One thing I have found extremely helpful is my stash of quick and easy recipes that are so good everyone wants the recipe. Saltine Toffee (aka Christmas Crack) is one of those recipes. It takes just a few simple ingredients, a little time, and a lot of self control. It is that good!I was a bit skeptical at first – crackers in a sweet snack? No need to worry – the flavors meld together so well that it is hard to believe that this delectable treat has a cracker base.
This recipe is great for any gathering and would also make a great holiday gift.
SALTINE TOFFEE
1 sleeve saltine crackers (4 oz.)
2 sticks butter (1 cup)
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup chopped pecans
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line cookie sheet with foil and spray with butter flavored cooking spray. Place crackers in one layer on cookie sheet. Melt together butter and brown sugar and boil for 3 minutes. Immediately pour over crackers and spread over all. Sprinkle pecans evenly over top. Bake for approximately 6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over top. Let sit until chips melt and spread with spatula. Place in refrigerator for an hour or two until chocolate is set. Break into pieces and enjoy.
STEPHEN BALDWIN – actor, family man, born-again Christian – makes his home in upstate New York with his wife and two young daughters.
Equally adept at drama and comedy, Baldwin has appeared in over 60 films and been featured on such top-rated television shows as Fear Factor and Celebrity Mole. He has his own production company that is developing projects for television and the big screen. These days, however, his role as director, co-producer and host of Livin’ It – a cutting-edge skate video is bringing out his white hot passion for evangelism.
Writer and communicator Mark Tabb calls himself an “internationally unknown author.” Although his books have been published around the world, he is best known for his collaborative works. His 2008 release, “Mistaken Identity”, written with the Van Ryn and Cerak families, hit number one on the New York Times bestseller list for two weeks, and remained on the list for over two months. He and actor Stephen Baldwin teamed up on their 2005 New York Times bestseller, “The Unusual Suspect,” and with their first work of fiction, “The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips,”
ABOUT THE BOOK
Even years of experience haven’t prepared Officer Andy Myers for this case—
When Officer Andy Myers met Loraine Phillips, he had no interest in her son. And he certainly never dreamed he’d respond to a call, finding that same boy in a pool of blood. Even more alarming was the father standing watch over his son’s body. Myers had never seen a man respond to death-particularly the death of a child-in such a way. When the father is charged with murder and sentenced to death, he chooses not to fight but embrace it as God’s will. Myers becomes consumed with curiosity for these strange beliefs. What follows is the story of the bond these two men share as they come to terms with the tragedy and the difficult choices each one must make.
I read and enjoyed the book but have been running all day and haven’t had the time I’d like to write a decent review. The story is well written with an interesting concept. The surprise ending was totally unexpected – I didn’t see it coming. I was not offended by the strong language – as the author stated, it was probably necessary for the plot to be realistic.
Shade is one of the more unconventional Christian novels I have had the privilege to read. From the very first scene until the conclusion, the reader is challenged right along with the characters to decide what is really the truth. Is the ominous dark shadow that stalks Hailey real or is it just a figment of her imagination or even schizophrenia? Are the warnings from the homeless giant Melchi valid or is he also delusional? Shade is a tale that will keep the reader engaged until the very end in order to uncover the answers.
John Olson has set the stage perfectly for the horror filled narrative. Fog laced San Francisco is the ideal backdrop and the goth culture of young vampire wannabees adds another dimension to the story. Incorporating the legends about the gypsy vampire Mulo (the undead) adds even more suspense. But the faith based motivation of the primary characters is what sets Shade apart from other books in this genre.
I would highly recommend Shade to all fans of horror fiction, especially to those who are tired of the blood, gore, and negative message found in many books of this type.
Today I’m posting an introduction to Shade that includes the description from Amazon.com as well as what others are saying about the book. Also included are the video book trailer and a brief bio of the author John Olson. Check back tomorrow to find out what I thought about Shade.
THE BOOK:
Book Description (from Amazon.com)
“You will not fear the terror of the night.” —Psalm 91
A monstrous waking nightmare is pursuing graduate student Hailey Maniates across San Francisco to Golden Gate Park where she is rescued by a towering homeless man. She seems able to read her rescuer’s mind, but is it just a delusion? Doctors diagnose her as a paranoid schizophrenic and attempt to prescribe away her alleged hallucinations. But too many questions remain around Hailey and the man who saved her. He appears to suffer from her same mental condition and is convinced that some type of Gypsy vampire is trying to kill them both.
Against reason, Hailey finds herself more and more attracted to this strange man. But what if he is a fantasy? What if he is the monster?
Endorsements:
“From its stunning first scene to its heartwarming last, Shade is a striking tale of mystery and danger that kept me hooked. This is Olson’s finest work yet, and reading it, one gets the feeling he’s just getting warmed up.”
Robin Parrish, author of Relentless and Merciless
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“Unseen enemies. Questioned sanity. The weighing of reality. All the things I like in a book! The shadows are not silent. I lost sleep over this book. I got goose bumps from this book. The kind of scary that you crave and cringe at, Shade offers up a monster made more frightening by its originality. Thanks a lot, John Olson–because of you, I will not walk alone at night for a long time to come.”
— Tosca Lee, author of Demon: A Memoir and Havah: The Story of Eve
“John B. Olson is a seasoned storyteller, and Shade is quite a story! As the heat turns up, and as menacing tones and brooding characters abound, the theme of God’s grace boils to the surface. A few years back, Olson gave us a new twist on Jekyll & Hyde; now he puts his own fast-paced spin on the Dracula story. I can only hope there’s a sequel in the works!”
Eric Wilson, author of Field of Blood and A Shred of Truth
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“Shade is a smart, gripping thriller. John B. Olson whips you along in a breakneck odyssey through a hellish paradise lost–and keeps you up all night doing it.”
Melanie Wells, author of My Soul to Keep and When the Day of Evil Comes —
“Things that go bump in the night are not all figments of overwrought imaginations or evidence of mental illness. As our heroine discovers, evil personified preys on the ignorance of its victims. Lock your doors and windows, leave the lights on, and hunker down for a splendid, spine-chilling read.”
Donita K. Paul, author of the DragonKeeper Chronicles
SHADE TRAILER:
JOHN OLSON:
John Olson is an award-winning novelist and speaker who lives with his wife Amy and two children in San Leandro, CA. John earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and did postdoctoral research at the University of California at San Francisco. After eight years as a director and principal scientist at a major scientific software company, John has quit his day job to devote himself full-time to a ministry of writing and speaking. He has won several awards for his writing, including a Christy Award, a Christy finalist, a Silver Angel award, and placement on the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age.
Learn more about John Olson and his books at his web site.
Jerry Camery-Hoggatt, Ph.D., is professor of New Testament at Vanguard University, in Costa Mesa, California. A professional storyteller, he is the author of the highly-acclaimed Christmas stories When Mother Was Eleven-Foot-Four (in trade adult and children’s picture book editions) and Givers of Gifts; plus Irony in Mark’s Gospeland Grapevine: A Spirituality of Gossip. His passion is theology and storytelling, which he believes are meant to go together. Jerry and his wife, Shaleen, are the parents of three children.
BOOK SUMMARY:
A grandfather’s song turns a diner into hallowed ground, like a church. A contrary girl with a gypsy heart feels the tug of home. A mother, far away, confronts impossible expectations. And a truck driver named Jedidiah keeps his foot on the gas to sweep you into an unforgettable story of belonging and grace.
Readers looking for a meaningful, powerful read on a winter’s evening or with the family will love the rich 1960s nostalgia captured in the Midwest of Jedidiah’s and Ellee’s story; the peace found when family strife boils over, and the gentle reminders of the influence and effect every life has on another.
My Mother’s Wish is an unforgettable, powerful tale that ends on a memorable Christmastime note, but will be cherished and reread year-round for its bold message of grand hopes, impossible expectations, and the gift of grace that comes in between.
You can purchase a copy of My Mother’s Wish at: Amazon.com
My Mother’s Wish is the story of Elee McKutcheon, a young midwestern girl who has always walked to the beat of a different drummer. The only thing she has ever wanted was to be recognized for who she really is rather than who her mother wants her to be or a duplicate of her older sister.
The story is both humorous and compassionate as it highlights people and incidents that shape Elee’s life. Elee’s climactic experience at the Comeback Cafe and with Jedidiah opens her spirit to true acceptance and grace.
My Mother’s Wish is a short but profound look at the importance of love and acceptance. It will probably take more than one read to really plumb the depths of all the treasures this little book has to offer.
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