i love Stephen Lawhead

Stephen Lawhead, how do i love you? let me count the ways. . . Byzantium, The Pendragon Cycle, and now The Song of Albion trilogy! OK, Song of Albion was originally published about 15 years ago, but I just discovered it. this man is a MASTER of suspension of disbelief. i picked up The Paradise War at the library on a lark, as an escape from all the scifi i've been reading. Paradise War was supposed to be fun, it wasn't supposed to be so addictive i got sucked in and refused to put it down until i finished it a few days later, and called the library to make sure they have the other 2 books in the series (the do. phew!) Needless to say, go check out my review at Worm's Sci Fi Haven.

not quite as glowing, is my review of Jackie Kessler's Hell's Belles, at Multiverse Reviews. it was a umm. . perfectly mediocre book. funny, sexy, silly, but nothing special.

these days it seems I can't go a week without buying some kind of graphic novel or manga volume. this week's purchase was Joss Whedon's Those Left Behind, it's a prequel to the Serenity movie. and a mighty expensive prequel at that.

my other expenditures at the friends of the library bookstore all together didn't come to what i paid for that comic book, which, although flimsy, will have a special place on my bookshelf. for the whopping price of about $3, i'm now the proud owner of Greg Bear's Blood Music, Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles, and Gregory Benford's Foundation's Fear. i'd love to hear your thoughts on any of these.


for all the sa-weet books i've been devouring, i gots some sa-weet food to go with it. and i'm not kidding, this Chicken in Orange sauce is super sweet, like sweet n' sour, but without the sour. but i dig it, and maybe you will too.

you'll need:
1.5 - 2 lbs chicken, cut into bite size peices
1/2 tsp salt
pepper
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 tbsp butter + 2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 1/2 cups orange juice
1/2 cups slivered almonds
1/2 white raisins
white rice

you'll also need a large skillet, and a medium sauce pan.

melt 2 tbsp butter in the skillet, then add the chicken. season chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic, cook over low-medium heat. when chicken is about 1/2 cooked, remove from skillet and set aside. add the remaining butter to the skillet and the flour. Make a roux by stirring constantly for a few minutes. the flour will absorb the butter and turn brown. this is OK, but don't let it burn! Stir in the orange juice and ginger, turn up the heat a bit, and keep stirring until the mixture boils for one minute. make sure the sauce is smooth. stir in the almonds and raisins. stir in the chicken, turn the heat down to low, and let simmer for about 40 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and tender.

prepare white rice, and serve the chicken and orange sauce over rice.

it's very good, and very sweet. the leftovers the next day? divine!