20 from Wilde City Press. (Maybe I should stick to anthologies, take advantage of my short attention sp—ooh, squirrel!)

As a teaser, here’s a deleted scene from my story “Miles To Go” that will give you a pretty good idea what the story is about:

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Miles to Go excerpt by B. Snow

Danny turned to face Joe. “I could tell you the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.”

“No, that’s okay. I’ve heard it already.”

“Not this version of it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, there’s the classic version, the one I told Ethan, and then there’s the version that is definitely not for kids.”

“Some porno you saw?

“Not a porno. Just an anecdote.”

“Oh, this is your story?”

“Yeah.”

“Save it for Penthouse Forum.”

Danny laughed, throwing his head back, “Dude, Penthouse Forum is for straight guys.”

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Thanks Rhys, for letting me blather, and thanks everybody, for reading. Friend me on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bsnow.writer) if you need friends for Pet Rescue Saga or Dragon King Mahjong. 🙂