All posts by Karen Docter

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Traditional Southern Biscuits

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It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me. I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN BISCUITS!!

There seems to be more than one “traditional” southern biscuit recipe out there so I guess it depends on where you live in the South.  So, if this isn’t the “traditional” you’re used to just chalk it up to my Yankee upbringing.  🙂 I’m not sure where I picked up this version.  I just know I’ve had this recipe for ages and these biscuits are pretty darned tasty.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 77 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN BISCUITS

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 T butter, cold
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ cup solid vegetable shortening, cold
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 cup milk

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt.  Mix well.  Add 1 T of the cold butter and the cold shortening and work into the dry ingredients, using your hands, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  (I use a pastry cutter, or you can use a couple of forks and cut it in.) Stir in milk.  Dough will be sticky.  Dust work surface with flour.  Turn dough onto floured surface.  Gently fold each side toward center.  Pick up the dough and dust the work surface with additional flour.  Return dough to floured surface and fold each side towards center again.  Turn the dough over and press it out to 1” thickness.  Cut biscuits, straight down, do not twist the cutter, with a 2 ¼-inch round cookie cutter.  Melt remaining tablespoon of butter and add to 10-inch round cake pan.  Place biscuits in pan, turning once (to coat both sides with butter), about ¼-inch apart.  Let biscuits rest 15 minutes before baking. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Chocolate Cheese Mousse

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  It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me.  I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is CHOCOLATE CHEESE MOUSSE!!

We all have those times when company arrives unannounced and we haven’t had time to think about making dinner, let alone dessert.  Or we’ve made dinner plans and have no time after work to spend a lot of time whipping up a fancy dessert.  This recipe is quick and easy, while still having that cache that says “special”.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.  Happy eating!

Karen

P.S.  We’re at 76 recipes and counting with this posting.  Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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CHOCOLATE CHEESE MOUSSE [Serves 6]

3 square (3 oz.) semisweet chocolate
½ cup sifted powdered sugar
1 pkg. (3 oz.) cream cheese
2 cups whipped cream
3 T. milk

In 1-quart glass measure, combine chocolate, cream cheese and milk. Cook on high 60 seconds, or until chocolate is melted; stir until smooth.  Blend in sugar, cool.  Stir about ½ cup of the whipped cream into chocolate mixture.  Fold in remaining whipped cream.  Spoon into dessert dishes; refrigerate or freeze until serving time.

Note: To dress it up even more, sprinkle top of each dessert with shaved sweetened chocolate or mini-chocolate chips.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Southwestern Bean Chili

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  It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me.  I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is SOUTHWESTERN BEAN CHILI!!

It’s winter and I tend to think of chili a LOT when I’m feeling chilled.  Nothing is more satisfying, and warming, than a bowl of chili.  The problem is when I think of chili when it’s close to dinner time. I don’t have time to prepare the long-cooking version, and I certainly don’t want to wait until the next night to eat what I’m craving NOW. This chili recipe is quick, delicious and easy to change up the flavor with just a few additional ingredients.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.  Happy eating!

Karen

P.S.  We’re at 75 recipes and counting with this posting.  Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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SOUTHWESTERN BEAN CHILI [Serves 4]

2 medium onions, minced

1 medium garlic clove, minced

1 can (7 oz.) tomatoes, drained & chopped coarse

1/3 cup canned green chilis, drained & chopped coarse

1 T. chili powder

2 tsp. dried oregano

½ T. ground cumin

2 cans (16 oz. each) red kidney beans, undrained

Bring ¼ cup water to boil in large skillet.  Add onions, garlic; cover and simmer about 2 minutes.  Stir in next five (5) ingredients; bring to boil and simmer about 10 minutes.  Add beans; simmer until heated through about 3 minutes.

*  Serve sprinkled with your favorite shredded/grated cheese and hot bread. Yummy!

** Add cooked ground beef if you prefer your chili with beans AND meat.  If you like a little oomph, add cooked chorizo or sausage.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Triple **Author Special** with Cynthia Woolf

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Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with CYNTHIA WOOLF

Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!!  Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors.

Introducing author, CYNTHIA WOOLF, and her favorite recipe for MONSTER COOKIES!

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IMG_6279_Cindy_Promo_6x9  About the author, Cynthia Woolf….

Cynthia Woolf was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in the mountains west of Golden. She spent her early years running wild around the mountain side with her friends.

Their closest neighbor was one quarter of a mile away, so her little brother was her playmate and her best friend. That fierce friendship lasted until his death in 2006.

Cynthia was and is an avid reader. Her mother was a librarian and brought new books home each week. This is where young Cynthia first got the storytelling bug. She wrote her first story at the age of ten. A romance about a little boy she liked at the time.

She worked her way through college and went to work full time straight after graduation and there was little time to write. Then in 1990 she and two friends started a round robin writing a story about pirates. She found that she missed the writing and kept on with other stories. In 1992 she joined Colorado Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America. Unfortunately, the loss of her job demanded she not renew her memberships and her writing stagnated for many years.

In 2001, she saw an ad in the paper for a writers conference being put on by CRW and decided she’d attend. One of her favorite authors, Catherine Coulter, was the keynote speaker. Cynthia was lucky enough to have a seat at Ms. Coulter’s table at the luncheon and after talking with her, decided she needed to get back to her writing. She rejoined both CRW and RWA that day and hasn’t looked back.

Cynthia credits her wonderfully supportive husband Jim and the great friends she’s made at CRW for saving her sanity and allowing her to explore her creativity.

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swords_jenala

BOOK PEEK – THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – JENALA by Cynthia Woolf

Jenala Delasa is alone and in trouble. Someone wants her kalcion mine. They’ll stop at nothing, even murder. Jenala needs help.

Santro Baltin is just what the beautiful red-head needs. He’s huge, a master swordsman, and has a heart big enough to give her the room she needs to heal. When it comes to Jenala’s enemy however, he has his own agenda.

To defeat the notorious Zlaten Vandalar, they have to work together, mind to mind, shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart.

EXCERPT – THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – JENALA by Cynthia Woolf

Swords clashed.  Jenala Delasa fought savagely for her life against the man who would dare try to get her kalcion mine.  And claim her.  The bastard Zlaten Vandalar.  The man she believed murdered her father six months ago.  He attacked her with the intention of kidnapping and raping her, giving her no choice but to be claimed under the law.  She’d fall on her own sword before she’d allow him to claim her.  No, he attacked her in the narrow alleyway with every intention of kidnapping and raping her.

A passerby, having heard the gray metal swords clanging off of each other, sparks flying, and her shouts of rage, rushed to watch the spectacle.  Jenala dared him a quick glance when he yelled and ran toward them.  Momentarily startled, she missed her jab.  Zlaten sidestepped, turned and flayed open her back from the left shoulder to the bottom of her ribcage on the right side.  Jenala fell to the ground.  Zlaten looked up at the stranger approaching and visibly paled.  He sneered at her as he ran a finger through her blood that dripped from the tip of his sword.  “You’re not fit now.  I’ll come when you’re healed then you’ll be mine.”   He looked up at the stranger getting closer, turned and ran.

The stranger came to her, her sword still tightly gripped in her right hand.  She dropped to her knees, never releasing her sword.  The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth from where she’d bitten her tongue.  She looked up with pain bleary eyes, expecting to see reproach or perhaps opportunity.  If this man decided to claim her as Zlaten had, she could not fight him off.  Instead she saw compassion.  He removed his shirt and took great care to wrap her back to staunch the flow of blood.  Jenala hissed at the contact, white flashing light blurred her vision.  She knew he tried his best to cause her as little pain as possible, but it didn’t matter Jenala didn’t know if she could handle the searing pain another moment.  He picked her up and carried her toward town.  The only person who could help was the town nupenian, who cared for animals.  The quack they had for a doctor would surely kill her and she wasn’t taking the chance.  Brenton could sew her up as well as the doctor could.

“Take me to the nupenian,” she said, her voice little more than a croak.

~~~~

swords_riza

BOOK PEEK  ~ THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – RIZA by Cynthia Woolf

Dr. Riza Lamrona is on the run from a notorious space pirate. She knows his secrets and he wants her dead.

Darick Remaul was a Star Patrol detective who’s trained in trouble and sees it in Riza. He also sees beneath the baggy clothes and glasses to the beautiful woman underneath. Will he be able to get beneath her defenses before the pirate accomplishes his deadly task?

EXCERPT  ~ THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – RIZA by Cynthia Woolf

“Ow!  Are you trying to kill me, Doc?”

The man was understandably nervous, but he had to allow her to set his leg.  She knew he was in a lot of pain.  The bone stuck out through the skin and he had lost a lot of blood, but he needed to relax so she could set the leg.

“I haven’t even started yet.  Stop being a baby.  Here we go.  You’ll feel a little pinch in your neck, then count backwards from one hundred.”

“Ouch!  Little pinch!”

“Count, now!”

“One hundred, ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven, ninety….”

“Finally.”  Riza worked quickly, not sure just how long he would stay out.  She opened his leg, surgically implanted two kalcion rods and several screws to secure them to the bones.  It would have been so much easier with a med-tech unit.  But there were none on Gregara.  They weren’t allowed.  There were many things on the other civilized planets that weren’t allowed here, like blasters, but for some reason blasters always seemed to make it through the customs process.  In Ruciem it seemed that as many people carried blasters as carried the traditional kalcion sword.

Most of the planet preferred to keep their customs, barbaric as they were.  They used swords, not blasters and preferred the body to heal itself without help from technology.  It made her work much more difficult.  A broken leg like this one could have been healed in a few hours in a med-tech unit.

She stitched everything closed.  Doing surgeries like this one allowed her to keep her skills sharp.  It may not be necessary, but this man would have the smallest stitches ever put on a leg repair.  Her skills as a plastic surgeon might not be usable here, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t keep her stitching up to par.

With her patient now awake and groggy, Riza went to talk to the next of kin.  There was only one man in the waiting room.  An extremely attractive man, if you liked handsome in a rugged sort of way.  He hadn’t shaved recently and his inky black hair was on the long side, tied back with a leather strap.  It suited him.

He stood as she approached.  Well over six feet tall, he towered over her own five feet, ten inch height.

“Mr. Remaul?” she said holding out her hand.

“Yes.”   His hand engulfed hers.

“I’m Riza Lamrona.”

“Doctor.  How is Tarin?”

“He’ll be fine, but he’s going to have to stay in bed for a week or so before he’s ready to travel.  I want to make sure the bones start to mend properly.  Can you arrange that?”

“Of course.  We have rooms at Wardson’s Bedstay.”

She nodded.  “I wish there was a hospital here.  A med-tech unit would be even better but….”

“I guess they don’t think they need one.”

“Well, he will heal fine, but it could be so much faster and better.  You’re not from around here, are you?”

“No.  I came from Alerkan a couple of years ago.  And you, where are you from?”

“I’m from many places.  Alerkan is one of them.”  Riza retreated to her work.  She didn’t want to make small talk.  Her secrets were too dangerous.  “Here are some pills to help with the pain.  Have Tarin take them.  Don’t let him try to ‘tough’ it out.  Sarina Wardson is used to my sending her patients to care for.  I’ll check on him in the morning.”

“What time do you want him here?”

“Oh, I’m staying with Sarina myself until I find a place of my own.  I’ll come by before I head to work.”

“Good.”

“Yes.  Um. Well.  It was nice to meet you.”  Riza wasn’t usually tongue-tied but she seemed to be with this man.

“You, too.  Perhaps, since you are staying at Wardson’s, I’ll see you at dinner tonight.”

“Unless I get an emergency call, you can count on it.”

~~~~

swords_honora_(2)_2

BOOK PEEK  ~ THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – HONORA by Cynthia Woolf

They stole her love, her life and want to steal the secrets secured in her mind. Secrets that could topple world governments and decimate quadrant security forever.  Now she’s on an epic quest to find out why and make those responsible pay.

Honora Reyestat gave up everything to become a member of the esteemed Gregarian Guard.  No family, no friends, no connections–nothing that can ever be used against her.  Captured and enslaved, she’s become a prized gladiator for her master.  Given the task of training a new slave, she recognizes a fellow Zolthor and the son of a tribal leader at that.  Her mission changes from discovery of the enemy’s tactics and secrets to returning Joridan to his people.

Drawn to this fierce woman as no other, Joridan Dolana tries to explain she is wrong.  He’s not Zolthor, he’s Centauri.  He was raised on Centauri with his sister.  Faced with proof of a father’s ultimate betrayal, he must choose between revenge and the protection of this woman who has sworn to never return his love.

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EXCERPT  ~ THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – HONORA by Cynthia Woolf

“Oww” a woman’s voice awash with pain reached his ears.

“You disappoint me, Honora.  You continue to try to escape me.  When will you learn?” asked a whiney voiced man.

The whip struck flesh.  Again the woman moaned but didn’t scream.  She didn’t scream.

When he woke again he was not alone but the man with the whip was gone.  Chained across the room from him, hung by her wrists, was a woman.  He could see the lash marks on her back. Lash upon lash, new over old.  They obstructed the beautiful tattoo of a dragon on her back.  The blood hard to see within the red of the dragon.

Crawling to her he released her hands from the chains holding her up.  She collapsed in a heap on the floor.  He crawled back to his side of the room as darkness overtook him once more.

*****

The dried blood on her back cracked with each movement, but she worked through the pain as she stretched.  Breathed deep and accepted the pain.  Her sword weighed heavier in her hand than usual.  More evidence of the lashing two nights ago.  She looked down at the unconscious man at her feet.  A new recruit.  A Zolthor,  like herself.  Another reason Perdor punished her for her attempted escape, her sixth try in as many months.

This last punishment was the worst.  Five lashes.  Not enough to incapacitate her but enough to make her remember.  Perdor wanted her to be able to train the new slave.  He wanted them to be a team, good enough to take on all contenders.  He’d be the only owner with two Zolthor fighting for him.  Not just one, but a team.  He was practically wetting himself in anticipation of the beras that he’ll win with a team of Zolthor fighters.

Again she looked down on the naked man.  Long brown lashes lay against his cheek.  A nice contrast to his golden blond hair.  What color eyes did they hide?  Blue?  Green?  Brown perhaps.  She’d find out soon enough.

He was a beautiful man.  Well formed.  Broad shoulders.  Trim waist.  Long muscular legs.  He looked like a warrior.  Would be a good fighter.  Maybe even a good lover as he appeared well endowed there as well.

He’d awakened from the drug induced sleep long enough to crawl over and release her from the chains.  For that she was grateful.  Her wrists didn’t hurt as much as usual because of him.  Using her blades was easier than it had been after her previous punishments.

Time to wake up the sleeping man and get him trained.  Time was short and she intended to make the most of it.  He would learn or he would die.

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA AND HER SWORDS OF GREGARA SERIES:

Website:  www.cynthiawoolf.com

Blog:  www.cynthiawoolf.com/blog

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Cynthia Woolf’s CENTAURI Series

centauri_dawn_cover1    centauri_twilight_coverFLYER    Space and astronomy

I hope you enjoy the recipe Cynthia is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s.  Happy eating!

Karen

P.S.  We’re at 72 recipes and counting with this posting.  Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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MONSTER COOKIES

1 pound butter

1 dozen eggs

2 pounds brown sugar

4 cups white sugar

1 large package M&M

1 large package Reeses Pieces

1 large package chocolate chips

1 large package butterscotch chips

3 pounds peanut butter

8 teaspoons baking soda

1 tablespoon white Karo syrup

2 teaspoons vanilla

18 cups oatmeal

In extra large bowl, cream butter, peanut butter, vanilla and sugars.  Move to extra large soup pot.  Add dry ingredients then add candies.  Drop by tablespoon full.  Makes 22 dozen cookies.  Dough freezes well and the recipe can easily be cut in half or quarters.

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**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Cynthia will give away a kindle  gift (or Nook or Smashwords coupon) of SWORDS OF GREGARA – HONORA to one lucky reader, as well as a $5 Starbucks gift to a second lucky reader!!  Comment on either her Monday Interview and/or Wednesday’s Karen’s Killer Book Bench blogs for a chance to win.  Winners will be randomly selected and announced Monday, January 21, 2013.  Thanks, Cynthia, for sharing your stories with us!

Karen's Drop-In Diary

Karen’s Killer Drop-In ~ 01-17-13 ~ Tribute to Author CJ Snyder

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[[Welcome to my weekly writer’s diary where I’ll share my “Woot Woot!” moments and the not so “woot woot” moments of my writing world. And, yes, I might even share the occasional musing or two about reading and writing, two of my favorite things!]]

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Dear Diary,

            It’s Thursday ~ 01/17/13 ~ and…

It’s been a difficult week.  I lost one of my dearest friends on Sunday.  CJ Snyder – or Jan as I knew her – passed suddenly and all of us who knew and loved her are still in a state of disbelief and shock.  She’d successfully beat breast cancer and was looking forward to taking her writing career to the next level when pancreatic cancer took her from us.

She had such a bright future in front of her. She published three wonderful romantic suspense novels that garnered her lots of fans – MAVERICK; WHILE YOU WERE DEAD and DEAD RECKONING (the first two books in her Black Fire trilogy). She was working on the final book in the series, DEAD TO RIGHT, and had more stories to share than she had time to write. She had a remarkably creative mind and an incredible writing talent.

Maverick    while You were dead    dead reckoning

Her books reflected her strength of character, her ability to see the good and the bad in people. She was genuine, spiritual, generous, sweet, and gave of herself to everyone she met. Over the twelve years we were critique partners, I came to depend on her weekly insights, her support and encouragement and, most of all, her friendship.

It’s thanks to Jan that I write romantic suspense. I struggled for years to make inroads into the traditional contemporary romance markets. When I began to reevaluate my career path, she asked me why I didn’t try to write for the romantic suspense market. I told her I couldn’t write suspense. She looked me in the eye and said, “But you already do.” It was a jaw-dropping moment for me. She was right. Almost every one of my contemporary romances held elements of suspense and I’d been stifling my voice.  She knew my heart before I did.  She freed my inner suspense writer and I’ll be forever grateful.

Her passing has left a huge hole in my heart. I miss her terribly. The past week has been exceedingly hard.  But, I also know I wouldn’t have missed having her in my life even knowing she’d be taken too soon. She was my sister in every way that mattered.

Jan leaves behind four children and nine grandchildren, her mother, sister, two brothers and a lot of friends she turned into family.

Rest in peace, my friend. I love you!

Learn more about CJ Snyder:  http://www.cjsnyderbooks.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/CJ-Snyder/e/B007YT8Q74/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

See you next Thursday for another entry in Karen’s Diary Drop-In….

 

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Herb Fried Chicken

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  It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me.  I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is HERB FRIED CHICKEN!!

I don’t think you can have too many ways to make chicken. This is a favorite because it’s flavorful and easy to pull together, even if you start preparing the chicken the night before. And you can’t beat fried chicken…in any form! 🙂

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.  Happy eating!

Karen

P.S.  We’re at 73 recipes and counting with this posting.  Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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HERBED FRIED CHICKEN
[Serves 4]

 

2 lb. chicken, cut into pieces
2 cups prepared Italian, or other flavored salad dressing
1 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
2 cups bread crumbs

In the refrigerator, marinate chicken pieces overnight in salad dressing.  Mix flour, salt and pepper.  Drain chicken; dredge in flour mixture of flour, salt and pepper.  Dip in salad dressing and roll in crumbs.  Fry in hot deep fat (330 degrees) for 8-10 minutes.

Karen's Drop-In Diary

Karen’s Killer Drop-In Diary ~ 01-10 -13 ~ The Tortoise & The Hare

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[[Welcome to my weekly writer’s diary where I’ll share my “Woot Woot!” moments and the not so “woot woot” moments of my writing world. And, yes, I might even share the occasional musing or two about reading and writing, two of my favorite things!]]

~~~~

Dear Diary,

            It’s Thursday ~ 01/10/13 ~ and…

I want to be like both characters in Aesop’s fable, The Tortoise & The Hare.

Let me back up a bit.  For those of you unfamiliar with the basics of Aesop’s tale, the hare challenges the tortoise to a race. Certain he’ll run rings around the much slower tortoise the hare takes a nap, only to wake up and find the tortoise has slowly, methodically kept moving until he’s crossed the Finish line.  The moral of the story is that slow and steady will win the day.

In principle, this works. I’m trying to be slow and steady as I recover from surgery and the holidays and a host of other things.  I finally took Christmas down a couple of days ago, but the house looks too much like a bear pit without the holiday sparkles to hide the dust and debris. I’m now able to sit at my desk for a while, rather than lounging on the couch with my feet kicked up all day.  I’m even beginning to work my way through some of the business projects that have languished over the last month of inattention.

But, like the hare, I’m chompin’ on the bit to launch into a foot race. I have a suspense novel I need to finish. I have a short story for Valentine’s Day lurking in the corner of my mind. I’m gearing up my promotion efforts. My personal blogs need some attention, too.  I have so much to do that I’m longing to pick up speed to get it all done, especially with another surgery date looming on the horizon.

I guess I keep expecting to bounce back like I used to when I was younger, way back when I could fit into my figurative Wonder Woman outfit.  I know that lifestyle was not good for me – I can chalk up many of my current health issues to those years of eighteen-hour days – but I do wish I could accomplish now what I accomplished then.

Mentally, I want to sprint. Physically? I’m stuck with a slower pace. I know I’ll get back to full speed again one of these days, but that wasn’t much comfort when I made the decision yesterday to put my Valentine’s Day short on the back burner. There is simply not enough time to write the story, not if I want to get back to work on Killing Secrets. I’m not even back in my writing chair every day.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m doing amazingly well recovering from my knee surgery. And I am beginning to pick up the reins of my writing again.  It’s just taking more time than I had hoped, and I’m eager to put this part of the healing process behind me.

Now, if I can only figure out how to plod steadily through everything like the tortoise, write fast and furiously like the hare, and still find time to take a nap, I’d be golden!

See you next Thursday — and a New Year — for another rousing entry in Karen’s Diary Drop-In….

 

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: 25 Minute Beef & Salsa Burritos

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  It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Over the years, I’ve filled two 4-inch, 3-ring binders with my own creations as well as recipes my family and friends were willing to share with me.  I simply love to cook and want to share that love with my readers.

So every Friday, I share one recipe I think you and your family might enjoy. It might be a main course recipe. A cookie or baked item. Candy. Salads. Whatever strikes my eye and fancy…which today is 25 MINUTE BEEF & SALSA BURRITOS!!

There are simply some nights you need to whip together something fast and satisfying. No muss, no fuss. This is one of those recipes. 25 minutes and you’ve got a filling meal for eight on the table. If spinach isn’t your thing, replace it with sliced red and green peppers. 

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s.  Happy eating!

Karen

P.S.  We’re at 72 recipes and counting with this posting.  Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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25 MINUTE BEEF & SALSA BURRITOS
[Serves 8]

 

1 ¼ lbs. ground beef
1 ½ T. chili powder
½ tsp. ground cumin
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
1 ¼ cups prepared chunky salsa
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
8 medium flour tortillas, warmed

In large non-stick skillet, brown ground beef.  Pour off drippings.  Season beef with chili powder, cumin, ½ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper.  Stir in spinach and salsa; heat through.  Remove from heat; stir in cheese.  Spoon ½ cup beef mixture in center of tortilla.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with Jodie Pierce

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  Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with JODIE PIERCE

Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!!  Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors.

Introducing author, JODIE PIERCE, and her favorite recipe for CHEESECAKE!

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About the author, Jodie Pierce….

Jodie Pierce is thirty-seven years old and lives with her hubby, John in Cleveland, Ohio along with four beautiful step-children. She has had a fascination with vampires since they were introduced to her as a child and has had a long history with them. It wasn’t until she started reading the Anne Rice vampire books that she was truly inspired. She was an exchange student in Brasil in high school so you can find some of her experiences from there in her stories. Many of her stories have historical or researched facts as she also enjoys research and learning about new places. She has published five short novels (Eternal Press), a short story in “Midnight Thirst 2”, an anthology(Melange Books), has two self-published books and has several short stories that she still works on. She’s always busy with the next great vampire story as her mind is non-stop and even plagues her dreams.

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BOOK PEEK  ~ THE DEMISE OF THE VAMPIRE QUEEN by Jodie Pierce

The Queen is once again ruling her subjects only this time it is a school for the ‘different’ children in Scotland. A school full of vampires, witches, warlocks, elves and fairies, one that is feared and hated by all who attend. A new group of witches and warlocks show up to her gates and cause all kinds of havoc within the school. Vampires and witches are at odds and only a few can see the survival of the school. An ancient lover and the Queen are reunited but at what costs? A new, as well as an old lover unite to attempt to take the Queen off her throne. Will it work? Will the Queen maintain her horrendous rule over the students? Can the spells woven work and change history? All will be told in the end.

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CONNECT WITH JODIE AND HER BOOKS:

I hope you enjoy the recipe Jodie is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s.  Happy eating!

Karen

P.S.  We’re at 71 recipes and counting with this posting.  Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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CHEESECAKE

2 8-oz packages of cream cheese

2-tubes of crescent rolls

1-cup sugar

1-egg separated

1 tsp. vanilla

Sprinkle cinnamon (Optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread out one tube of crescent roll on wax paper so it’s 11×9 size. Grease bottom of 11×9 baking pan and place crescent roll in bottom. Stretch to fit all sides. Mix together cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and egg yolk until creamy. Spread mixture on top of crescent roll in pan. Spread out second crescent roll on wax paper to size of pan. Peel off and place on top of cream cheese mixture, spreading to all sides of the pan. Whip up the egg white and lightly brush it on top of crescent roll. Sprinkle sugar on top and finish with a light dusting of cinnamon on top (optional). Bake for 25 mins or until golden brown. Chill completely and serve cold. Enjoy!

Karen's Drop-In Diary

Karen’s Killer Drop-In Diary ~ 12-27-12 ~ A Year in Review & Looking Forward!

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[[Welcome to my weekly writer’s diary where I’ll share my “Woot Woot!” moments and the not so “woot woot” moments of my writing world. And, yes, I might even share the occasional musing or two about reading and writing, two of my favorite things!]]

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Dear Diary,

            It’s Thursday ~ 12/27/12 ~ and…

…this is my last entry for 2012. Wow. Where did the year go?! Weren’t we just celebrating Independence Day? 🙂

Maybe not. But time sure has flown the past year and, looking back, I have a lot to be grateful for, both in my professional and personal life. The year hasn’t been all sun and roses but the good things so far outweigh the bad that I can’t help but focus today’s list on the good.

A Year in Review….

1.  I finally launched my writing career and place my stories in reader hands.  I had been focused solely on my romantic suspense series — which I’m still working on — but my wonderful critique partners convinced me that I had stories on both the light and dark sides of romance that readers would enjoy.  So, on Valentine’s Day, I debuted my first romantic comedy, SATIN PLEASURES, on Amazon. This book was one that did well in the traditional markets, even won a few impressive accolades in writing contests, but there was never an open spot for it with traditional publishers.  It made sense to give new life to one of my favorite contemporary stories. One, BTW, that was a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist!

2.  The decision to release SATIN PLEASURES exclusively on Amazon turned out to be a good one. Although I did get the story into other formats for a time, I ended up coming back to Amazon because that’s where I found my readers.  I sponsored three separate FREE days on Amazon over the year so that readers could sample my work. One of those times, I hit Amazon’s Best Selling list at #1 for two consecutive days. I can’t tell you how it felt knowing my story had been downloaded to so many Kindles. It was like hitting the jackpot. I ran around the house in a state of stunned confusion for nearly a week. Things like that just don’t happen to me. Now, if even half of those readers actually read it — we all know how many download books never to read them — I’ll be a happy writer.

3.  I’ve learned a LOT about social media and being my own boss this past year. Nothing like jumping into the deep end, feet first, and then learning to swim!  This was quite a shock to me.  I’d aimed at the traditional markets for years and thought I was prepared for the concept of self-publishing — I do have over 30 years in business management, being my own boss, too — but I didn’t have a clue what it would entail to connect with readers on my own. But, decision made, I waded into the fray and built a reader base on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Triberr, my blog and website. I have to admit there were days I railed at the necessity because it takes so much time from my writing, which is really what I’d love to do all day, every day, but it’s getting easier. It only takes me the morning to get through my social media, eight emails, nine Yahoo Groups lists, and a partriiiidge in a pear tree! 🙂

4.  Another first for me this year was my attempt to write a shorter story. Those who know me know that I write lonnnnnnng. My romantic suspense is going to top out at 90,000 plus…I think.  Even the thought of writing anything shorter than 50,000 words gave me hives. My romantic comedies are around that word count. So, I could never envision myself writing shorter, and you know what they say about saying “never”! I had a Christmas story pop into my head at the end of October and decided to aim for a short story…or allow it to tear at my psyche for an entire ‘nother year. CATCH THAT SANTA ended up being longer than I intended, almost a full novella length, but it was the shortest story I’ve ever told and it released the day after Thanksgiving. It was exciting to know that I could actually do it. I’ve decided to try to write Holiday Shorts periodically, just for the fun of shaking things up a bit.   I already have a Valentine’s Day story niggling at my brain so we’ll see how it goes!

5.  On the personal front, I’m getting my health ducks in a row. Been working on losing weight and getting back on my feet. Literally.  Spending the past two years essentially shutting down my activities prompted me and my docs into working harder to get my health back. I was fortunate to connect with superb orthopedic surgeon who gave me a whole new left knee for Christmas. I’m in physical therapy for next month or so, then it’s time to do the other knee. By springtime, this woman’s going to be as close to dancing as she can get!  If nothing else, I’ll be on the back of a motorcyle with my dear husband and able to do some exploring again.  🙂

Looking forward into 2013….

1.  I HAVE to finish KILLING SECRETS!!!! Soon. It may mean I have to put off writing the Valentine’s short story, but I need to turn my complete attention to finishing this first romantic suspense in the Thorne’s Thorns series.  Like my readers, I’m eager to see it completed. I finally opened up the file last night for first time in two months and read the first seven chapters through. I LOVE this story and think you will, too.  I’m setting a personal deadline of January 31st to get it done. I doubt I’ll have my second knee surgery before then so I’d like to finish it and get it published before I get sidetracked by health issues again. Cross your fingers!

2. If I have the time around KILLING SECRETS, I want to write my Valentine’s Day romantic comedy short story. But, if it comes to making a choice, my time’s going to belong to the suspense story. So, we’ll see.

3.  I figure my next knee surgery will  be scheduled around mid-February. This one is liable to lay me up a bit longer since it’s my right knee and the one that’s kept me mobile for past 5 years. Guess we’ll see how much rehab I can get into my left knee, huh?

4.  After KILLING SECRETS is done, I already have KILLING PROOF queued up.  Ben and Cynthia’s story is already started so picking it up next just makes sense. Ben is the second brother of the six who will get their own stories.

5.  I’ve purchased a Dragon Writer program for my computer so I can save my hands and wrists. I intend to upload and master this program as soon as possible. It’s going to be weird reading my story out loud into a computer and I’m a bit intimidated at the thought of my husband or kids or grandkids walking into my office in the middle of a racy or murder scene. Maybe I need to have a clock on the door with hands that point to the kind of scene I’m writing telling them to walk in at their own risk! LOL

6.  I’m going to explore new ways to connect with my readers. I’ve been essentially doing my promo solo, and I need to look into what a publicist might be able to help me with. After all, I’m a writer, not an advertising exec! (Do you hear Bones talking in your heads? I do! 🙂 ) The more time I can devote to my writing, the happier this writer will be.

7.  I do have another full-length romantic comedy in my head that I’d like to finish in 2013, too. I want to get the first two suspense books out first, though, so don’t know the timing on the comedy.  Aiming for early/mid summer.

I wish I could see past the summer months in 2013, but I’m still trying to get a handle on the current writing schedule around my personal and health things. I do know I’ll publish at least three stories in 2013. Four would be gravy.  Five? Not completely out of bounds if I write a couple of shorts and wrestle my schedule into line.

Ack! Who am I kidding? If my schedule could be wrestled, it would be. I’m just happy to HAVE a schedule I can manage for now.

I would like to wish every one of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope it’s everything you want it to be, that you realize your dreams and find the happiness you all deserve.

See you next Thursday — and a New Year — for another rousing entry in Karen’s Diary Drop-In….