The Maverick’s Menu Cookbook.

Alright I’ve had a few requests from people for the cookbook for Images and I’ve done a preliminary list of things in the stories and there is a lot of dishes and recipes so these are going to be the things that I think people will like to see here and these aren’t really coming out of any particular order so some fishing around might be required until you find something you like.

Now most of these are to the restaurant use in terms of scale of cooking and serving. But a little imagination or having company or a big family over and you’ll do just fine.

My favorites will be marked by an *

I Heard New Bells on Christmas Day

Here are lyrics for what I pray will meet with your approval as a Christmas carol expressing the hope that our culture will learn not merely to tolerate or to accept, but rather to fully embrace transfolk, whether merely androgynous, crossdressed, partially or fully transexual, or intersexed. These lyrics work with both the traditional tune by John Calkin or the modern one by Johnny Marx.

I just wish that I had thought of these sooner…

She turned to see the fire red sky with gold touching the hills in the west. She felt him wrap his arms around her. She loved being in his arms; when they were younger, she would spend hours wrapped in his strong arms. She turned from the sunset and looked up into his strong face. She stood up on her toes, closed her eyes and puckered her lips. His course beard tickled her face but his firm lips melted her heart.
A sharp pain in her back drove the wind from her body. She stepped back and felt her husband grab a hold of her. Surely he’d take care of that horrible pain. Another sharp pain stabbed through her ribs.
“I’m sorry.” He said to her.

Humpty Dumpty had a great Fall.

She was so busy looking at the massive vessel that she over looked her Captain on the black and white painted Horse Lord riding a long side.
She gaped in wonder as the large vehicle slowly rolled past. She was even more surprised to find seven more of the land ships trailing behind the first.
Men and women, like spiders climbed up and down the masts and net like ladders. Tonya found it confusing picking out which was which. The males of Blaire all had long hair tied back at the nape, while all of the women had very short hair. All of them wore trousers. The women tended to wear blouses with lace and ruffles around the neck and down the front where the men’s were just laced.

Empty

Here I am again, sitting in the kitchen with a glass of milk, staring into space and wishing I was anywhere or anyone else. It’s an odd night that I’m not sitting here awake at 3am. I know I should go back to bed and take another stab at sleep, but it wouldn’t matter anyway.

Today is Christmas day, and in a few hours, children all over town will be waking up to colorful boxes under a lit tree, but not in my house.

Cavalrymen having heard the alarm and noting their Captain’s tense posture, began forming up behind him.
The Captain turned towards them. “We don’t know what may be out there, but we need to hold them off so that the princesses can get across the river.”
::We should get going.:: Mi’tana suggested.
::Let’s stay here. Just a bit longer.:: Monyka protested.
“Monyka.” Grymm’s words were a bit slurred from his wounds. “We should head down to the river.
“Captain!” a call went up. “Look!”
Monyka looked north and saw a swirling cloud of black coming straight at them.
“What is that?” a voice asked.
Monyka squinted and strained to make out what the mass was.
“Everyone, if you have face guards, put them down.” Rikki ordered. Those who don’t cover your faces with what you can. That is a murder of crows.” The Captain looked to Monyka wide eyes. “Can you do something?”

Ch. 40

The Captain and Horse Lord followed the last person of the retinue down the slope to the bottom of the ravine. Just as they reached the bottom, So’ryn’s ears pricked up then laid back.
::Elves are here.::
::Where?:: Rikki began glancing around.
::Up top there.:: So’ryn tossed his head towards the wall that they had just decended.
::How many?::
::I can’t sense any horses, only blood mages. There are about a dozen of them.::
“Captain! Elves!” one of the rear guard warned.
A fire ball erupted at the top of the trail that they had come down.
“How many?”
“Twelve. Could be scouts?”
“Lets get a move on it!” Rikki called to the people before them. Some were mounted some were walking their horses.
A fireball exploded off the south wall causing a couple of screams.

Maskalah took a sip of wine and savored it as he savored the upcoming victory over the Riponian Captain who seemed to be a thorn in his side. He pondered what he would do to the Captain. Sacrifice was too quick and his blood not as powerful as some of the others, but breaking his will and creating a slave might be fun. That kind of task would be especially enjoyable after they conquered Blaire.
The blood mage flicked his fingers at the fireplace. Instantly a blaze erupted and burned warming the room.

“Thank you.” Tonya leaned closer and looked into his eyes.
Rikki found her soft pink lips brushing against his. He closed his eyes and kissed back, enjoying the taste of her despite the wine. Tonya’s arms wrapped around his neck pulling him closer, her lips hungrily kissing his.
Rikki was surprised to find his hand caressing her cheek, his fingers stroking her silky tresses, his tongue probing her mouth, tasting her tongue. He broke away and began caressing her cheek and neck with his lips.
“Why didn’t you come last night?” Tonya asked.
“I had things to do and I needed to get some sleep.” Rikki kissed the small of her throat. The scent of her was intoxicating. He pressed his nose into the hair at the base of her neck and breathed deeply as his lips enjoyed the softness of her skin.

Ich hab' in Schatten gelebt / so viele Jahre lang
Euer Hass war es / der mich solange dazu zwang
Es hat mich tough gemacht / Tarnen, täuschen, verstecken
Ich war perfekt darin / um nicht an Euch zu verrecken
Craig war das Alphatier / Der Mann unter den Männern
Nie um ein Wort verlegen / Und es war'n Worte die brennen
Er war ein 'ganzer Kerl' / Ihr hattet Alle Respekt
Ich habt Euch von uns blenden lassen / Doch jetzt ist er weg
Schon die Maske hat Euch gerulet / In die Schranken verwiesen

We were a family. And when our father was murdered, we had to leave everything behind us—including our gender …

On The Run, by Karin Bishop

Part 1

Chapter 1: The Call

“It’s okay, Dear. Let the others sing him to the heavens.” Gemma wrapped Monyka in a motherly embrace.
“It hurts so bad.” Monyka sobbed. “why does it have to hurt so bad?”
“The greater the love, the greater the hurt, Dear.”
“Can’t you do something to make it hurt less?” Monyka begged. “Something with the Gift?”
“If I did that it would diminish the person you have lost. It is better that you feel the pain so that you remember him and how much he means to you.”
Monyka answered her with a cry, and held tight to her.

The Visit

Note: Contains some strong themes, including suicide. Please take care when reading.

Snakes and Ladders…Jaiden’s Tale.

It was colder than one would think as I move through the streets of Tamsinar. I’m up in the northern polar regions of Shaelani. This is a rich land, it’s also home to the most die hard conservatives in the Shaelani culture. The region is called the Saltlands and is one of the biggest suppliers of salt to the other clans.

He ran towards the hall, but it was still packed with kids going in both directions, so instead of fighting the crowds, he ran for the playground, shoving his way through the crowd. He knew he could make it past one of the wings and make a bee line for his classroom. As he passed some of the seventh grade room, he barreled into someone. Both kids hit the ground, the lager one grabbing at him.

“Isn't that cute, big sisters is protecting little sister.” Bruce sneered at them. “Guess we'll kick both of your asses.”