R.L.S. Hoff's Blog
July 20, 2023
Zucchini Skillet
One of my kids has recently decided to go vegetarian, which has sometimes been a challenge for family meals. I sent out an SOS to my newsletter, and a reader, April Richards, suggested dropping a meat substitute into this tasty zucchini skillet recipe to keep everyone fed.
Thanks so much, April!
Zucchini Skillet 1 or 2 zucchini, based on size1 or 2 yellow squash1 onion 1 bell pepper 1-2 cloves of garlic FRESH! 1 large can of petite diced tomatoes Dried Basil, Parsley or whatever herbs you like. Try herb blends, too. Dried red pepper flakes. A small amount 1 pound of ground turkey breast or chicken breast or even a very lean ground beef will work. I use turkey. Or even a meat substitute. Pasta or rice if you want that.
DIRECTIONS
Brown the meat/meat substitute and drain and put aside.
Chop up all the vegetables then cook them until tender and lightly caramelized.
Put in the diced tomatoes and herbs when you mix the meat/meat substitute back into the skillet.
Serve over pasta or rice. Or w/o that if you want.
To make into soup, add broth of choice. To thicken it, mix cornstarch and water then mix that in.
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March 28, 2023
Ryka Aoki’s Light from Uncommon Stars
Ryka Aoki’s Light from Uncommon Stars is full of many of my favorite things from both life and literature.
There’s music and an exploration of genius. There are alien refugees. (Actual aliens, not “illegal aliens.”) There are demon contracts.
And did I mention the donuts?
Or the dozens of fabulous Asian dishes I now want to try?
The story follows a transgender music prodigy who is running from an abusive home to…a less than ideal situation. (This part is heartbreakingly realistic and could well trigger trauma responses in some people. It may not be best for very young people, unless they’ve got someone mature and safe to read and talk through this with.)
And, through the magic of the music, or just magic, this teen meets our other hero–who is running out of time to harvest the seventh soul she’s required to provide Hell to get out of her own (literal) deal with a devil.
If you’re looking for un-put-downable science fiction with amazing (of course, flawed) characters and lots to think about, consider Ryka Aoki’s Light from Uncommon Stars. I suspect you’ll like it as much as I did.
Have you read it? What did you think?
Feel like it’s not your cup of tea, but want another sci-fi recommendation? The Last Cuentista also has great characters–and great food. It avoids trigger issues, though, and is written for a younger audience.
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January 10, 2023
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
The Last Cuentista, by Donna Barba Higuera, is such a good book. Strong characters, fascinating family dynamics, storytelling…
And a run for the stars as the world crumbles around the characters.
And that’s just the beginning.
Seriously, this is a fabulous story that makes me think about the importance of stories, of imagination, and of differences in culture. And it does all of that without ever once getting didactic. The Last Cuentista just lives her story–and tells her stories–and brings hope.
Hope, and a way forward through the darkness. I think that’s woven into all the best stories.
If you like science fiction for young people, I’d strongly recommend reading this one.
Have you read it? What do you think of it? I’d love to know.
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December 15, 2022
Leaving Hope Chapter 15
Leaving Hope Chapter 15–In which Anya tries to talk to Ryan Lancet, who is avoiding her–and being avoided by Borsk.
Talking things through only works if you can manage to connect with that person. Sometimes that connection takes the cooperation of the other person.
Have you ever tried to avoid a looming conflict by avoiding somebody? What do you think of that as a strategy?
Put your thoughts about that–or anything else from Leaving Hope Chapter 15–in the comments!
And see you tomorrow for Chapter 16!
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December 14, 2022
Leaving Hope Chapter 14
Leaving Hope Chapter 14–In which Anya’s rebellious art goes public, and she misleads her father about her colony intentions.
What do you think of Anya’s strategy for dealing with her father in this chapter? Clever? Deceptive? Doomed to failure? Some of all of that? Something else?
Remember to leave your thoughts on Leaving Hope Chapter 14 in the comments.
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December 13, 2022
Leaving Hope Chapter 13
Leaving Hope Chapter 13–In which Borsk finishes his hacking job, argues with his family, and has a showdown with Ryan Lancet.
This was a fun chapter to write—as are all the scenes where Ryan and Borsk have to deal with each other–they’re such different people.
How well do you think Borsk handled the run in? Was there anything he could have done better? What would you do in this sort of situation (where you’re accused of something you absolutely did–but you know the accuser can’t prove it.)
I’m looking forward to hearing what people think. Drop your answers to these questions in the comments (or let me know any other thoughts you have about Leaving Hope Chapter 13 there.)
And check in tomorrow for the next chapter.
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December 12, 2022
Leaving Hope Chapter 12
Leaving Hope Chapter 12–in which Anya gets surprisingly invested in math homework, and Borsk untangles a digital disaster.
Unlike Anya, I love math, and in this chapter, I got to play around with how someone who isn’t as naturally attracted to the subject might find a way in.
Have you ever had a perspective change like Anya’s, that helped you break through to new understanding or interest in something that had been hard? If so, I’d love to hear about it.
Of course, Leaving Hope Chapter 12 also starts to deal with the issue of cameras and constant surveillance. It can be both a blessing and a curse to have a society that’s so recorded, I think. If we’re watching powerful people, it’s harder for them to get away with stuff. But if we’re always watched, how does that affect the way we move and grow? What do you think?
To join the conversation, leave a comment. (It’ll appear after content moderation–which I have to do to keep bots from putting ads in my comments.) And see you for the next chapter tomorrow!
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December 10, 2022
Leaving Hope Chapter 11
In which Borsk and Anya hang out in Central Park, and Borsk teaches Anya how to control cameras and use math for art.
One of the big ways Anya is different from me is in not liking math. In this chapter, it was fun to give her a glimpse of the fun side of the subject. I just love fractals. And I remember some kids at my school making pictures on their graphing calculators with equations. It seemed like the kind of thing Anya might enjoy.
How do you feel about math? Leave a note in the comments to let me know.
And look for Chapter 12 tomorrow. The password is Secrets.
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October 14, 2022
Lilith’s Brood
Lilith’s Brood is a collection of the three books in Octavia Butler’s Xenogenesis trilogy. Amazing books, all of them–well written and thought provoking.
In this story, humans have nearly wiped themselves out with nuclear winter, only to be “saved” by an alien species. These three stories follow one woman, Lilith, and her progeny as they navigate this new reality.
All three stories are full of great characters, fabulous world-building, and plenty of action. What I like best about them, though, is the way they explore what it means to be human. You’ll also find wonderful riffs on the themes of genetic engineering, gender identity, and colonization.
If you’re interested in immersive adventures that keep you thinking long after you put the book down, you may want to check Lilith’s Brood out.
Looking for other even more scifi books to read? Here’s another set I read recently and enjoyed: Versatile Layer
And a scifi novel of my own: Leaving Hope
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October 13, 2022
Concert!
Some things about parenting are much more fun as kids get older. Concerts are one of them. They start to sound pretty good.
When the kids are tiny, it can be hard to sit through their performances, but with near-adult young people, performances can be an actual pleasure.
That was certainly the case for us last night when we went to hear our youngest sing. Both her choir and the other choirs were excellent.
I think, with arts and crafts of all kinds, this is often the case. Early attempts can be rough and difficult to appreciate. For kids (and adults starting up a new skill), it’s important to encourage those early attempts. However, we may only truly be able to praise the effort and the idea, not the performance.
As people get more practice and more expertise, though, we can enjoy the end result as well.
Which makes me think that in parenting, and in life, patience is key. The goal we’re aiming for might take years of hard work to achieve.
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