• Christmas or Holiday

    Christmas Recipe: Tomato Cake w/Cream Cheese Frosting @VickiBatman #RLFblog

     Great Fruitcake Bake Off
    Welcome Vicki Batman to the blog with a wonderful cake recipe that has a secret ingredient (tomato soup).
    When I grew up, my mom and her family baked and crafted special
    things at Christmas time. Mom and our neighbor spent a whole day making divinity,
    and yes, it was divine. My sisters and I did Wrap-a-thon. My grandmother was known
    for her special dessert: Tomato Cake.
    Before you get all weirdly freaked out, know this: I am/was a
    picky eater and I loved this cake. It does have tomato soup in it, but you know
    what? If you didn’t know that was an ingredient, you’d love it too. There are spices,
    nuts, raisins, and a decadent cream cheese frosting.
    This year, I wrote a hilarious holiday story entitled “The
    Great Fruitcake Bake-off.” I do like fruitcake. There are lots of varieties,
    some of which don’t have the candied fruit we’ve come to associate with the treat.
    Care to be daring and try a variation on Grandmother’s holiday
    cake?

    Tomato Cake

    From Campbells
    Soup: http://www.campbellskitchen.com/recipes/tomato-soup-spice-cake-24354
    2 cups all-purpose flour
    1 1/3 cups sugar
    4 teaspoons baking powder
    1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
    1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell’s®
    Condensed Tomato Soup
    1/2 cup vegetable shortening
    2 eggs
    1/4 cup water
    Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9-inch baking pan. Stir the
    flour, sugar, baking powder, allspice, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves in a large
    bowl. Add the soup, shortening, eggs and water. Beat with an electric mixer on low
    speed just until blended. Increase the speed to high and beat for 4 minutes. Pour
    the batter into the pan. Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the
    center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
    Frost with:

    Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting:

    ½ C crushed pineapple with juice
    2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
    1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
    2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    2 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
    Beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract in a medium
    bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 2 minutes or until the mixture
    is smooth and creamy. Beat in the confectioners’ sugar. Add the pineapple and juice,
    1 tablespoon at a time, until the frosting is the desired consistency. Fill and
    frost the cake.
    This version is a tad different from Grandmother’s as it uses
    eggs and my sissie likes the Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting. Grandmother added
    raisins and chopped dates too.
    And just to keep you hungry, here’s a fun excerpt from
    “The Great Fruitcake Bake-off.” Happy Holidays to you and yours!

    Buy Links

    And other e-retailers on December 6.

    About the Author

    Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm–the list is endless.

    Writing for several years, she has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories to True Love, True Romance, True Confessions, Noble Romance Publishing, Long And Short Reviews, and Museitup Publishing. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010.

    Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking “What if??”

    Find Me Here

  • Author Marketing

    Taste of Summer: Chocolate Heath Bar Trifle @stacyjuba #RLFblog #MFRWorg

    Chocolate Pie

    Taste of Summer By Stacy Juba

    If you’re a writer, then you won’t want to miss MFRW Summer Camp.
    This free event is sponsored by Marketing for Romance Writers, which began as a
    Yahoo group of a dozen authors who wanted to know how to market their books. Today
    the group has nearly 1800 members. One reason I love this group so much is because
    of its frequent free workshops, including the 2nd Annual Summer Camp slated for
    July 12-14.
    What will you find if you join the Yahoo group? A supportive
    environment to focus on learning marketing and publicity. We seek ways to advance
    our careers, brainstorm new ventures and ideas, get feedback, and find others interested
    in working together. You can take a class or teach one.
    While promotions are not allowed on the Yahoo group, news about
    pitch sessions and calls for submission are. MFRW coordinates pitch events with
    publishers for our members. On Facebook, we promote and share news. We link our
    blogs in blog hops, pin books by members on Pinterest, show off our cover models,
    and share tweets on Twitter. Those are just a few of the activities of this dynamic
    group. We’re open to the entire literary community and we would love for you to
    join us.
    What will you find during summer camp? Free classes, lots of
    them, in all areas of marketing and promotion. You can ask questions, pick up some
    new tools, and make new friends.
    You can find more about the group and summer camp here. We hope
    you’ll join us!
    http://marketingforromancewriters.org/camp.htm
    To help spread the word about MFRW and Summer Camp, a bunch of
    us are taking turns blogging about the group and sharing a recipe. Today I’m sharing
    my special dessert, Chocolate Heath Bar Trifle, which is sure to impress guests
    at summer barbecues. My husband loves this dessert so much that he recently asked
    me to make it for 50 co-workers!

    Chocolate Heath Bar Trifle

    Ingredients:
    Shortening
    1 box chocolate cake mix
    2 boxes chocolate instant pudding
    Package of crushed Heath Bar
    2 small Cool Whip containers (8 oz)
    Spread shortening over cake pan. Bake cake following directions
    on box. Then make chocolate pudding following the directions on box. Keep pudding
    at room temperature. Crumble up cake into chunks and set aside. In a large glass
    trifle serving bowl, layer half of the crumbled cake, half the pudding, 1 Cool Whip
    container, and half of the Heath bar candy. Repeat layers again. Refrigerate.
    Note: Although this looks especially impressive in a glass trifle
    bowl, I’ve also used a disposable aluminum pan with a lid. It doesn’t look as magnificent,
    but it will still disappear quickly!

    About the Author

    Young Ladies of Mystery
    Stacy Juba has made numerous bestseller lists including GalleyCat’s
    Barnes & Noble Bestsellers, GalleyCat’s Mystery and Thriller Bestsellers, and
    multiple Amazon Top 100 lists, and she has also been ranked as one of the Most Popular
    Authors in Mysteries on Amazon. She has had a book ranked as #5 in the Nook Store
    and #30 on the Amazon Kindle Paid List. Stacy has written about reality TV contestants
    targeted by a killer, an obit writer investigating a cold case, teen psychics who
    control minds, twin high school hockey stars battling on the ice, and teddy bears
    learning to raise the U.S.
    flag: she pursues whatever story ideas won’t leave her alone. She is a former journalist
    with more than a dozen writing awards to her credit.

    Find Me Here

    Permalink to Stacy’s recipe post on her own blog:

  • Author Marketing

    Taste of Summer: Lemonade Pie @AJ_Williams #RLFblog #MFRWorg

    Lemondade Graham Cracker Pie 
    Lemonade Graham Cracker Pie
    There is something about summer to me that screams sweet and
    tangy. Not sure where it came from or why and honestly I don’t question I just know
    that when it turns May I start thinking of sweet and tangy deserts.
    For Spring and Summer one of my favorite deserts is Lemonade
    Pie. This desert is quick and easy and trust me very mouth watering.
    These are the ingredients you will need”
    2 – graham cracker pie crusts
    3 – 14 oz eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
    1- 12 oz Minute Maid lemonade frozen
    1 – 16 oz Kraft Cool Whip
    It is best if you let your frozen lemonade thaw before starting.
    Once that takes place, get out your large mixing bowl. In your bowl combine the
    now liquid lemonade with the 3 cans of condensed milk, and the whole tub of Cool
    Whip. Mix all of it together till smooth.
    When all the lumps are out and the Cool Whip is blending well,
    stop mixing and you may begin to pour the mixture into the graham cracker crusts
    and refrigerate for 3 hours or at least overnight.
    If there are leftovers you can always take a cupcake pan, line
    it with cupcake liners, place one vanilla wafer at the bottom and pour in your mixture.
    For Best Results let the pie sit in the refrigerator overnight.
    I hope you enjoyed my taste of summer, if you are interested
    in learning more, stop by and sign up for http://marketingforromancewriters.org/,
    and guess what? It is completely free.
    Summer Camp is going to be taking place July 12th thru the 14th,
    and let me tell you I am really excited to be attending this year. This summer camp
    is going to be a great opportunity to learn from other amazing authors about marketing,
    writing and genres. The camp is also going to have some great prizes.
    If you are interested in also attending this great camp all you
    have to do is join Marketing for RomanceWriters Yahoo Group
    Bounty for Hunter 
    AJ Wiliams’ Latest Release Bounty for Love
    Alek Kairis is a man on a mission to keep those around him safe
    from the dangers of a lurking dirty cop. But, before he can protect everyone, Alek
    learns of a deep secret that could not just change his life, but change his ability
    to protect those around him.
    Tess Michaels only wanted her brother’s safety; she did not realize
    that she too would be placed in danger. Yet, the danger that is following her is
    not the only threat she faces. When she learns the truth of who her son’s father
    is, not only will her life change, but so will her child’s.
    Once the truth comes out, there is no going back for Alek or
    Tess. What’s worse is that their ever-growing attraction is a distraction that neither
    of them need. Can Tess and Alek work together, or will danger and secrets tear them
    apart forever?
    Buy Links:
    Amazon http://amzn.com/B00DC9V258/
    Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bounty-for-love-aj-wiliams/1115601014?ean=2940016708720
    ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-bountyforlove-1220169-149.html

    About the Author

    AJ Williams grew up in a small southern town in Missouri. It was there
    that she discovered her love of writing. Having the ability to create a story
    from nothing into something, held her spell bound. She holds a bachelors
    degree, and will on occasion find it useful. Currently, AJ lives in Kansas City, Missouri
    with her husband and 2 small children and their small dog.
    Her very first story was a poem about the sun ending and the
    moon beginning which she wrote when she was ten. Since that time her stories
    have taken on their very own life. She writes stories that make you think about
    real life, the ‘what if’ this happened to me scenario. “There is a story
    in all of us” is a favorite saying of AJ’s.
    AJ loves learning about new things, playing games with her
    family and listening to music. She loves romantic movies as well as science
    fiction. If truth be told, she loves fantasy and science fiction movies just a
    little bit more.
    At given time she can be found reading to her kids,
    instilling in them the importance of a good story. Yet do not worry; she is also
    found by her kids, and husband at the computer at any given time typing away.

    Find Me Here

    Website: http://www.ajwiliams.com

  • Author Marketing

    Recipe: Summer Camp Salsa @scdanelove #RLFblog #MFRWauthor

    Luna

    Salsa for Summer Camp

    By SC Dane
    Aah, summer. It has finally arrived, and with it comes the feast
    of the senses.
    The touch of grass, a cool and lush carpet beneath bare feet,
    the sprigs tickling between the toes.
    The sounds of dogs barking as they chase screeching kids high
    on the abandon of summer vacation. Screen doors slap, lawn mowers drone like flies.
    The sight of tanned, bare chested men. Hands down the best part
    of summer.
    The smell of warmth and lazy flowers, cut lawns and salty oceans,
    caressed aloft upon breezes that kiss the skin.
    Finally, the taste. The tantalizing paramour to smell, who delivered
    to our taste buds the appetizing aroma of the backyard grill, watering our mouths
    for the dishes only summer can provide. Corn on the cob, watermelon, potato salad.
    And fresh salsa, with bits of sun-kissed tomato, sharp onion,
    and cilantro stretching from the baked earth of the garden to the vast blue of a
    cloudless sky. An explosion of flavors worthy of being served on the Fourth of July.

    Fresh Salsa

    8-10 tomatoes
    1 medium onion
    1 jalapeno pepper, seeded
    1/2 bunch of cilantro
    2 garlic cloves
    1/4 cup white vinegar
    Juice squeezed from one lime
    2 tablespoons of lemon juice
    Salt and pepper to taste.
    Dice, dice, dice your butt off. Don’t cheat and grind the veggies
    up in a food processor. You want this salsa chunky. Let it sit overnight in the
    fridge, and stir it on occasion to get those veggies besotted with the vinegar and
    citrus.
    Speaking of besotted, ahem. Summer is also the season of Romance.
    Strolls on the beach with your summer fling, and warm nights perfect for skinny
    dipping.
    Which makes it the ideal time to give thanks to the gals at MFRW
    (Marketing For Romance Writers). Like a mini Amazonian army, they have recruited
    and led many a writing soldier onto the battlefield of marketing and swept them
    on to victory. They’ve done so with grace, humor that still leaves me smiling, and
    a loyalty to their fellow authors that makes me proud to be a comrade in arms.
    Thank you. Not only have you provided the leadership, but also
    the forum with which we romance writers can compare and console and commiserate
    with our peers. You’ve given us shoulders to cry on and ears to gripe to, and oh
    yes! the steps from which to launch our passions.
    They’ve also given me a place to roast my virtual marshmallows
    during this Summer Camp fun. Visit tinyurl.com/mfrwgroup
    to follow The Taste of Summer July 12-14th, and, because I know you want to, croon
    out your tuneless rendition of Kumbaya. We’ll all join in (okay, we’ll laugh and
    point), but it’s still good times!
    See you ’round the campfire.

    Books by S C Dane

    The powers that be at Amazon
    got my author name screwed up for my “Luna” book, but my publisher is
    working on getting that fixed.

    Blurb for Luna:

    Beth is a misfit struggling to be a responsible woman in human
    society. Then she meets Alec, a mysterious stranger, who knows by her scent that
    she is a rare Luna, the only being who can ensure the future of his wolf-pack. When
    human beings injure Alec, Beth retreats from the stagnant safety of her human world
    and surrenders her fate to the wolf-man.
    Beth’s and Alec’s love for one another ignites the power of the
    Luna that courses through her veins, and she must learn the laws of being wild wolf
    if she is to live with Alec and his pack. But they are not the only wolf-people
    who covet the blood of Luna, and Beth must learn to harness the consuming power
    of her Luna and use it to safeguard her new family, even if it means giving up the
    very thing she was born to protect.
    Set in the countryside of Maine, this novel unfolds as Beth surrenders
    her body to its absolute essence while she is protected by the loyal wolves she
    is destined to love. But their world is not only precious, it is also perilous,
    and Beth’s freshened passion for life just may be the catalyst for her death.
    Luna: Book One of The Luna Chronicle
    Amazon http://amzn.com/1612356079

    Find Me Here

    Website http://www.paranormalromancebyscdane.com/

     

  • Author Marketing

    Taste of Summer: Crockpot Pot Roast @kristynphipps @MFRW_ORG #RLFblog #MFRWorg

    Summer Pot Roast 
    Recipe by Kristyn M. Phipps, Activities Director, Marketing
    for Romance Writers
    When you think of a retreat or conference, do you think of
    making a packing list? Traveling out of town? Hiring a sitter? Spending a ton
    of money? Holing up in a hotel for a weekend? Well, you won’t find any of that
    at the MFRW Summer Camp in July!
    Not only is camp free (yes, I said FREE!!), but it’s an
    incredible opportunity for any author to get involved in a writers network that
    only has benefits. Camp isn’t just another conference, it’s the conference to
    learn from your peers and share your knowledge with them. I’m not saying this
    because I’m on staff – I experienced this personally long before joining the
    staff.
    This amazing group not only shares knowledge and gives
    advice, but it teaches and helps its members succeed. There is a common bond
    between the authors that I dare say you cannot find anywhere else. Why? Because
    everyone has a voice, and that voice is always heard. We have and give the opportunity
    to make a difference in the lives and careers of others.
    To find out more about our Summer Camp “Tastes of
    Summer”, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarketingForRomanceWriters/ or
    http://marketingforromancewriters.org/camp.htm 
    Today, I’d like to share my recipe for my summer pot roast – only when the ingredients have spent time cooking together do they come together in a beautiful dinner medley!

    Summer Camp
    Pot Roast

    Ingredients:
    1 roast (2-3 pounds)
    7-10 red skin potatoes, washed and halved
    1 small bag of baby carrots
    1 beef bouillon cube
    1 c water
    Seasoning Mix: 1/4 tsp of each: garlic salt, black pepper,
    thyme, sage, rosemary, oregano, and parsley
    Instructions:
    (1) Place prepared potatoes, carrots, and bouillon cube in
    the bottom of the crockpot.
    (2) Rub the Seasoning Mix into all sides of the roast and
    place it on top of the veggies.
    (3) Pour water over the roast to let the loose seasonings
    mix in the bottom.
    (4) Cook on low setting to your liking – about 6 to 8 hours.
    Do not overcook as meat will become dry.
    Served best with a French loaf and your favorite green
    veggie! 

    Find Me Here

    Website http://kristynphipps.com

  • Author Marketing

    Recipe: Dottie’s Stuffed Mushrooms @JenniferFrance_ #MFRWauthor #RLFblog

    Stuffed Mushrooms 
    Romance Lives Forever welcomes back Marketing for Romance Writers
    member Jennifer France for a Taste of Summer Camp. MFRW is counting down the
    days to their FREE marketing summer camp with scrumptious recipes from members.
    Today’s recipe is Dottie’s Stuffed Mushrooms. Take it away, Jennifer!
    I know, I know. I normally write of all things dealing with BDSM
    but today I’m going to write about something that, for all intense and purposes,
    can be much better!
    If you are a writer (no matter what genre (yep: even BDSM) ~
    aspiring, published (self or otherwise)) I have something amazing to share with
    you! It’s called Marketing For Romance Writers (MFRW).
    We all know that having a network of friends to help fill in
    the blanks is invaluable … well MFRW has a wealth of resources- people full of
    information because they have either been there, done that, or researched it and
    are so very willing to pass their information on to you. It doesnt end there – they
    have classes to help you get your work from the laptop to the bookshelves. It’s
    nothing short of amazing the things these folks do for writers like us!
    Of course the best part is that you can join! What could be better
    than that?!? Oh, I know: It’s free!
    What perfect timing too since they are gearing up for Summer
    Camp the second weekend in July (12th to the 14th) and I’m here to help promote
    this fabulous opportunity with what we’re calling A Taste of Summer Camp to get
    this information out there by sharing a recipe. Romance authors, join MFRW’s Yahoo Group today so you don’t miss out on this
    excellent learning opportunity.
    Since I love to write about things that make my mouth water,
    I’m gonna share a favorite, mouth-watering, low carb recipe that I can never make
    enough of for my guests ~ even had a caterer ask for the recipe to this one;).

    DOTTIE’S STUFFED MUSHROOMS

    2 pounds fresh mushrooms
    8 ounces cream cheese, softened
    1 pound pork sausage (I like sage)
    8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
    Salt and pepper, to taste (I don’t use any)
    Remove the stems from the mushrooms by gently twisting them off.
    Drain the fat, if necessary. I found it helpful to chop the meat up until it was
    pretty fine, but not mushy. Mix in the remaining ingredients, except the mushroom
    caps. Fill the caps with the sausage mixture. (I use my fingers worked best). Pile
    in as much sausage as you can per mushroom. Put in a greased or foil-lined baking
    pan(s) and bake, uncovered, at 350º for 20-30 minutes until hot and bubbly.
    About 30 mushrooms
    Do not freeze
    Per mushroom: 112 Calories; 9g Fat; 6g Protein; 1g Carbohydrate;
    trace Dietary Fiber; 1g Net Carbs
    Per whole batch: 3364 Calories; 279g Fat; 191g Protein; 43g Carbohydrate;
    11g Dietary Fiber; 32g Net Carbs 

    Author Jennifer France
    Book: The Highlander’s Witch

    Blurb:
    The Highlander’s Witch
    For years, twenty-three-year-old Skye Bennett has been waiting
    for someone to sweep her off her feet and bring about her darkest fantasies. But
    there’s just one problem – she comes from a family of witches and her older sister,
    Sarah, uses her power of fire to interfere in every intimate relationship Skye has.
    When their aunt mistakes Skye’s date as her soul mate only to
    discover he is really Sarah’s,

    her family tries to make up for it by finding the
    man Skye truly belongs with. Unfortunately, their last attempt failed miserably
    when they set her up for a speed-dating event, so her aunt resorts to magic to accomplish
    their desires. Suddenly propelled back in time without warning, Skye is saved from
    a brutal cougar attack by a Scottish Laird who has just returned from another skirmish
    and only wants to sit in front of a warm fire with a mug of ale. Instead, Aiden
    finds Skye and believes the unknown ‘lad’ to be a spy. When he finds out the spy
    is a female his concern grows, as does his lust.

    Aiden realizes this woman can be his downfall but she calls to
    him in a way he cannot deny. Has she been sent to destroy all he has fought for,
    or is she his salvation? Fighting his desires, he knows he must ensure the safety
    of his home and kin from those that wish to destroy what he has fought to hold onto.
    In this tale set in fourteenth century Scotland, a witch must determine if
    she can trust the man who holds her life in his hands – even as he steals her heart.
    Buy link:
    Amazon http://amzn.com/B008NBGRG4

    Find Me Here

    Website: http://jenniferfrance.com/