I'm about to admit something awful, so please don't call the Thanksgiving police on me.

I’m not really a sweet potato person or I wasn’t until several years ago. I’d made them all my life at Thanksgiving but simply wasn’t a fan...until I started making my jams and decided to add my “Pumpkin Apricot Grand Marnier Jam” to the mix. The jam had won its category that year and the combination sounded fun. The results were fabulous. The entire family said they were the best sweet potatoes they’d ever tasted.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS
2 large cans sweet potatoes, drained (liquid from 1 an held in reserve)
1 large can pumpkin
1 cup Apricot Jam
1/3-1/2 cup Grand Marnier
1/4 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cloves
3 cups Jet-Puffed Miniature Marshmallows

DIRECTIONS

NOTES:
1) I mix this the night before and let it set over night.
2) I like mine the consistency of thick mashed potatoes.
3) If you like yours with more texture, consider adding a small can crushed pineapple to the mix.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat sweet potatoes, pumpkin, jam, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves with mixer until blended, add Grand Marnier, heavy cream and butter, whip until smooth. (If it's too thick for you, add reserved liquid 1/4 cup at a time until desired consistency)

Spoon into lightly greased 9 x 11 pan. Bake for 35 minutes. Just before serving, top with marshmallows and place under broiler for a minute or two until puffed and nicely browning.

If you're adventureous, try using a graham cracker crust or gingerbread cookie crust, or top with a nutty streusel instead of marshmallows.

Let me know if you have questions, and hope you give them a try.

Happy cooking, Deb

Today is a good day to scoop up some excellent electronic deals: Groupon is offering the Acer 11.6" chromebook for $129.99. The chromebook is refurbished but comes with free shipping and a 90 day warranty. Best Buy offers the Toshiba satellite 15.6" laptop, 46 GB memory, and 500 GB Hard drive for $229.99 with free shipping. Enjoy!

Here are some great deals for today, November 17th: Grab a cup of festive Holiday coffee at Starbucks with their BOGO offer (buy one get one free) Today is the last day, so hurry, because the offer is between 2-5 PM. Also today only, Discountmags.com has a $5.00 magazine sale. You will find a large variety to please everyone on your holiday list. Don't shoot the messenger...LOL...but Amazon has a great deal on a 12 pack package of fake moustaches for $1.13, shipped. We love eating out, and Maggiano's is offering a bonus $20.00 gift card if you order a $100.00 gift card online. The card will be shipped free to your home. In addition, you will receive a free year subscription to Food and Wine magazine, an additional $12.00 value. Check out their website online for more details. Happy shopping!

November 15, 2013

This year, Thanksgiving is at your house and you’re beginning to wonder why you agreed to host the family event. Relax. I’ve got tips for you.

Why should you take my advice? Well, I’ve hosted Thanksgiving, among other events, for more than twenty years for small, large and huge groups. And, I’m not only an award-winning author, but also— a long time ago— an award-winning restaurant manager. So, I have some experience at preparing feasts for many. Organization is one of my talents.

It’s always good to have a plan, so let’s start.

First, you need to do is decide three things. What style of dining you want your party to be—buffet or sit down. The style will play a part in your menu. You certainly don’t want to serve soup at a buffet. Too many opportunities for spills.

Second, your guests. How many will be attending your celebration? This number will also determine what is the best style for your feast. If you really envision a sit down dinner, you’ll have to limit the guests, or have a second sitting and even a third sitting. Extra sittings is not my idea of a fun-filled day.

Third, the menu. Menus for Thanksgiving can range from the traditional Norman Rockwell’s portrayal of roast turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce to Wild Salmon and rice. Make the holiday your own by combining traditions of guests. If invited family or friends offer to make dishes, let them, but ask if they intend to cook or bake their dish before arriving. Seriously, I’ve had someone bring their unbaked dish to dinner, expecting room in my oven and time to bake it.

My last tip has nothing to do with the meal. Activities. You’ll have a household full and while dinner is part of the agenda, it’s not the whole day. And while I love enjoying watching football, not everyone does, so have other activities planned. My children and grandchildren love playing bingo. A game set can be purchased at a dollar store along with prizes. And while very few think of November as a time to fly a kite, it is great fun and exercise.

Now with your style, guests and menu decided, make a game plan.

Two weeks out from the holiday:
1) Confirm guests and time.
2) Review recipes and make shopping list for all dishes.
3) Anytime this week, check china, silverware, glassware and all serving dishes and platters, including salt and pepper shakers (wash & fill), butter dishes, gravy bowls, bread baskets, etc. Wash them and store them until ready to set your table.
If you’re planning to use paper or plasticware, buy it this week, especially if you’re thinking of holiday theme. You don’t have time to run from store to store searching for the last few packs on the shelves.
4) Check tablecloths, napkins, and any other decorative items, such as candles and candleholders. I’ve come for my candles only to remember they were used last storm or broken. Purchase wanted items now.
5) During this week, you could actually arrange your furniture and set your table to ensure enough elbow room. It’s better to have the space all planned now then to try to arrange it during the time you will be baking and cooking. Arrange for extra necessary table space or seating.

One week out from the holiday:

1) Double check your grocery list and head to the store. (It’s a good idea to buy extra plastic containers and Ziploc bags for guests to take leftovers home.)
2) Think about your cooking timeline. I have one oven and a lot to bake, so I start my timeline at 1 pm, since my family usually sits down then and I work my way backward. The star of my dinner is the turkey, which I know must come out of the oven by 11:45. It has to sit and can be kept warm. So, depending on the size of the bird is when the turkey must go in my oven. 11:45 works, because my stuffing and corn pudding needs to bake for an hour so it can go in the oven then, along with mash potatoes and yams or any other dishes that need to be warmed. (It’s a good idea, especially if you have limited space, to put all baking dishes in the oven beforehand to ensure they fit) At 12:45, those food items come out and rolls go in for the last fifteen minutes while all other food is put into dishes and placed on the table. During the last hour, veggies can be steamed or warmed.
3) Cleaning. Honestly, I do a light house cleaning before the holiday, because the house is going to need a deep clean after the crowd leaves.

Two days before the holiday:

1) Some dishes can be made now. I find stuffing and candy yams taste much better when made ahead.
2) If you possibly can, set your table.

3) Make ice if you don’t have an ice maker.

Day before holiday:

1) Other dishes can be made early. Ie: mash potatoes, pies, desserts, veggie trays.
2) I put my applesauce and cranberry sauces into bowls and refrigerate.
3) I’m in northeast PA and have been able to use my outside gas grill as an extra cold storage for items prepared ahead. Think out of the box when space is limited.

The holiday:
You’re organized and ready. Stay with your timeline and if something hiccups, don’t sweat it. Your friends and family only will know what you’ve done, not what wasn’t done.

Enjoy the day and as always thanks for stopping by!

Ps: if anyone has found a time saving tip that has worked for them, please share.

This is my favorite cheesecake recipe. In my opinion it’s better than Carnegie Deli in New York.

If you’re not a pumpkin person, just do straight cheesecake. For the crust, I prefer Anna's brand of ginger cookies...and YES using real butter.

For the filling, I like to add 1/8 cup of Grand Marnier to the Pumpkin part of the filling.

CRUST
2 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs (about 32)
¼ cup butter or margarine, melted

FILLING
4 packages (8 ounce each) cream cheese, softened
1 ½ cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

1. Heat oven to 300 degrees. Grease 9 inch springform pan with shortening or cooking spray. Wrap foil around pan to catch drips. In small bowl, mix cookie crumbs and butter. Press crumb mixture in bottom and 1 inch up side of pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 5 minutes.

2. In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed just until smooth and creamy, do not overbeat. On low speed, gradually beat in sugar. On low speed, beat in eggs, one at a time, just until blended. Spoon 3 cups of the cream cheese mixture into pan, spread evenly.

3. Stir pumpkin, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg into remaining cream cheese mixture, mix with wire whisk until smooth. Spoon over mixture in pan.

4. Bake 1 hour 25 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes or until edges are set but center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly when moved.

5. Turn oven off, open oven door at least 4 inches. Leave cheesecake in oven 30 minutes longer. Remove from oven, place on cooling rack. Without releasing side of pan, run knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool in pan on cooling rack 30 minutes. Cover loosely, refrigerate at least 6 hours but no longer than 24 hours.

6. Run knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake again, carefully remove side of pan. Place cheesecake on serving plate. Store cheesecake covered in refrigerator. 16 servings.

I'd love to hear what you think of it.

Happy Thanksgiving

deb

Any reader would probably wonder why I set my book AN UNUSUAL CHRISTMAS in a little

known country such as Belarus.

During the mid-nineties, I often traveled to Russia and Belarus for business. I was quite impressed by the Russian culture and hospitality and decided to set my new book in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. With my heroine, Dr. Jillian Burton, you will discover a different civilization, visit interesting places, marvel at the Russian architecture, taste the exotic food, toast with vodka, wear the warm chapka, experience many of the local customs, and fall in love with a gallant Belorussian doctor.

Traveling to Minsk was a long and tiring twenty-four hour flight. Starting from Cincinnati, OH, I flew on Delta to New York with a couple of colleagues, spent three hours before boarding the big jet to Germany, and arrived in Frankfurt or Munich the next morning around seven. We hardly had two hours to change terminal. Carrying a couple of carry-on luggage, we rushed from one terminal to another to catch the Lufthansa flight connection to Minsk that flew only three times a week. When we missed it, we were stuck for two days or rerouted to Moscow.

In Belarus, the government stops the heating between May 1^st and October 31^st. I went to Minsk for the first time in October 1994 and was greeted by a freezing rain and a brisk cold that seeped through my clothes. Do I have to mention that I was shivering outdoors and indoors, and I never drank as many cups of hot tea—shaye?

Our first official meeting attended by officers, chemists and doctors, took place in a government building called the Hall of Officers. After a series of speech, our Belorussian hosts invited us to celebrate the new contract with toasts of vodka that we were supposed to drink bottoms up while saying Na Dzhrovia.  No orange juice or ice was added to dilute the 40% alcohol drink. My throat burned and my stomach caught fire. It took several trips for me to get used to the vodka and find it a practical way to stay warm. When I got sick, my Belorussian friends insisted on treating me with vodka, their universal remedy against cold, cough, stomach pain, and headaches!

The Belorussians are very hospitable people. We were invited for dinner in many homes. After the inevitable toasts of vodka, we ate the delicious stuffed cabbage, potato pancakes, black bread and sausage. The children impressed me with their impeccable manners and their fluent English. They often acted as interpreters for their parents.

In Minsk, I used a car with an excellent heating system and a chauffeur who spoke English. My rental car became a haven during the freezing months of winter and the only place where I felt warm and comfortable. Out of curiosity I took the underground train once. It was old and not very clean, a far cry from the magnificent trains of Moscow.

To go to Moscow, railroads were the most comfortable means of transportation. I traveled with, the overnight Red Train that left Minsk at midnight and arrived in Moscow the next morning. In the sleeping compartment with couchettes, we were provided with sheets, covers, wool blankets. Dinner was included in the fare and came with a bottle of vodka, of course.

Short Synopsis for AN UNUSUAL CHRISTMAS: Dr. Jillian is always running away to the end of the world to avoid Christmas celebrations and the sad reminders of her dead son. But in Belarus, a baby girl, four little boys, and a handsome doctor will teach her the true meaning of Christmas.

If you like this novel you may also enjoy: 

CHRISTMAS HERE AND THERE: A box set of Christmas Stories.

HER CHRISTMAS CRUISE (Christmas Wedding Muddle): The perfect fiancé is a cheater and the fabulous Christmas wedding is off. But the would-be honeymoon cruise may fulfill the dreams of Julia and her unexpected companion.
AN UNUSUAL CHRISTMAS: Dr. Jillian is always running away to the end of the world to avoid Christmas celebrations and the sad reminders of her dead son. But in Belarus, a baby girl, four little boys, and a handsome doctor will teach her the true meaning of Christmas.
CHRISTMAS BABIES: When a health problem jolts Dr. Madelyn into the realization than there's more to life than just work, she longs to surrender to the magic of Christmas. But can she handle the charming and secretive Dr. Nick Preston who carries his own package of disillusions? Can she allow two newborn twins to worm their way into her heart?

HOLIDAY BABIES SERIES: A box set of three bestselling books at Amazon.com

CHRISTMAS BABIES: It takes a health crisis and two adorable orphaned babies to bring Dr. Madelyn Ramsay to her senses and force her to look life and love in the face.
VALENTINE BABIES: Can he love a woman expecting another man’s baby?
MOTHER’S DAY BABIES: Can a woman from Kentucky teach an ‘old dog’ new tricks, even if he's a CEO?

 

DOCTOR’S ORDERS BOX SET: A box set of three bestselling books at Amazon.com

BABIES in the BARGAIN: "ER" and "Grey's Anatomy" in the NICU.
RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN: What's a girl to do when she whispers another man's name in her fiancé's arms?
NO MORE LIES: A lie that brings a smile or a truth drawing tears?


If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with passion.

Deb Julienne shares her Thanksgiving recipes. 
Watergate Salad

This first recipe is a delightful fruit salad. What’s great about it is that we serve it with our Thanksgiving dinner and we also eat it as a dessert.

Watergate Salad (It’s not what it appears to be)
1 pkg pistachio pudding mix
1 can pineapple chunks in its own juices
1 cup marsh mellows
1 cup macadamia nuts halves
1 giant container of cool whip
1 cup pineapple chunks

Pour pudding mix in a mixing bowl, open pineapple and drain all the liquid into the bowl, (no fruit), whisk until well mixed. Fold in the cool whip, it will be a pretty shade of pale mint green when done. Fold in marsh mellows. Fold in Macadamia nuts. Fold in 1 cup of pineapple chunks. Pour into your serving dish, making sure it’s completely blended, and place in fridge for 2 hours. This is a fabulous and easy salad to make for any dinner, not just Thanksgiving.

I like to decorate the top with a small dollop of whip cream dead center. then alternate a marshmellow and a macadamia nut have around the edge...and a maraschino cherry on the whip cream. And I usually serve it in a clear crystal bowl so the color can show through.

It's Monday, November 11th, and I have several great deals to share. Looking ahead--Starbucks is offering a BOGO (buy one get one free) special on seasonal coffees beginning on Thursday, November 14th thru November 17th. Attention American Express holders: Walmart.com is offering a $20.00 rebate on your American Express card if you purchase $79.00 and up at their online store. I purchased an $80.00 gift card, so it's like receiving an extra $20.00 free. And, gift card shipping to your home is free. Check out Hallmark's gold crown Facebook page for a $10.00 off of $30.00 coupon. Wrapping paper specials in store include holiday wrapping paper for $4.99, and purchase a second roll for $1.00, as well as several other instore specials. Happy shopping! Favorite quote: "I can't afford to save any more money."

It's Sunday, November 10th, and there are many great deals today. First, head on over to DiscountMags.com for their 2 magazines for $10.00 subscriptions. No tax, free shipping, and a huge selection to choose from. Free eyeglasses, anyone? Coastal.com is offering a first pair of free eyeglasses promotion again. I bought my daughter a great pair of prescription eyeglasses for under $14.00-shipped! With over 300 frames to choose from, you're sure to find something. (hint--stick to the most basic to get the best deal and use coupon code: FIRSTPAIRFREE) If you're looking for perfect Holiday gifts, shop at the Disney store. Fleece pullover jackets with your favorite Disney characters are on sale for $15.00, and you receive an additional 25% off savings with coupon code DISNEYPAL. Personalization on your fleece jackets, normally $4.95, is free with additional coupon code FREEPZ. Why not buy a jacket for everyone on your Holiday list, like I did! Shipping is free with a $75.00 purchase. Happy shopping! Favorite quote: "I can't afford to save any more money."

Sexy Vampires and Suspense!

Many years ago, Cardinal Desires won the Georgia Romance Writers' Magnolia Award in Mainstream, starring the hero of Sinners' Opera, Morgan D'Arcy.  Berkeley actually called me and asked if I had anything besides vampries.  Newbie that I was, I said, "No," instead of asking what they wanted.  Then I decided that Morgan couldn't have two forever true loves and Sterling Fox was born.  Sterling does a fine job of seducing Katy, the heroine.

Out of 5,000 entries, Cardinal Desires made the first cut in the initial Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest.

Finally, on October 15, 2013, Double Dragon Publishing released Cardinal Desires in print and ebook formats.  The book is also available on Amazon.

In short:     How can Katy McCaully resist Sterling Fox?  In her early teens, she fell in love with a thirteenth century warrior in a painting, and Sterling is the image of that Novgorodian knight.  He definitely has the keys to her chemistry set, but she mustn't succumb to his charms.  She's a forensic psychiatrist working with Scotland Yard.  He's a high-profile journalist who invades the underworld for a story or broadcasts live at the scene of the world's worst tragedies.  Police and media do not mix.  They are both trying to capture the animalistic killer the newspapers have dubbed the Vampire Slayer.  Modern London doesn't know that the Slayer has also killed four vampires.

Excerpt:  Scene, Present Day, London Hilton, Katy is attending a formal charity benefit:

“Trust Morgan to find the most beautiful woman in the room.”

The voice flowed as hot as molten silver.  Katy spun to see who’d spoken.  Dreams, past and present, fused.  Her mind reeled under an onslaught of impossibility.  Her soul did a double back flip.  On her thirteenth birthday, Katy had fallen hopelessly in love with a man in a painting.  On the canvas, medieval knights, armed with mace and sword, mounted on massive horses battled on a frozen lake.

The breathing replica of her warrior invaded her comfort zone.  “I swear he’s a divining rod.” A laugh, rich, magical.  “Where there are beautiful women, you'll find Morgan.”

Rarely did one see a face of such striking beauty, but there was nothing weak or effeminate about her warrior.  In white tie and tails, not armor, he was the epitome of svelte strength.  She itched to touch him, make sure he was real.

“I suppose I must introduce my friend.”  Morgan clapped her warrior on the shoulder.  “Sterling Fox.  Dr. Katy McCaully.”

“Good evening, Katy.”  His eyes were wicked, emerald green.

His name suited him perfectly.  Sterling was six-and-a-half feet of shimmering energy.  Silver blond hair fell in gentle waves to his collar. The tucked formal shirt enhanced a broad chest.  Powerful arms sculpted the sleeves of his jacket.  Struck dumb but not blind, her gaze traveled down his body, savoring the length of his legs to the tips of patent leather shoes.  The journey was a banquet for the senses.

Gentle laughter jerked her gaze back to his face.  The rhapsody of sound and light around them seemed unreal.  The touch of his hand was impossibly real.  Intelligence fell victim to awe.

Katy shook her head.  “You…you…”

Fate was having a good laugh at her expense.  She was never speechless, and here she was stammering, blushing like a wallflower at a high school dance.

“Me?”  He arched an eyebrow, dismissed his formal attire with a wave of his free hand.  “Tuxedos are totally out of character.  I'd rather be in jeans at a Rod Stewart concert.”

The pianist had fluttered her pulse, but this long, cool drink of water named Sterling Fox made her romantic heart thirst.  The man who’d shot her poise to hell was probably ten years younger.  He was handsome, fully aware of his effect on women and knew precisely how to play the game.  In two thudding heartbeats, Katy resolved never to dangle on his sterling chain of hearts.  As if she had no interest in him, she scanned the crowd.

Like a physical blow, a painful realization struck her.  “Sterling Fox, the Night Fox?”

This renowned journalist made her feel positively sexy and she loved his hands—custom-made for loving, not penning true-to-horrible life works.  “I’ve read your articles; wondered what kind of man would disappear into a Colombian cartel to profile the inner workings of a drug lord. You’re nothing like I pictured.”

“Disappointed?”  His voice was hot enough to endanger the ice sculpture on the hors d’oeuvre table—and to melt Katy.

Two tectonic plates collided deep inside.  Sparks?  The man was a bloody sparkler.  Hell, he was an arsenal of fireworks.  Her rabid hatred of the media suddenly seemed unjust.

 

Alas, Halloween is over for another year. It's my favorite holiday, and I have no idea why I haven't written a story about it. I think this ghost cat would fit perfectly in a Halloween story, don't you?

Today is release day for my new Regency e-novella, Under a Christmas Spell! I'm itching to give a copy away to someone who comments on this blog. I’ve also been tagged by my thoughtful friend, Ella Quinn, for the Writerly Blog. The questions revolve around why and how one writes. 

Ella mentioned that she writes traditional Regencies, but with sex. My Regencies have sex scenes in them, too—as do my contemporary paranormals—but the more sex I write, the more I am of two minds about writing it. I think it’s because at first I did it because I wanted to, but now I feel almost obliged to, so it’s not as intriguing to me as it was. I wonder now, does that mean I should find new ways of writing it, or start writing romantic Regency mysteries without it? Because to tell the truth, much as I enjoy a good sex scene, my favorite books are usually romantic, have lots of plot (like mysteries), and don’t have much in the way of explicit sex. I love it when an author can invoke powerful, sensual, romantic feelings without actually describing the sex act. I guess what I’m saying is that I would like to write something just like my favorite books!

Now to the questions.

1. What are you working on right now?

Three different projects! One is a vampire novella in my Bayou Gavotte series. It’s a contemporary paranormal mystery/romance. Another is a duet of novellas that may end up being a book in two parts. They are Regency paranormal romances with my version of the incubus/succubus mythology. The third is a story I’m writing just for me. It’s a Regency-set fairy tale with a very strange hero. Maybe too strange, but I’m having great fun writing him.

2. How do they differ from other works in their genre?

Hmm… I guess it’s that my paranormal beings, such as vampires and incubi/succubi, are not much like the standard mythologies. For example, my vampires aren’t undead, and my incubi and succubi aren’t demons. I like to think that my characters and their stories lie within the realm of possibility. The white cat above is the King of the Fairies in disguise. He's been pestering me forever to write a fairy tale, although I'm not sure whether he wants it to be about him (so far, it's not). I see him every year or two when I visit Germany. This year he snubbed me, so I guess I'm not writing the fairy tale fast enough for him!

3.  Why do you write what you do?

I was inspired to write Regencies by Georgette Heyer. One day I thought, “Hey, I’ve always wondered if I could do this—so why not try?” Out of that came Notorious Eliza, still one of my favorite stories. As for the paranormal aspect which comes out in many of my stories, I guess I’m just addicted to magic.  

4. How does your writing process work?

I’m a pantser, which means I don’t (can’t) plot the whole book out ahead of time. I don’t seem to be able to see clearly more than a few moves ahead. (I’m hopeless at chess, too.)  First I write a few chapters to get to know and understand the characters. Then the story reveals itself to me as I go along. It’s not an efficient process, so I’m a pretty slow writer, alas. 

I’m tagging Molly Ann Wishlade, Nancy Northcott, and Vicki Batman.

I’ll give away a copy of Under a Christmas Spell to one lucky commenter. Do you believe in vampires? Has an incubus or succubus ever sent you a sexy dream? Should I try, once again, to plot a book before writing it?

***

Hampshire, 1815

  Dissolute aristocrat Lord Valiant Oakenhurst hides a sexy, supernatural secret—as a powerful incubus, he is able to influence others through erotic dreams. At an exclusive Christmas house party, his latest mission is compromised by the beautiful but deadly succubus Lucille Beaulieu. Though still drawn to his former lover, Val cannot forget her betrayal….

Hoping to atone for her past, Lucie uses her seductive powers to help couples find happiness. But she is distracted from her task by her own delicious dreams of the dark and dangerous Val.

As the riotous festivities begin, their passion is reinvoked, but can a little Christmas magic restore their lost trust?