I took the wrong turn
You came at me from nowhere
Evil temptation
Image: Pixabay/Gerd Altmann
©2015 Karina Pinella
Hell by Detour
Bavarian Bratwurst with Peas and Eggplant over Mashed Potatoes
Here’s a recipe to top off the month-long celebration of Octoberfest, as we transition over to Halloween (expect more of that theme in the upcoming posts). This is a simple, but tasty and hearty recipe I concocted. Although I usually use ground breakfast sausage for this recipe, I decided to make some changes and they turned out just right. Continue reading
The Stranger by Harlan Coben (a book review)
This story observes suburban life pretty well. It’s about a seemingly happy family whose life gets disrupted after a stranger tells the husband something he didn’t know his wife did two years before. After confronting her about the revelation, the story starts taking different twists. It is suspenseful and engrossing, especially in the middle of the book when things start to become “curiouser and curiouser,” as Alice in Wonderland would say. Continue reading
To Your Health: A Faux “Piña Colada”
For a refreshing, light, and delicious thirst quencher, here’s a healthy mix I came up on my own. Mix ¼ cup of 100% apple juice with ¾ cup of Trader Joe’s Coconut Milk Unsweetened Beverage. Put in as little of apple juice and as much coconut milk as you wish, depending which flavor you want to win out. I happened to have both beverages in my refrigerator and I was thirsty, but I also wanted something a little sweet. Because apple juice, and other juices for that matter, tend to be very sweet, I thought I’d cut the sweetness by putting in unsweetened coconut milk to give it body and additional vitamins.
Give it a try. It tastes a little like Piña Colada. No alcohol required.
Cinderella (a movie review)
This take on the fairy tale classic is directed by Kenneth Branagh, with Cate Blanchett as the evil stepmother. Although there have been so many versions of Cinderella out there, this additional Disney-produced film is still wonderful. I like fairy tales in general. I’ve read practically all of them, including those retold in various ways from different countries. They do say something about our human nature, the universal need to romanticize a good story, and — at least for a little while — escape from reality. Continue reading
Ode to Pizza
You take-a piz-za my heart,
You fill me like no other.
Get thee to my plate;
Your aroma makes me swoon!
I am ready to cut you apart;
I cannot share you with another
Even if I inflate
As big as a hot air balloon!
What makes you so hot?
Sweet onions galore,
Dough kneaded just right,
Sausage and three kinds of cheeses!
©2015 Karina Pinella
Furious7 (a movie review)
Call me Johnny-Come-Lately, but it’s better now than never. I finally watched the movie that’s been a blockbuster since it came out but I took my time. When something gets talked up a lot, I feel as if I’ve already seen the movie. This seventh sequel to a movie franchise that started 14 years ago is the best compared to the others, but also the saddest since we know what happened to Paul Walker–he died from a car accident during the filming of this movie, which is well-edited and produced. Renowned horror film director, James Wan, directs this movie and he succeeds in making your pulse race, as well as creating a beautiful ending that pays tribute to Walker. Continue reading
Silent Creed by Alex Kava (a book review)
This is the second installment of a new book series that features Ryder Creed, a former dog handler for the K9 Unit in the Marines. He was traumatized from the war in Afghanistan, almost taking his life, but is saved by Hannah Washington, a single mother with two sons. She helps him see his natural talent in handling dogs. Together they open a search-dog business called “K9 CrimeScents.” Hannah handles the business part, while Creed does the fieldwork. Their dogs are mostly those that have been cast aside and that Creed has trained. They offer their services to the public, the police, and the local and federal government. Continue reading
Bless Bless (a six-word story)
Hold my thoughts, if not me.
*In Iceland, they say “bless bless” when they say good-bye. The picture above is of the Black Sand Beach in Vik, Iceland.
©2015 Karina Pinella
Out of the Dark (a movie review)
This is a haunting tale about an American couple with a five-year-old daughter who becomes mysteriously ill. The movie begins with the family driving through a small Colombian town to visit with the wife’s father, who has a long-established paper mill business there. The father, played by Stephen Rea, suddenly needs help running the business, so his daughter, played by Julia Stiles, takes her husband (played by Scott Speedman) and their daughter abroad to help out. Not too long after they settle into a large country estate owned by the father, strange things start happening, beginning with their daughter who gets into a little accident and then becomes sick. Meanwhile, deformed looking children dart here and there during the night as the parents hear strange noises. The film is a “ghoul movie” because ghoulish looking children will suddenly pop up during creepy moments. It is somewhat reminiscent of the horror movie, The Ring.
At the end of the story, just before all the credits, there is reference to a site that invites you to learn more about real-life hauntings: takepart.com. Going to this site before watching the movie might be a spoiler, but do check it out.
Karina Pinella 
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