Blog
Fiction, Food, and Foolishness
Dying for Something Sweet
Today, on FOOD, FICTION, AND FOOLISHNESS, I’m sharing a quick recipe that’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth, plus it only takes 5 ingredients!
SALTINE TOFFEE COOKIES
Ingredients
4 ounces saltine crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
¾ cups chopped pecans
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Line cookie sheet with foil for easy cleanup, then lay saltine crackers on sheet in a single layer.
In a saucepan, combine the sugar and butter. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure it doesn’t stick or burn.
Remove from heat and pour over saltines and spread to cover crackers completely.
Bake for 5-6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top of crackers.
Let sit for 5 minutes, then spread melted chocolate with spatula, and sprinkle chopped nuts over the top.
Cool completely and break into pieces.
FICTION
Even though this is the fiction section. Today, I’m sharing my non-fiction cookbook.
Since the recipe shown today is from my cookbook, I’ll feature it here. The digital copy is available on Amazon for just $2.99. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015NGU8P2
FOOLISHNESS
Here’s a short video for you entertainment.
Food, Fiction, Foolishness with Seelie Kay
Seelie Kay’s recipe for Wisconsin Black Bean Chili looks so yummy. I can’t wait to let my husband prepare it!! He loves cooking soup, stew, and chili so this is right up his alley!
Seelie’s latest book in her Divorced Divas series, Seizing Hope released on January 25th. Be sure and check it out and follow her on social media.
FOOD
Wisconsin Black Bean Chili
1 lb. ground beef, cooked
1 lb. flank steak, grilled and diced
1 lb. ground Italian sausage, cooked
1 TB. olive oil
2-3 TB. Worcestershire sauce
1 large onion, diced
4 to 6 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, diced, seeds removed
2 jalapeno peppers, sliced
1-2 TB. dark (hot) chili powder
1 TB. ground cumin
2 bay leaves
¼ c. tomato paste
1 can beef broth
1 can fire-roasted, diced tomatoes
2-3 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
Optional: 1 c. corn
4 c. water
2 TB. dried cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
shredded cheddar cheese
Optional: Oyster crackers
Heat the olive oil in a large cooking pot. Add the onions, peppers, and garlic. Lightly sprinkle with salt and black pepper, and sauté until just soft. Stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, bay leaves, and tomato paste, and sauté another 10 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes, beef broth, and 2 c. water. Let simmer for two hours, covered. Add the black beans, cooked meat, and remaining water. Blend thoroughly and let simmer, partially covered, for one hour. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Add the cilantro and simmer another hour, until the sauce reaches the desired thickness. Remove the bay leaves, and serve topped with shredded cheddar cheese and oyster crackers.
FICTION
When four former law school classmates get kicked off the marriage train, they band together, put on their big girl panties, and fight back!
Former Northwestern Law School classmates Dina Willoughby, Miranda Mena, Leah Fraser, and Melody Harris are living the dream. Each had fantasized about the perfect husband while in law school and happily—for a time—that dream became a reality. Until Dina’s husband kicks her out two weeks before her prenuptial agreement kicks in, Miranda’s husband is arrested for securities fraud and flees the country with all of their money, Leah discovers that her royal husband misrepresented his feelings for her in order to get his hands on her money, and newly-pregnant Melody finally admits her artist husband is a sadistic, manipulative, jerk. Facing the loss of their husbands, and stripped of any financial support, the four women band together to fight back. Drawing on their unique legal skills and with the help of a few friends, including a hunky private investigator, a sexy law school professor, a determined cyber-security billionaire and the Queen of England, these four women not only take what’s theirs, they build the path to a new future, one filled with hope.
eXtasy Books: https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2349-0-seizing-hope/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N5LJXBQ/
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seizing-hope-seelie-kay/1130392799?ean=2940156266692
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/920225
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/seizing-hope
Twitter: @SeelieKay https://twitter.com/SeelieKay
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seelie.kay.77
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Seelie-Kay/e/B074RDRWNZ/
FOOLISHNESS
Silver Dagger Tour for Bluebird, Texas Romances
awkward Blaze Bledsoe hides out at Dessie Bishop’s farm. For the
last three years, Blaze has eluded one investigator after another,
but just when she thinks she’s safe, a PI closes in. Her luck is
about to run out in more ways than one.
he didn’t commit, arrives to claim the house his grandmother left
him. Finding a strange girl living there, his plans for a solitary
life take a turn. Her lack of modesty, no filter, and word of the day
fetish baffles him, but those big green eyes and sweet mouth have him
losing sleep.
with another sizzling Bluebird, Texas romance.
she’s cursed. After another failed relationship, True leaves Dallas
with a broken heart and new attitude. It’s time to walk on the wild
side. But when she makes a wrong turn and ends up in Bluebird, Texas,
the only man she wants is anything but reckless.
prove it. Seems he’s always in the right place at the right time.
But when he crosses paths with True, his life takes a turn he never
sees coming. Her songwriting skills may be questionable, but her
ability to turn him inside out is indisputable.
Texans are some of the funniest people on earth. When speaking to
writing groups, businesses, book clubs, and non-profit organizations,
she incorporates her special brand of wit, making her programs on
marketing, self-publishing, and the benefits of laughter, informative and fun.
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
Amber Daulton’s New Release
Today, Amber Daulton releases book 4 in her Deerbourne Inn Series, Lyrical Embrace. It’s available at all the links listed below. Be sure and get your hot-off-the-presses copy today from your favorite retailer. Also, follow Amber on social media to keep up with what’s going on in her writing life!
Series: Deerbourne Inn (book 4)
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Release Date: February 11, 2019
ASIN: B07MFF8B8V
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: 40k
Heat Rating: 3 Flames
Out-of-work violinist Erica Timberly decides enough is enough. She leaves her abusive boyfriend and flees the big city, but then her car breaks down in the middle of the night. Though wary of men, she accepts help from Dylan Haynes, a stranger driving by on the road, and soon recognizes him as the sexy former drummer of her favorite indie rock band. Maybe, just maybe, her run of bad luck is finally turning around.
Music teacher Dylan Haynes knows Erica is in trouble, and her black eye is only the first clue. The stubborn yet vulnerable woman needs a friend, but he’s determined to give her everything she deserves.
Will Erica listen to the music in her heart and trust Dylan, or will her past always threaten her future?
Excerpt
Erica leaned up and combed her fingers through her hair. “I’ve never made love outside before. It’s a surreal experience.”
“We can do it wherever you want. In an elevator, in an alley, in my car. I’m game anywhere and everywhere for as long as you want me.”
“I want you so much it hurts.”
Dylan thumbed her knuckles and hoped she meant that. “I don’t know how you feel about labels, but I haven’t had a girlfriend in years. I’ve just had flings, but I want more than that with you. I want us to be with each other and no one else. I want a relationship with you.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “I feel divided in two. A part of me thinks we’re moving too fast, but another part says to jump in with both feet. I want something real with you too. I don’t want to feel dirty after we fool around. Just make me happy. Will you do that, Dylan?”
Her soft, pain-filled words struck Dylan like a dagger in his gut, and he bit the insides of his cheeks to steady his features.
Her ex-boyfriend had probably called her names and degraded her after they would find release in each other’s body, and the bastard likely never cared if she reached climax at all.
“I understand, Erica. I promise to treat you with nothing but respect, and I will do my very best to make you happy. I swear you will always scream your head off in pleasure every time I touch you. I’m not the sort of man to get my jollies off and leave my girl hanging.”
Her lips twitched up in a grin. “That’s good to hear.”
“So are you my girl?”
“Yeah, I’m your girl.” Erica giggled and tapped her fingers on his chest. “How could I not be? You make a very compelling argument, but I will have to hold you to it. I’m definitely looking forward to screaming every time you touch me.”
“Let’s rest, and then we’ll play again. The night’s early, and I’ve only just begun.”
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43225610-lyrical-embrace
Buy Links
Amazon – https://amzn.to/2ChIhNT
Barnes and Noble – https://bit.ly/2ChIhgR
iTunes – https://apple.co/2M3T9mW
Kobo – TBA
Google Play – TBA
The Wild Rose Press store – https://bit.ly/2AIkSFk
Books2Read – http://books2read.com/u/m0MYaV
Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through The Wild Rose Press and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.
Amber lives in North Carolina with her husband and four demanding cats. Feel free to visit her at http://www.amberdaultonauthor.blogspot.com.
Social Media Links
Facebook Author Page – https://www.facebook.com/amber.daulton.author
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AmberDaulton1
Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/amberdaulton5/
Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624921.Amber_Daulton
Amazon Author Page – http://amzn.to/14JoZff
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/amberdaultonauthor/
Book Bub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/amber-daulton
Book Gorilla – https://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B00ALQITWY/amber-daulton/kcc
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/amberdaulton
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/pub/amber-daulton/87/538/368
Google Plus – https://plus.google.com/u/0/+AmberDaulton
The Wild Rose Press – https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/2362_amber-daulton
Janet Lane-Walters shares Food, Fiction, and Foolishness
FOOD
I’m not much of a cook but I do have a recipe I’ll share. This began a few days after Christmas years ago and called for a box of pie crust mix. I looked in my cupboard and found all I had was corn bread mixes so I adapted. I call it Holiday Leftovers. Any holiday meal at our house means both a turkey and a ham. Fussy eaters. Unfortunately, I have no picture of the dish.
You will need 1 box of cornbread mix, broccoli, thin slices of ham and turkey, three eggs, dried onion and shredded cheddar cheese. The extra eggs make the cornbread more like a pudding. I can’t give exact measurements for the ingredients since I cook by what the mood calls for.
Begin with a large casserole. Mine holds three to four quarts. I grease the bottom and sides so hopefully the cornbread won’t stick. Then I quickly cook the broccoli and blanch it in ice water, so it’s just barely cooked.
Take the strips of turkey and place them on the bottom of the dish. Then I add a layer of broccoli with dried onions sprinkled in. On this, I add my strips of ham and sprinkle the cheddar cheese on top. I then do a second layer of the turkey, broccoli, dried onions, ham and cheese.
Now to the corn bread mix. I beat the three eggs with the milk called for on the box of the mix and then add a half cup more of the milk. Sometimes for the half cup, I use Half and Half. I add the cornbread mix and mix thoroughly. Then I pour this into the casserole. I bake the concoction at 350 degrees until done.
FICTION
BLURB: Pursuing Dr. West
Michael West, MD has a five-year plan before he can consider making a commitment. He’s happy dating women who have no desire for a long-term affair. Encountering Zelda, the pest, the menace, the little girl next door who has impacted his life makes him want to run. She managed to ruin his senior prom and sent several of his dates running. Now she’s grown and the nurse manager of the surgical unit where he will see her every day. What’s a doctor to do but run?
Zelda has loved Michael for year. She knows of the odd accidents her presence has caused him. After an encounter in the condo swimming pool, the accidents become hers but she refuses to give up her quest. The problem is his dating system. He seems to be on an alphabetical quest. He’s just met G and she’s Z. Can she find a way to turn his thoughts to her or must she give up her pursuit?
MY PLACES
https://twitter.com/JanetL717
https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_facebook/bid=113639528680724
http://bookswelove.net/
http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com
BUY MARK
http://bookswelove.net/authors/walters-janet-lane-romance-fantasy-suspense-medical/
Foolishness
Excerpt from Pursuing Dr. West
Of course, the letter could have been stapled to her chest in a perfect example of a surgeon’s revenge. Maybe she shouldn’t have slipped the note into his jacket pocket. All she’d written was her phone number, hearts, and a call me message, plus a bit of advice. Not sure who you’ve chosen as the next woman in your alphabetic quest, but she’s not good for you.
She slumped on the lounge and kicked off her sandals. With hopes soon to turn to despair she opened the note.
Dear Zelda, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll butt out of my life.
She was ninety-nine percent sure that was what he’d written. Five years of reading doctor’s handwriting had developed her ability to decipher chicken scratches or maybe hieroglyphics. She continued reading.
This is a warning. Do not interfere this time. My scalpel is honed. If you don’t remain uninvolved, I’ll collect a bit of flesh. I’m seeing Gianna. She’s the woman of my dreams.
Zelda groaned. The woman of his dreams had become the star of her nightmares.
Have You Tried Bob’s Mashed Potatoes?
Today, I want to recommend a product I absolutely LUV! (I sang that in opera for effect) It’s Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes. I promise if you try them, you’ll never mash your own potatoes again. I use them right out of the carton for plain mashed spuds. Sometimes, I make them into potato salad. Another choice is to sauté onions and mushrooms in butter, then sandwich them between layers of Bob’s potatoes, and top them with cheese. All delicious and quick! I find these in the refrigerated section at the grocery store. I don’t recall the cost, but they aren’t expensive and well worth it for the time they’ll save you. Below, I have the recipe for my potato salad.
Be sure and read to the end of this post and check out the funny game show answers. I guarantee you’ll laugh.
FOOD
EASY POTATO SALAD
I prepare Bob’s mashed potatoes according to package directions, which is just heating in the microwave. Then I stir in 2TBS butter. (You don’t have to do this, but Tom, my hubby thinks it’s necessary. Truthfully, I’ve left it out before, and he doesn’t know the difference! Don’t tell him)
Then I stir in the following ingredients. No measurements—just to taste.
Pickle relish, pimentos ( a small jar will be enough) two chopped boiled eggs, some chopped celery, chopped green onion, or you can use regular or red onion, depending on what you like—or leave it out. Then I add mayo and mustard. Less mustard than mayo, but you don’t need a lot of either one. I’d start with 1 TBS of mustard, and 2 of mayo, then work up from there according to your taste. Also, add salt and pepper to your taste. One container of the potatoes will easily feed four people.
I hope you’ll give this product a try. It will change your life! Seriously.
FICTION
Update on what I have planned for 2019. I’m finishing up the third book in my Bluebird, Texas Romance Series. It’s titled, Swan. I introduced her in the second book, True. For those who read that book, Swan’s love interest is Teague who happens to be True’s twin. Not sure of a release date yet, but I’ll be sure and let you know when it happens.
For all of you Tizzy/Ridge fans, I plan to write a new book in that series as well. Hopefully, it will be as zany as the first three. I already have the title, and I’m revealing it today. The story will be about a local beauty pageant. Not sure what crime will be committed just yet, but with a crown at stake, the possibilities are endless! Since it’s a Texas beauty contest, I can tell you there will be lots of big hair.
So—here’s the title of the book—wait for it—Jack it to Jesus and Spray it to Hell.
Even though I’ll start writing it this year, chances are it won’t release until 2020 because I’m old and slow. This is also the year I’d like to publish the children’s book I wrote it 20 years ago. Actually, it was the first book I ever wrote, so I’d finally like to get it in print. Fingers crossed, I’ll make that happen.
OH, did I mention I’m planning to release a ‘sweet’ version of Swan? Yep, I plan to do that. Different title and different pen name. I’ll see how that goes.
I think that catches you up on all the fiction fun I have going on in my life. Stay tuned for updates.
FOOLISHNESS
Ann Everett, Best Selling Author
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{I hope you enjoy this sweet, short-story romance!}