Adventures In Cooking: Roasted Corn On The Cob

I have some great news! My family will truly rejoice. I have a reputation for not eating vegetables...or fruit...or anything remotely healthy. I can proudly say that I have a new vegetable that I like! Not only a new vegetable, but it has taken the new first place spot on my veggie list. It's roasted corn on the cob. I've hated corn for as far back as I can remember (which is pretty far back). But one day at a friend's house I decided to give corn another try. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I like it. But it wasn't until several weeks later that I really got hooked. I was introduced to roasted corn on the cob. Since then I have craved corn on the cob. Craved it over candy, and I was being offered candy at the time. I knew this was something I needed to learn to cook. Enter this first Adventure In Cooking.

I followed a recipe on the internet. I started with some unshucked corn from the grocery store (I so miss the days when I just picked it from the fields). I got to relive some of the glorious farm work days while I shucked all the corn in the kitchen. Then I pulled all that annoying corn silk off and cut off the end and the tip. I also cut out any bad places I found. Just like the old days. That marked the end of familiar territory.

Next I unraveled the last of our tin foil and placed it over a baking sheet. I buttered each ear of corn and lightly sprinkled them with salt and pepper. Then I placed them in the oven (I promise I preheated the oven lol). Every fifteen minutes I would open the oven and rotate the ears with some nifty tongs. I barely have cooking experience (at least on my own) and this was definitely my first time with corn on the cob.

Here is the beautiful result:

The browning is intentional. I love the flavor it adds when its browned. Call me odd. My roasted corn on the cob was a beautiful and delicious success! I'm so happy, first because I love roasted corn on the cob and now I can make it. Second, because I feel so accomplished to have successfully cooked something delicious on my own. This was the first of many adventures in cooking. I'm looking forward to the next one!

That's a rap. Send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment. Thanks for reading!

You're never too small to make a difference in the world.

The Halfling Ninja

Re: Skyward Sword

I know the game came out ages ago. I know I'm terribly behind. But recently I finally beat The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. I'm a Zelda fan. I got hooked on A Link To The Past back in the SNES days. I didn't have an SNES so playing it was a challenge. But Zelda really captured my imagination and loyalty in the famous Ocarina of Time for the N64. I've followed the games ever since. I'm mostly a console gamer. I have trouble focusing on a handheld screen for long hours. I've faithfully played Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Windwaker, and Twilight Princess to completion. Skyward Sword had been out for a good while and I still hadn't conquered it. A new Zelda game is in development and I knew I had to be ready for that and also unlock the secrets and joys of Skyward Sword (however reluctantly I approached the motion controls).

Visually, this game looks kinda like a watercolor painting. The colors and lines are soft and relaxing. Facial expressions were toned down from Twilight Princess. The emotions that flickered across the characters' faces in Twilight Princess took my breath away, but I guess it wasn't important to a lot of players because Skyward Sword didn't possess it. It's a little sad because there were so many emotional moments in this game that would have benefitted from it. Words and voices speak volumes, but we can't underestimate the power of visible emotion in telling a story.

I'll be honest. The dungeons and temples in this game made me want to pull my hair out. It deviated a bit from the usual Zelda pattern. Often there seemed to be no clear direction to go. The layout of each place was a bit confusing. It was anything but linear. Over and over I saw the same areas used in different ways. This was interesting and creative. One location would be travelled over multiple times, but objectives and settings and details changed. After the first exploration of a place it was refreshed anew by changing circumstances like volcanic activity, darkness, flooding, or time fluctuations. I was impressed by how circumstances could make a familiar location look new and intimidating.

There were some creative and unexpected moments packed into this game. I never thought I'd see the day that Link had his own minecart level. Neither did I expect to hold time in my hands and be able to throw it. This game is packed with little gems like that. I also found the story compelling. Skyward Sword is a bit of an origin story and I love origin stories. Zelda's character was developed a bit further than the wait around to be rescued, stay silent and watch, or enchanted sleep times of the past (or should I say future?). She definitely played an active role and had a developed personality. Go Nintendo!

My favorite part of this game was the boss battles! For all that the dungeons/temples were frustrating, the boss battles were exhilarating! From the first boss battle to the final boss battle I was kept on my toes. It never became a boring pattern. It had my heart pumping and my eyes wide throughout the fight. I'm not usually one to find tons of enjoyment in boss battles. I used to view them as a necessary evil. I preferred adventuring. This game flipped that on me and I found it refreshing and greatly enjoyable.

All in all I personally rate Skyward Sword 3.5 out of 5 stars. There were great things and really frustrating things. It was hard to rate because of the frustration and also because the frustration paid off in awesome moments. But I can't put it on the level of Majora's Mask (my favorite Zelda of all time). While the story was great and the boss battles were amazing, it's a game I will probably never replay. I would replay the boss battles, but not the rest of the game. With any other console Zelda game I'm happy to replay, but I can't say that of this one. I should say that 5 out of 5 stars for me puts a game on a favorite of all time video game list. Few games will reach that level. Four stars is highly enjoyable and definitely would play again. I realize 3.5 looks like a low rating, especially for a Zelda title. I'm definitely not knocking the game. I recommend it!

That's it for this Re:View. Thanks for reading! Feel free to send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment.

You're never too small to make a difference in the world.

The Halfling Ninja                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Re: Water For Elephants

5 Stars = I loved it! Would read again and again
4 Stars = Highly enjoyable and would read it again
3 Stars = Enjoyable but wouldn't read again
2 Stars = Tolerable
1 Star = I hated it

In this Re:View I'm going to be talking about Water For Elephants (the book, not the movie) by Sara Gruen. This book has been on my To Read list for quite some time. We're talking years. I finally checked it out at the library and I'm so glad I did.

Before I go further, I'll explain my structure here. I'll review the book without giving spoilers first. Then I'll give a clear warning before delving into spoiler territory. If you hate spoilers don't worry. I hate spoilers as well. Rest assured. I'm looking out for my fellow spoiler haters.

This book was a page turner. I had trouble putting it down to do other things like eat or sleep. That's always a good sign in a book. Water For Elephants is a very rich and dynamic story. You feel like you're there with the characters. Gruen brought the circus environment to life in a way I'd never seen it before. The majority of the story takes place behind the scenes of a circus, in the day to day life of it's workers and performers in Depression era America. The characters are complex, with a realistic mix of good and bad in each person. The structure of the story with the passage of time is beautifully done and really adds to the experience of the story. The storyline is truly gripping, a story of love, cruelty, danger, friendship, and showbiz.

 Sara Gruen did a lot of research in the quest of writing this book. Many of the happenings in this book come from true stories or circus legend. She even got up close and personal with two circus elephants as well as researched many more. She managed to make contact with current circus workers, a feat not easily accomplished because many circus folk shy away from interviews because of the activity of animal rights activists in opposition to animal performances in circuses. She worked hard and researched thoroughly. Her finished work definitely shows that. I would personally rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I don't often give that high of a rating to a book. It's a rating I only give to my favorites.

Abuse Survivors Warning
There is some violence and unpredictable characters in this book. One scene in particular could be triggering for blank spots in memory or memories of blacking out during abuse. Read with caution.

SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!!!

Be warned. Spoiler content will be discussed now!

Can I just say it's refreshing to come across dynamic characters. Each character had light and darkness inside them. The bad characters weren't just bad for the heck of it. August had paranoid schizophrenia, a very real psychological disorder. He was violent and scary, but there was an underlying cause that made sense. I'm not saying it was all his disorder. He definitely made some bad and outright mean decisions. Uncle Al is a little more complex. Yes he was an evil and cruel circus master. But what made him that way was his ambition and dream. He didn't see people. He saw tools and a means to realize his dream. He was so fixed on his dream that he lost his humanity and failed to see the humanity of the people around him. Jacob was lost and directionless after the death of his parents and his freakout at his final exams. His intentions were usually good and he tried his best to help the people he cared about. He had darkness in him as well though. He wasn't a purely good character. No real person besides Jesus is purely good. At one point his rage towards August almost causes him to commit murder. Also, his fear got to him in that he kept Rosie's secret even from his wife their whole life together. Walter had a heart of gold, but you had to see it beyond his rough edges. Camel starts out strong, but in his darkest hour falls to pettiness and hopelessness. I don't think, given the chance, that he would have stayed that way. But it goes to show how even a strong person can bow to fear and hopelessness in the face of disaster. Marlena is a beautiful picture of someone in a bad situation, a situation that she walked into willingly and the trap closed before she knew what she'd gotten herself into. She wasn't perfect and the conflict she felt is apparent. She wore a mask and made due. Many of us do that.

I love how the story bounces from current day to the past in the storytelling. It's adds an extra layer of richness. It also shows how the very people that most of society think are the most boring are the ones with the most interesting stories to tell. I mean just think about it. They've seen so much history and had so many experiences. Our elders have so much they could tell us if we'd only ask and listen. They've seen things we can only dream of. I also love how the story starts with the circus disaster and then starts from the beginning. You know something huge is about to go down, but you don't know when or what events lead up to that moment. You get to watch it all unfold before you. Instead of the disaster being a shock, it's that moment when the pieces of the story link together and realization floods your mind.

The ending was pure gold. I loved getting to hear snippets of Jacob's life with Marlena. The acquisition of Rosie, Bobo, 11 horses, and a bereaved dog was hilarious and beautiful. But the best part of the ending was Jacob running away with the circus. He was 90 or 93. What did he have to lose? He still thirsted for adventure and he wasn't afraid to go for it. The book started with an adventure and it ended with one. You're never too old for adventure. His body might have been old but his heart was still young. It didn't end with death, it ended with life. It's an ending that makes me want to make sure I live every bit of life I can and not waste a drop.

That's it for this Re:View. You can send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment. Thanks for reading!

You're never too small (or too old) to make a difference in the world.

The Halfling Ninja

Ninja Turtle Thumbs

What color are a ninja turtle's thumbs? Green! I have been trying to discover if I have a green thumb by doing a little gardening this spring. I grew up in the countryside and I've lived in the city for the past nearly 4 years. I miss nature and having green, growing things in my life. I think it's good for the soul. So I decided I would try to grow my own little piece of nature on my apartment balcony.

The last two years haven't worked out too well. I planted seeds, full of hope. But all my seeds were for plants that grow in full sunlight. I had a big tree parked right in front of my balcony and once the leaves grew in, there was no such thing as direct sunlight for my poor plants. This time around I live in a new apartment and yes, our balcony gets direct sunlight! So I've planted and now I'm waiting for the first shoots to appear.

I'm dabbling not just in growing flowers. Flowers are awesome. Don't get me wrong. I'm rather fond of live flowers. But I've chosen to expand into growing herbs and vegetables as well. I really like the idea of growing something I can put on the table, whether in a vase or on a plate. So this year I've planted dwarf sunflowers, marigolds, lavender, morning glories, and spinach. Sunflowers make me smile. I don't know why, they just look so happy. I've loved marigolds since I was little. My babysitter grew them. I think morning glories are gorgeous. Lavender is pretty and the smell really helps in calming anxiety and aiding sleep. Spinach is one of the few vegetables I like. It also happens to be one of the best for you.

 My balcony is a peaceful spot for me. On warm days I like to sit out there and take in the fresh air and sunlight. I can feel the wind on my face and hear birdsong (in my opinion one of the sweetest sounds on earth). I can watch the squirrels and some of the birds come quite close. My balcony looks out onto a glorious patch of untamed wilderness here in the city. It acts as a natural hedge between my apartment building and the homes on the other side. Patches of wilderness are rare in a place where every green thing is primed, pruned, and mowed into perfection. I grew up in a place where nature runs wild and beautiful. Right now I can't have my mountains or my wilderness. But God still gives me little pieces of the nature I crave.

Hopefully in future I'll have pictures to share of the progress in my plants. Until then, thanks for reading! Feel free to send any feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment.

You're never too small to make a difference in the world.

The Halfling Ninja

Introductions

Hellooooooo!

A new blog a new day. This is my very first post in this new blog so I believe this calls for an introduction. Some readers already know me from my previous blog: Simply Loved. This blog is in a way a continuation as well as a new start. Don't ask me to explain that strangeness. We'll both get lost. Just trust me, it's a good thing.

I am The Halfling Ninja. Some readers (family and friends) know me by my real name and that's awesome. Don't be confused. This is still me, I'm just using an online name. I'm one of those people who always struggled to come up with any sort of pen name. After many many years of pondering and wracking my brains I've finally come up with one I really truly like and want to stick with. It's like picking a tattoo really, you want to be committed.

As the name suggests, I am a short person (4'9") and I'm currently training to be a ninja. Not a real ninja of course. If that were the case then I just blew my cover to all my close friends and family. The personal character I try to develop and maintain in myself doesn't allow for actual spying and assassination. Basically I'm shooting for personal health mixed with some sneakiness, martial arts, and parkour. The martial arts thing is a long term goal and a lifelong dream of mine that I hope to someday make a reality. Turns out it's really expensive to learn a martial art.

This blog is really a catch all for all that interests me. My interests are pretty wide so my readers will get a broad sampling of many things, from books to video games to health to music as well as crafts, anime, gardening, comics, nature, psychology, art, ministry, dancing, etc. I talk about God without warning. I don't shove my beliefs down peoples throats and I don't judge people for their beliefs. Believing in and trusting God is a personal decision that people can only make on their own. That said, if anything I write intrigues you feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to talk with you about it.

I think that's it for a first post. Thank you for reading! Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated. You can send feedback to thehalflingninja@gmail.com or leave a comment.

You're never too small to make a difference in the world.

The Halfling Ninja