My Cover for BROMPTON MANOR

Romance Writer

Romance Wrtier's of America opens their membership to published and unpublished writers. Although the organization's emphasis is on romance, there is a broad range of sub-genres that shelter beneath the romance umbrella. The national organization branches out into local chapters where fellowship and learning go hand-in-hand. There is an on-line chapter and speciality on-line chapters. My membership has provided me an opportunity to learn, and continue learning, the intricacies of fiction writing and the business of publishing. The support of my local chaptermates has been a blessing.

Chocolate Chip Pie

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt one stick butter. Combine the butter with 2 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup self-rising flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon salt in mixer bowl and beat on high speed until well blended.

Stir in 1 cup chopped pecans and 1 6-oz package chocolate chips. Pour into an unbaked pie crust. Bake 35 to 45 minutes.

What Really Matters

"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about." British wrtier Charles Kingsley (1819-1875)

Friendship Tea

If you are looking for an inexpensvie and welcome gift to give, try this. You will need: 2 and 1/2 cups powdered orange-flavored breakfast drink (think early astronauts); 1 3/4 cups powdered instant unsweetened tea; 2 to 2 1/2 cups sugar; 1 small package unsweetened lemonade; 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves; 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Mix well and store in an airtight container with lid. To make a glass of cold tea, use 1 to 2 rounded teaspoons to 6 to 8 ounces of water. Stir. Add ice.

Inspiration for Thanksgiving

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them is the true measure of our thanksgiving." W.T. Purkiser

Inspiration - Hope

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. Psalm 16:9

Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting

You will need two twelve ounce bags of semisweet chocolate chips, one and one-half cups of heavy cream, two tablespoons light corn syrup, one-half teaspoon vanilla extract, four Tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature.

Put all of the chocolate chips and the heavy cream in a bowl over simmering water until the chips have melted. Remove from heat. Stir until smooth. Stir in vanilla and corn syrup. Let cool on the counter so the butter won't melt from the heat. When cool, add the butter and mix with mixer until thick.

Book News

BROMPTON MANOR, my first soon-to-be published novel, is a sweet romance set during the Regency period in England. I am anxiously awaiting a look at the cover.

Inspiration

All our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them.
Walt Disney

Chocolate Chip Cookies

To dunk in preferred beverage or eat straight up.

Do not turn on the oven. You will be chilling dough. If you really need a cookie, finish mixing the dough and head to the nearest store or bakery.

Get out your mixer and beat like it was the devil a combination of one-half cup soft magerine, one-half cup shortening (comes in a can), one-half cup sugar, one cup brown sugar and one-half teaspoon vanilla.

Rub a bit of the mixture between your thumb and forefinger. If you don't feel grit, the stuff is beat enough. Now beat the devil out of two eggs (only the inside part, throw away the shells). Done? Pour those beat eggs into the beat sugar/buter mixture and beat again.

Now you get to dirty up the one-fourth cup measure. Measure out two cups and one-fourth cup of flour, one teaspoon salt and one teaspoon baking soda. Combine in a separate container and stir them around until blended. Mix into the beat mixture.

Here's the yummy stuff. You get a choice. You want nuts? Measure out one cup of your preferred tree nut or whatever nut is on hand and not rancid. You can give them a toast in the microwave to bring out the flavor. Stir em in. Authentic chocolate chip cookies require chocolate chips. The chip makers have gone wild--choose whatever flavor of chocolate chips you want. Stir in twelve ounces of chocolate chips.

Do not eat the unbaked dough. You must put this tempting mixture in the refrigerator for four hours or longer before baking.

Ding, ding. Three hours and fifty minutes later. Get out your cookie pans. Fire up the oven to 350 degrees. I use a small scoop (like a mini ice cream scoop), it is equivilant to a level Tablespoon. Dot the pans and bake for 10 minutes. If they look done (you don't want them too dry) remove and cool.

Romance Reads

My first book, BROMPTON MANOR, will be published in February. Look for it at Amazon.com.

Inspriation

This is a day the Lord hath made; rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24