Reviews, Recipes, and Random Slices of Life

04/08/10, Thursday
* Read WritersWeekly magazine.
* Posted writing log, freewriting
* Worked on Bookrix PR and making editing changes to Vicesteed ch. 29.
* Wrote 1/2 pg. on Alien/Whore/Mother.

Making Ukrainian Easter eggs with friends is awesome, even if things don't always go perfectly. Lessons:
1. Yes, it will take all 6 hours, especially if people start a second one while the first one is dying/drying.
2. White space is not your friend.
3. There will probably be scratchy marks, so choose a design that works with that.
4. Use an embroidery needle to puncture the egg first.
5. Use a paper towel to blot the last drops of dye from the "dried" egg and continue to hold the egg using a paper towel, or you will get dye all over your hands.
6. Leave a wax "cap" at either end of the egg so the dye doesn't get washed away while extracting the egg. Leave the cap in place for a couple of days while the egg finishes draining/drying.
7. Before trying to blow/inject air into the egg, use the syringe to extract a small amount of egg and to puncture the yolk. Trying to inject air first may cause a blowout. Be careful--do this maybe 1/5th of a syringe at a time.
8. Pie helps.

I also made Easter Bread. My mother made this when I was growing up, but she has since lost the recipe and has no idea how to make it. That's my mom, all right! This recipe is okay, way better than the one I tried last year, when frosted with a basic white frosting from the Joy of Cooking. But I need to remember to be careful not to overbake it. Also, three Easter eggs baked in is about right for us, since Phil doesn't eat eggs.