Our Blog
Crisp Wontons & Temptingly Spicy Sweet Sour Sauce
Tempt your friends with this tantalizing spicy, sweet- sour sauce, perfect for dipping crispy Asian-inspired wontons. The zing in the tangy sauce compliments the scrumptious little treats packed with ground meat goodness. Make them ahead, pop them in the freezer and when the party starts, drop them in a hot pan for a quick, tempestuous treat.
What better way to get on everyone’s “nice” list for the holidays!
Posted by Elizabeth Ann Quirino
Quirk Books Becomes the Taft 2012 Headquarters
On a chilly Winter afternoon, a bunch of us at the Quirk Books HQ decided it was time to show our support for the Taft 2012 movement. We spent some time decorating our office with posters, bunting, and campaign signs.
Oh, and we also shot a video!
Want to decorate YOUR office with Taft 2012 decor? Visit the Taft 2012 website and learn how you can start your own local Taft party.
Posted by Eric Smith
Hello, My Name Is: A Broem from Stacey Graham
Edgar Allan Bro by Joseph Toschlog
Back in July we announced a Broetry contest, asking broets and broettes in training to submit their own broems to our esteemed Broet Laurette, Brian McGackin.
Stacey Graham (soon to be a Quirk author with her upcoming Zombie Tarot) sent in a piece entitled Hello, My Name Is. “Dedicated to all the boys [she] dated with their hats turned backwards and unfortunate tribal arm tattoos,” this was Brian’s favorite of the bunch. So here it is.
To the girl I puked upon
Your shoes were really nice
Your hair it smelled like lavender
Though you had to wash it twice
I think you are the one for me, a candle to my flame
But the morning rears its head and I can’t recall your name
Well done Stacey.
Posted by Eric Smith
Microcrafting @ Barnes & Noble
On Small Business Saturday, I spent a few hours in a very large business, a Barnes & Noble to be exact!
But in the spirit of “small,” I was there to facilitate some crafting sessions in support of Microcrafts, your go-to guide for teeny tiny DIY-ing. Barnes & Noble had set us up with some basic supplies and we came ready with a makeshift Christmas “tree” (lots of branches inside a vase) from which we hung many of the book’s crafts, including mini books, owls, houseplant macramé holders, quilled ornaments, and bottle caps.
After signing all of the store’s copies of Microcrafts, we got down to our small business: making one of the book’s projects, little greeting cards and envelopes by paper-pro Larissa Holland. Only 2 inches in size, these cards and envelopes are perfect for adorning your Christmas gifts or for slipping notes of the non-text-message variety.
All you need are some cardstock or wrapping paper and a little creativity! Well, and scissors and glue. Adults and kids alike enjoyed getting crafty amidst their book-shopping and Starbucks-sipping. Now if only the U.S. Post Office would let us mail these diminutive Christmas cards…
Check out some more pictures from the event on the Quirk Books Flickr page!
Posted by Alicia Kachmar
Brown Rice With Sausage & Veggies
With all the indulging these holidays, wouldn’t it be nice if you showed up to a party with the healthiest dish? One of the healthiest grains, brown rice, was used in this casserole.
This is a versatile side that can double as an entrée too, with its combined flavors of nutty brown rice, two hearty sausages, various vegetables, crisp almonds and broth. Just the thing to complement roasts or salads anytime of the year.
Posted by Elizabeth Ann Quirino
Retro Readers: A Vintage Spin on Modern Day Reading
Believe it or not, that’s a Kindle case.
You seldom spot anyone at the Quirk HQ without his or her trusty iPads. Whether we’re rocking out to our respective iTunes playlists at our desks, playing intense games of Angry Birds during lunch, or reading using the iPad’s Kindle App, Apple’s handy tablet is always within reach.
However, as book people, we often miss the look of a well-designed cover while reading eBooks, especially with Doogie and Katie creating their masterpieces on the third floor. This is where Retro Readers comes in.
An Etsy shop ran by Melissa Obrien, Retro Readers takes vintage books and repurposes them as shells for your eReader of choice. The designs are elegant and beautiful, with a handful that work quite well around the holidays. Check out this Christmas cover!
Retro Readers doesn’t only specialize in iPad covers. They also craft some really nice Kindle and Nook protectors, such as this Circle of the Seasons piece, with its lovely green accents and charming ribbon.
The covers are reasonably priced too, cashing out at around $40 after shipping. A small price to pay for a truly unique case that will be envy of all your bookish friends.
Retro Readers @ Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/shop/RetroReaders
Posted by Eric Smith
