In 1968, I had a summer job as a valet at the Hilton Hotel in Pittsburgh. The most exciting days were those when a Major League baseball team came to town to play the Pirates because the teams all stayed at the Hilton. I met many famous players that summer and one manager, Grady Hatton. At the time, he was the manager of the Houston Astros. They had a terrible record. He seemed like a nice guy. He tipped well. So I wished him good luck that day. The Pirates trounced them, and Grady Hatton was fired after the game. He was replaced by Harry Walker. Lucky for Harry, we never met.Four Years From Home is a real bargain for $.99. Have a cup of spiced coffee and slice of Cinnamon Raisen Coffee Cake. Read my review. Read all the reviews. Download a sample, and see if this is the book for you. It is indeed a unique debut novel.
The cold glare of morning pushed rudely through the window and washed away a dream I couldn’t remember. It had been quite a while since I’d remembered my dreams — four or five years easily. When I was growing up, they had always been so vivid and real, usually in Technicolor by Deluxe with Dolby sound, but one day they just stopped. I’d wake up, knowing I had been dreaming but unable to remember anything at all about it. Like now. Hungry, smelly, pasty-mouthed, head still pounding; for an instant I couldn’t decide which of these problems to fix first.
Spiced Coffee
Ingredients
* 4 to 7 whole cloves
* ½ inch cinnamon bark (whole cinnamon)
* 4 to 7 whole green cardamom
* 1 to 3 tsp. Brown sugar (if desired)
* Whipped cream
* Shaved Chocolate and cinnamon sprinkle
* Coffee
Brew a pot of your favorite coffee, a little too strong.
In a small pan, add 1 1/2 cup water, 4-7 cloves, 1/2 inch cinnamon bark broken up, 4-7 whole cardamom -split the tips, and 1-3 teaspoons of sugar. Heat up to boiling point for 3-4 minutes.
Mix the coffee and the spice-mix, pour into cups, top with whipped cream and sprinkle with chocolate and cinnamon.
Add more sugar if desired.
Cinnamon Raisen Coffee Cake
Ingredients:
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1-tsp. salt
2 eggs
5 tbsps. white (distilled) vinegar plus enough Milk to make 1 cup liquid
1/2-cup raisins
1/4 cup melted shortening
1/4 cup chopped nuts
Combine 1/2-cup sugar, butter and cinnamon until well blended; set aside.
Sift flour, baking soda, salt and remaining 1/2-cup sugar into large bowl.
Beat eggs in medium bowl; add vinegar mixture and mix well. Blend in raisins and shortening. Pour egg mixture all at once into flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Spread half of batter in greased 8-inch square baking pan; sprinkle with half of cinnamon mixture. Top with remaining batter; draw knife through batter several times to distribute filling slightly. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon mixture and nuts.
Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees F. Cut into squares and serve warm.
