Supernatural: The Official Companion Season 7 Review & GIVEAWAY!

Exciting news today! The folks at Titan Books were kind enough to provide me with a copy of the new Supernatural Season 7 Official Companion to share with you guys! As Dean would say: awesome.

What's Inside:

- Exclusive interviews with the first assistant directors and writer's assistant Jenny Klein

- Behind-the-scenes secrets, including why filming the ghost dog scene was a little scary

- A complete episode guide

- Color portrait gallery

- A closer look at some of the baddies of the season, including the Leviathan, Shojos, and Chronos

- And more!

Basically, if you're a fan of Supernatural, particularly a fan of season seven, you'll probably love the companion. A conversation-starter coffee table book, perhaps? Here are a few sample pages I took some photos of, to whet your appetite:

All about episode 7x02 "Hello, Cruel World."

A closer look at the Leviathan.

One of the color photo pages.

And guess what! One of YOU could be lucky enough to receive a copy! You can enter UP TO three ways by answering the question:

What was your favorite episode of season seven?

- Comment here with your answer

- Follow me on Twitter and RT the giveaway link

- Like the Facebook page and leave a comment with your answer

Enter by December 7th 11:59pm PST. The winner will be chosen at random! Good luck!

Winner announced here!

Supernatural 8x08 "Hunteri Heroici"

You know, I quite enjoyed this episode. It was pretty light, had not a lot to do with the overall tablet storyline, and that was actually quite a welcome relief, particularly in light of the fact that when I saw the preview for next week I went, "ugh." You guys, I don't think I'm a fan of Benny. There, I said it.

Meep meep?

Anyway, this episode was not about Benny. This episode was about Cas' new mission and Sam flashbacks, and basically just about accepting that you can't live in a happy little dreamworld, eventually you have to accept your lot and stuff.

Let's start with Castiel. Now that he's back, he's decided he wants to be a hunter, so he's going to tag along with the boys on a new case. You know, the one where a dude's heart has exploded out of his chest in a very heart-shaped way. Though Cas doesn't have so many social graces, even now, you have to admit he does have his uses. No need for EMF detectors or toxicology reports. Just a little sniff sniff from your angel pal and hey, you know your victim had a bladder infection! Wait, how is that relevant? Oh, it's not? Fine!

It turns out that some weird stuff is happening in town. Namely, the heart thing, and also a guy who went to jump off a building and stood in midair for at least 10 seconds before plummeting to his death. You know, only after he looked down. Oh and also, a dude got totally smashed by an anvil in a bank, because X marked the spot. Is this sounding familiar? If you watched any Looney Tunes growing up, it definitely should.

These weird occurrences all seem to be happening around where this black hole thief is stealing stuff, too. Can there be a connection? But of course! There have been other robberies in town, but no other deaths, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been weird stuff going on around those robberies anyway. You now, bumps on the head having a bird sound effect, that sort of thing. And all of the robberies appear to have been from people who are all in a local retirement home.

Let's all live inside Fred's head.

They go to question the folks who were robbed, and come to find out that one of their dad's acquaintances from back in the day is also a resident there, Fred, who apparently gave both Dean and Sam their first beers, and who also happens to be psychokinetic. Basically, he can warp reality, hence the weird crap. But Fred is straight up in la la land, off in his own little dreamworld, seemingly unreachable.

It turns out that the doctor in the home has been using Fred as a sort of Looney Tunes buffer to go steal some stuff based on the logic of animated worlds. Like, sticking a black hole on a wall makes it an actual hole so you can go rob a bank. They track him down, and while Dean struggles to fight the dude, Cas takes Sam on a trip inside Fred's head to get him to stop what he's doing. Sam can relate to living in a dreamworld, and preferring it, which we know thanks to his flashbacks (I'll get there, don't worry), and is able to get Fred to snap out of his zone.

Just in time to make the doctor shoot himself in the head! Whoa. Serious. But Fred is concerned that he's going to lose control again, so Cas suggests "something" that will help. Whatever it is, it sort of turns Fred into a vegetable, but at least a content one? Sure.

While all of this was going on, Dean was wondering why Cas didn't want to go back to heaven. Well, because he basically decimated it, duh, he's afraid of what he's going to find when he goes back up there. By the end, though, he is ready to face his past, only Naomi bops him back to her white room and tells him no, he will only go up when she calls. So instead of going to heaven, he decides to hang with Fred for a while. Hmm.

Let's not forget the Sam flashbacks! He and Amelia were moving in together, and Amelia's dad came for a visit. He was less than nice to Sam, to put it nicely. Ha. Sorry. Yeah so basically the dude was sort of hostile toward Sam, mostly because he could tell that Sam was messed up, and he was worried about his daughter, naturally. When Sam opens up a little about how he lost his brother, it looks like the ice may start to thaw, but then, dun dun dun, Amelia gets a phone call. Her beloved husband, Don, isn't really dead! Poor Sam, can't catch a break.

Random Thoughts:

- Cas interrogating the cat. I loved it until they did the cat's mouth talking. I don't know, talking animal faces always are dumb to me.

- I'm sorry, why in the world would a retirement home, one: have a cake that big or, two: use a firework for a candle? I know, it's heightened and whatever, but still.

- What is Naomi's grand plan? I'm interested to find out.

- I'm not sure you can call Sam a mess when his hair looks so luscious and shiny and bouncy. Seriously, can I have his hair?

- I loved that Cas said shenanigans. One of my favorite words? PERHAPS.

Quotes:

Dean: What's the word, Cas?
Castiel: It's the shortened version of my name.
Dean: ...Yes, it is.

Castiel: I could be your third wheel.
Dean: You know that's not a good thing, right?

Castiel: I was being bad cop.
Dean: You were being bad everything.

Dean: You can't tell me this doesn't give you the heebs and/or jeebs.

Castiel: There was a pastry mishap.

Previous Episode -- Next Episode

Pumpkin Reigns Supreme at Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is upon us, if you can believe it. Because Thanksgiving, and this time of year in general, is really a celebration of all things pumpkin, let's take a look at some of my favorite pumpkin recipes, sans pumpkin pie. What's this? No pumpkin pie recipe?! It's true! Everybody has a pumpkin pie recipe. Well, I suppose maybe you don't, but it's right there on your can of pumpkin, isn't it? Yes.

So if you'd like some alternatives to the typical pumpkin pie situation, but still want to get some pumpkin love in, take a look at some of these options. How many times can I say pumpkin in one post? We. Shall. See.

Pumpkin Pie Cake

I make this pretty much every year. It's super easy, and very delicious, particularly the topping. Some other sites call it different things, so you may have seen it somewhere before. My family always calls it pumpkin pie cake, and forever shall it be named so!

Pumpkin Coffee Cake

I really cannot wax poetic about this coffee cake enough. If you want something more of the breakfast variety, this is good to go. That said, it could work just as well for a dessert too. That glaze plus that crumbles of brown sugar stuff make it delectable.

Soft Pumpkin Cookies

If you're more of a cookie person, you can't go wrong with these. You can make them plain with some glaze, or add in some chocolate chips. The pumpkin makes them amazingly soft and fluffy.

Caramel Pumpkin Blondies

More of a bar option, with bonus added caramel and chocolate chips. These are pretty ooey-gooey, and if you love yourself some caramel, get on it.

Pumpkin Ice Cream

It may be getting into the colder months, but that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy some ice cream, right? This ice cream is super easy. It doesn't require an ice cream maker or anything! Plus you can add in stuff like nilla wafers or nutella or chocolate chips and make it super fancy.

Vegan Pumpkin Bread

Look, I even have a recipe for the Vegans of the world! This bread is actually really good whether you are Vegan or not. Great for breakfast or as a snack, it's quite hardy and filling.

That's all I've got for you right now! If you have your own amazing pumpkin recipe, please feel free to leave it in the comments, undoubtedly I will try it. Love me some pumpkin.

Supernatural 8x07 "A Little Slice of Kevin"

Apologies to any faithful readers who may have been wondering where this post has been. I was actually out doing fancy things, ooh la la, last night. This actually would have been posted later, even, but it appears my body has other ideas. Like my insides wanting to be outside. Gross! Sorry. Why does a fun thing have to be followed by a horrible thing? Real, sad, talk.

Anyway! On to the episode. People are disappearing, accompanied by strange meteorological events. This all seems like the doing of some demons, probably, but the boys have not a clue why these particular people are being targeted by said demons, to which I say... duh. It was pretty obvious to me. I'll not keep you in suspense. They're all potential prophets. Crowley got their names from that angel kid a few weeks back. You know, the one who looks a little bit like Nicholas Hoult? Yep, that kid, who Crowley has been torturing the names out of. And it appears he has scooped himself up all of the potential prophets of this generation.

What's that? Look surprised and annoyed and hot? DONE.

Meanwhile, Dean is getting the heebie jeebies, because he keeps seeing Castiel appearing in random places. At first, Sam tries to console him that these little flashes are probably just caused by survival guilt, since he left Cas down in Purgatory. Which, of course, he blames himself for. Because Dean isn't Dean if he isn't blaming himself for something or other. But, it turns out that Cas really has escape Purgatory after all, when he finally is able to fully appear to the boys. Only, he doesn't remember how he got out. Oh how convenient! Cas, always with the memory lapses.

ALSO meanwhile, Kevin and Mama Tran are still on the run/in hiding. Kevin seems prepared to just keep moving and surviving, but Mama Tran has other ideas. She wants to make demon bombs and take the fight to them. She's even contacted a witch to help them get supplies. Via Craigslist, because that's always super trustworthy. This turns out to have been an epically bad idea, as the witch gives them up to Crowley. Crowley snatches up Kevin and leaves a demon to finish off Mama Tran. Only Mama Tran is kind of badass in her own way, and subdues the guy with a water gun full of holy water. The best holy water weapon, for sure.

Mama Tran meets up with the Winchesters plus Castiel for an all-new, revamped Team GoGoProphet to track down Kevin, which they can do thanks to the demon she locked in her trunk. They've also figured out by now that the people ole Crowley's been taking are other prophets thanks to Castiel knowing all of their names. Thanks, Cas. Also thanks for getting yourself cleaned up. The scruffy, dirty version of you was not very enticing.

It's mine, my own, my precious...

Back at Casa Crowley, he's trying to get Kevin to read the demon tablet he stole, by means of killing other prophets, and also cutting off poor Kevin's pinky. He starts reading, and we find out that there are other tablets. Wait. Didn't we already know this? They acted as though it was a surprise, but maybe it was just a surprise to Crowley? Hmm.

Anyway, Sam locks Mama T up in the car while the boys go do their business. Sam uses one of the super demon bombs to blow up some demons, which left some rather hilarious black outlines on the wall afterward. Cas and Dean track down Crowley and Kevin, only they can't get in, so Cas decides to use his somewhat flickery angel mojo to go in. He does his whole glowy-eyes, wings on the wall thing to intimidate Crowley, which basically ends up in the tablet getting broken in half, Crowley taking half of it, Kevin ending up with the other half.

Never trust people in strange white rooms.

The boys send Kevin and Mama Tran to bunker down with Garth while they try to figure this thing out. But Dean, he of the many issues, has something he needs to get off his chest with Cas. Instead of the patented Winchester roadside chat, it's a Dean and Cas chat. Oh, scandal. Anyway, Dean is basically trying to say it wasn't his fault, by which he is really meaning to say he thinks it IS his fault that Cas got left behind. But, it was Cas' intention all along to stay behind in Purgatory so he could pay penance for all of his misdeeds. So how did he get out, if that's the case? Are we going to be left waiting in suspense?

Why, no! Amazing. Cas gets bopped up to a special white room in heaven by an angel, I presume, named Naomi. We're not sure what her ultimate plan is for Cas, but for now she assigns him to help the Winchesters. He tries to be all bitch please I'll do what I want, but when he gets bopped back down, he doesn't remember the encounter, and offers to help the Winchesters in their quest all the same. Dun dun dun.

Random Thoughts:

- I've just realized the opening title cards are supposed to be reminiscent of the tablets. Derrr. Am I the only one just now realizing this? And if so, why did no one tell me?

- I know it's kind of Dean's MO to always blame himself for everyone getting hurt and/or dying, but I don't know, it's kinda getting old. I feel like his character has been a little bit all over the place this season. Sometimes righteous, sometimes all woe is me.

- I have to assume the angels will want one of the other tablets or something? Anyone have any ideas what else their goal may be? What if it's not actually angels? I think it is, but you never know.

- There can only be one prophet at a time. This epithet from Cas caused Sam to wonder what had happened to Chuck. As we all wonder, sure. I still don't like the idea of him being God, so I just pretend that's not the assumption.

Quotes:

Sam: You look like you've... Well, I was gonna say it looks like you've seen a ghost, but you'd probably be stoked.

Crowley: I lied. I do that.

Benny: Aren't you guys all about faith?
Cas: Not particularly.

Crowley: Which Castiel is it this time? I'm never sure; madman or megalomaniac?

Previous Episode -- Next Episode

Supernatural 8x06 "Southern Comfort"

I think this was maybe my favorite episode of this season so far. Am I allowed to say that? Of course I'm allowed, what is this? It's my own damn blog. Sheesh. This may be due to the fact that I kind of love Garth. He's so not your typical hunter, and really comes in as a breath of fresh air.

Garth: the detector of tension between Winchester brothers.

Just how did he come to be in this episode? Why, the brothers ran in to him working on a case, of course! See, a woman killed her husband in a most unseemly manner, but has no recollection of doing it. Decapitations generally not being common, both the Winchesters and Garth caught on to the case, with Garth posing as a Texas Ranger. In Missouri. Ha.

Sam and Dean soon find out that Garth has sort of become the new Bobby after he gets multiple phone calls from other hunters with questions and whatnot. Dean is, of course, less than enthused with this idea, but lets it fester for awhile, because that is what Dean is best at, letting his feelings fester until he can get possessed and blurt them all out at once with guns pointed at heads. Whoops, did I just give away the ending? Whatever, you've surely already watched it.

After another person gets murdered, the gang figures out, thanks to one of Bobby's old journals, that they're dealing with a specter. You know, green ectoplasm gives it away. Specters are sort of avenging ghost types. They eventually figure out, after many random comments about Confederate versus Union soldiers and the Civil War, that the specter came from the Confederate version of the tomb of the unknown soldier. So they salt and burn, and Sam finds a mysterious hair or piece of thread or some crap, because he always finds the random tiny stuff, which is, like, super duper important later.

Dean, all the cool kids wear fringe jackets. Duhhhh

Because guess what! The specter ghost is not dead after all! What a surprise! It turns out that the kids who broke into the grave a few days before, thus releasing the dude in the first place, took a penny with them. Why a penny and not the guns, we may never know, general stupidity perhaps, but ANYWAY, the penny found its way to the killer woman and the other two killers, and oh me oh my, we better find that thing right away! To the Impala!

Well, actually, they split up, and Dean ends up getting stuck with the penny. Uh oh! Possessed Dean sure has a lot to say to Sam. Like, why didn't you look for me in Purgatory? And, come to think of it, why are you always being so betray-ful in the first place? Demon blood? Ruby? No soul? Oh yes, that time when you traveled around with Samuel for a year and left me to think you were dead? Well shit, it's true when you put it like that, that's some pretty crappy stuff. Anyway, there's a scuffle, but Garth manages to get the penny away from Dean. All is well! Or IS IT?!

While all of this was going on, we had some more Sam flashbacks to his time with Amelia the vet. It turns out that Amelia was married, and her husband had recently died in Afghanistan. She tells Sam all of this in a post sexytimes sad truth reveal, and then wants him to leave and go and shoo and not look at her with the sad puppy eyes. Well, Sam is not having it, and tells her that he understands, having recently lost his brother. Sad puppy eyes all around!

Back in the present, Dean bids a grudgingly fond farewell to Garth, basically giving him permission to take up Bobby's mantle after all. It helps that earlier Garth told him the what for - that Bobby belonged to all hunters and not just the Winchesters. You go, Garth.

But that's not all. Because clearly we need a patented by the Impala real bro talk. Sam basically confronts Dean about having these thoughts about him betraying him and such, but Sam throws it on back, saying that at least he's tried to be up front about what happened while Dean has kept these secrets about Benny and what really went on. Which is, you know, true. Sam also basically told Dean that he might kill Benny one day. Yeesh. That's way harsh, Tai.

Random Thoughts:

- What happens to these people who've murdered others while possessed? I mean, we never really stop to think about that, do we? Do they all just go to prison or the nuthouse? I guess they must. Sad trombone.

- I swear that lady was on a previous episode, maybe as the woman who set herself on fire at the gas station back in, oh, season two? Am I hallucinating?

- I know a lot of people are going to be on Dean's side, but honestly I kind of agree with Sam. Look, I get it, Dean's upset that Sam didn't try harder to get him back, but I feel like we haven't really gotten that whole part of the flashback story yet. Or maybe we have. Sam didn't know where he was. How was he supposed to find out? But Sam calling Dean out on being on this high horse since he's gotten back? Yeah. I totally get that. Don't we know by now that keeping secrets never ends well? ANYway.

- I kind of had the same reactions as Dean when Garth was trying on the Bobby-isms for size. Not because he was doing it wrong, but because those sayings were done to absolute death already, and we're trying to bring them back? Please GAHHG no. Garth trying to grow out a beard to be more Bobby-like, however, was sort of cute. Mostly because it was not mentioned or thrown in our faces like whoa.

- I gotta say, Sam sure seems to know what to say to win over a lady. Though no one resists the power of the puppy dog eyes. NO ONE. Especially not a vet!

Quotes:

Sam: So how does that make this our kinda thing?
Dean: Because, Sam, Kevin's in the wind, you're sulking around like a eunuch in a whorehouse, and I can't help but ask myself, when is decapitation not my kinda thing?

Sam: Hold up. Are you the new Bobby?
Dean: You shut your mouth.
Garth: Yes.
Dean: You shut your mouth.

Dean: What do we got, a ghost with an Oedipus complex?
Sam gives him a look.
Dean: I don't know what that means.

Dean: That's not how you wear it!  (re: Garth wearing Bobby's hat)

Sam: Burn a confederate soldier's bones in a town full of rednecks? Sure!

Previous Episode -- Next Episode

Vegan Ginger Cookies

What's this? Another vegan recipe? I know. I was testing a couple out at once, so sorry to anyone who sticks their nose up at vegan anything. Deal.

These are ginger heavy like whoa. Like, you better be a ginger fan if you're going to make these. Guess what? I'm not! What in the world! Why are you making ginger cookies, then? I thought. I thought, maybe, you know, maybe. The other day I bought some candied ginger because so many people rave about it, and you know what? I ate a piece and thought to myself, "This tastes like spicy soap. Blugh."

So I have to use it up somehow, right? Right. Otherwise, what a waste! Therefore, some ginger cookies. Brought to work. And "forgetting" to mention that they're vegan. Muahaha! You all just ate vegan cookies with healthy flaxseed, and you didn't know it!

These are almost more like balls than cookies, actually, but maybe I made them a bit smaller than intended. Whatevs. If you like yourself some ginger, you will likely enjoy these, vegan or not.

Vegan Ginger Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 cup minced candied ginger
• 1 cup vegan granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons ground golden flaxseed
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup vegan granulated sugar, for rolling

Cooking Directions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, and minced candied ginger. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, ground flaxseed, applesauce, oil, and lemon zest and juice.
3. Add the wet ingredients, all at once, to the dry ingredients and carefully mix together with a wooden spoon. Make sure all the flour bits are moistened and incorporated well. Form dough into a disk shape and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least an hour, as long as overnight.
4. Preheat oven to 350F, have your rack in the middle. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
5. Remove the dough from the fridge and use your hands to roll dough into acorn shell size balls. Roll balls in granulated sugar and place on baking sheet. Using the palm of your hand, slightly flatten the balls. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until just slightly browned, but still a bit soft in the center.
6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Recipe via Joy the Baker

In photos:

Some of your cast of characters. I did not chop up my ginger as small as is probably recommended, due to laziness and knife stickiness. I used a small cheese grater to get the lemon zest, as I do not own a zester. It worked grand.

Whisk up your flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground ginger and candied ginger. I promise the candied ginger is in there. Somewhere.

In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar, flaxseed, applesauce, canola oil, lemon zest and lemon juice. I used the juice of about half the lemon used for zesting. Strange baking fact: sugar is always with the wet ingredients!

Mix your wet ingredients into your dry ingredients with a wooden spoon until incorporated. Make sure you get the drier bits at the bottom.

In attempting to make a flat slab, I made a heart shape. What is my subconscious telling me? Just go with it. Wrap it up in some plastic wrap and stick it in the fridge for at least an hour.

Roll up some balls, roll those balls in some sugar, place them on your parchment-lined sheet, then smush them down a bit because they don't really spread. These are on the small-ish size. You can go a bit bigger if you like.

Out of the oven. As you can see, they are not much bigger than when they went in, and they don't  brown a lot. Just a bit crack-ier. After you've let them cool on the pan, and then on a wire rack, store them in an airtight container. Voila!

Vegan Pumpkin Bread

First and foremost: I am not of the vegan persuasion. As you can tell from any number of my baking posts, I am one with butter and eggs. This bread? Tastes just as good, maybe even better, than the other pumpkin bread I have on here. It's crazy moist. Like, deliciously moist. I know some people irrationally hate that word for whatever reason, but there really isn't a better descriptor. Soft and slightly, uh, wet? That sounds even worse.

I have been gobbling this up like crazy, though. I think it actually gets better after a day or two as well, when the top gets even moister. Sorry, I used the word again. And! If you don't want two loaves at once, guess what? You can freeze one for later. Aw yeah.

You could also mix up one of your loaves and add in some stuff, like chocolate chips or bits of roasted pecans or whatever else your wee heart may desire. Get at it!

Vegan Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 cups vegan light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons cinnamon
• 4 teaspoons ginger
• 1 15 ounce can organic pumpkin puree
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
• 1 cup rice or almond milk
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Place a rack in the center of the oven. Line two loaf pans (mine is 9 x 5) with parchment paper and set aside. Or do one at a time if you only have one pan.
2. Pour the rice milk into a small bowl and add the apple cider vinegar. Stir it together, then let it sit while you prepare the rest.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and ginger.
4. In an even larger bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, brown sugar, oil, orange juice, and rice milk mixture until combined.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients a cup at a time. Stir well after each cup, using a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl to make sure you get all of the flour mixture good and mixed.
6. Spoon the batter into your parchment lined loaf pans and smooth down a little with a spatula.
7. Bake for 30 minutes at 350F then lower the heat to 325F and bake for another 30-40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.

Original recipe via Cake Duchess

In photos:

Mix the rice milk with the apple cider vinegar. Let this sit while you start the rest.

Whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.

Mix together pumpkin puree, oil, orange juice, brown sugar, and rice milk mixture.

Mix the dry ingredients into the wet one cup at a time.

Maybe you're better at putting parchment paper in your bread pan(s), I suck at it. So here is mine that will have funky marks in the final bread product. Oh well, it'll stay taste great!

It'll come out of the oven looking like this.

Mmmm! Let it cool and then slice 'er up! Enjoy! You can definitely freeze your second loaf since it's kind of a lot.