We’re so pleased to have author Gene Gant with us today to celebrate the upcoming release of his new novel, King Geordi the Great, coming soon from Harmony Ink Press. Gene also has a great recipe to share along with his guest post.
Welcome, Gene!
Fear and Acceptance of Something New
Here we are in the heady first days of a new year. For many this is a time of reflection, evaluation, course corrections, and the trying of new things.
Fear of taking chances is one of the themes of my soon-to-be-released new novel, King Geordi the Great. Geordi Quintrell, the main character, adores his mom. But he’s no fan of her many meatless meals, most of which involve tofu in one form or another. His skepticism of tofu, a running joke through a couple of scenes in the story, comes directly out of my own experience.
Several years ago, a dear friend of mine invited me over for a Labor Day cookout. He neglected to mention that he’d recently become a vegetarian. When he pulled tofu hotdogs and black bean burgers off the grill and offered them up, I thought he was joking. He cooked a batch of beef brats and burgers for his guests who wanted the “real” thing, but he kept urging us to try the vegetarian alternatives. While some of the other guests gave it a go, I must confess I was never able to work up the nerve.
Have you ever seen uncooked tofu? It looks very much like a block of sculptor’s clay. The first time I saw my friend open a package of the stuff, I was reminded of the thick blobs of Silly Putty my brothers, sister and I played with when we were kids. We molded Silly Putty into all kinds of things—planes, missiles, bug-eyed aliens. We also flung it against the walls, where it stuck almost like glue, and pressed it against comic book panels to capture images of our favorite superheroes. As much fun as that was, however, I was never tempted to eat Silly Putty.
It was another two years before I got my first taste of tofu. My vegetarian friend came to my house for a potluck Thanksgiving dinner, and he brought a dish of curry tofu bites. The aroma was so enticing that I actually tried a bite. It was every bit as delicious at it smelled.
Since then, I’ve grown to love tofu in a variety of dishes. It’s a versatile food that magically absorbs flavorings, and it is also a great source of protein, sans the saturated fat and cholesterol that comes with meat. I enjoy curry tofu bites so much that they feature prominently in a pivotal King Geordi the Great dinner scene.
One of the many themes of the novel centers on fear of accepting something new. In the case of Geordi, the thing he is afraid to accept is the offer of a friendship that has grown into something more. For those of you who’ve never tried tofu and want to broaden your culinary horizons in this fresh, spanking-new year, I’m offering a basic recipe for curry tofu bites. Feel free to experiment with other seasonings or toss in additional ingredients, such as chopped green onion, diced celery, broccoli or mushrooms. You can serve it over hot buttered rice.
Happy New Year and, as always, happy reading!
KING GEORDI’S CURRY TOFU BITES
Ingredients
1 package of extra firm tofu (14 to 16 ounces)
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
1 teaspoon of dill weed
¾ teaspoon of garlic powder
½ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of curry powder
Drain tofu, wrap it in a towel, and place a plate on top for 15 or 20 minutes to remove excess moisture. Then cut tofu into 1 inch squares.
Place a pan over medium heat, add oil, and fry tofu, turning occasionally, until it is lightly browned on all sides (about 10 minutes).
Remove cooked tofu to a bowl, add remaining ingredients, and stir to combine. Serve hot.
About the Book
Is there such a thing as caring too much?
Geordi never thought so. He knows he’s lucky to have progressive parents who support him after they discover he’s gay, but when his dad gets overzealous, things go downhill. Geordi’s friend Toff is not only hurt that Geordi hid his sexuality from him—he’s also been in love with Geordi for months. Rather than further damage their relationship, Geordi goes along with a romance he doesn’t feel. When things start to get physical, though, Geordi knows it’s time to be honest with himself and his friends, no matter what the consequences. A tragedy is about to strike, and Geordi, Toff, and their friend Jess will need each other more than ever. For Geordi to find his strength, he’ll have to first find the courage to chart his own course in life—outside the control of his parents or the pressure of his peers.
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About the Author
Tennessean by birth and a resident of Memphis for most of his life. Gene Gant tried living in a few northern cities after graduating from college. Unfortunately he couldn’t take the brutal winters, and he missed good ol’ southern barbecue. Now he makes his home on a country lane outside of Memphis. When he’s not reading, working out, watching movies or spending time with family and friends, you can find him tapping away at his computer.
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