Category Archives: Karen’s Killer Fixin’s

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s Author Special with Christine Warner

July 12, 2013 Karen Docter 8 Comments

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with CHRISTINE WARNER

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, CHRISTINE WARNER, and her favorite recipe for THE JUICY LUCY!

About the author, Christine Warner….

Christine Warner is living her dream in Michigan along with her husband, three children, one laptop and a much loved assortment of furry friends.

Besides laughing and a good round of humor, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, writing but no arithmitic. A confessed people watcher, she finds inspiration for her stories in everyday activities. She loves to read and write about strong heroes and determined, sometimes sassy, heroines.

A girl gone wild, at least where social media is concerned, she enjoys meeting other avid readers and writers on facebook, twitter and her website.

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[Editor’s Note: Entangled Publishing is revamping their Indulgence Line covers and Christine’s cover will be replaced July 15th. To avoid confusion, I’m placing both covers here so you, my wonderful readers, know what you’re looking for.]

BACHELOR’S SPECIAL by CHRISTINE WARNER

Book Blurb

Jill Adgate wants three things from life: a successful catering business, a family, and the love of an exceptional man. What she has is no job, a mounting pile of bills, and her outspoken best friend—who sets her up on a blind date with the man who inadvertently ruined Jill’s life.

Chet Castle is a businessman who has everything, except the ability to trust. Burned by a money-hungry fiancée, he refuses to get involved in any relationship that has a shelf life longer than a head of lettuce.

Intrigued by her ambition—and determined to get her in bed—Chet offers Jill the chance of a lifetime: work as his live-in chef and he’ll help her get her catering business off the ground. When sparks fly in the kitchen, Jill realizes what’s cooking is a recipe for disaster…

BACHELOR’S SPECIAL

Excerpt

Author’s Note: The excerpt I’m sharing has a little taste from both Jill and Chet’s perspective. ENJOY!

Her body hummed as his smile wavered. Although he wore sunglasses, she’d bet her last dollar his gaze swept across her chest, lingering on the betrayal of her pert nipples pushing against the fabric of her suit.

Until this moment, shyness had never been a trait she possessed. Air stalled in her lungs, her palms grew sweaty, and she itched to cover herself with a towel. Even though her replica vintage swimsuit hid more than most sets of women’s underwear, she felt too exposed. She turned to the side slightly and folded her legs up. Not that it helped, but it made her feel a bit less exposed.

Chet slid his feet from his sandals, brushing a hand through his hair. The heat from the sun wasn’t the only thing scorching her skin. She trickled several droplets of water over her arms, but she couldn’t drag her focus from his toned flesh.

Jill soaked in his ripped abs and the obvious package of goodies covered by his brown swimsuit—the same sexy brown as his hair. Damn, did a man have a right to fill out a pair of swimming trunks like that? Flecks of hair, just enough to give him a manly appeal, covered the etched muscles of his long, tan legs.

She licked her lips, hoping she could still speak. “Do you want some privacy?” Yes, say yes. She needed an excuse to make an escape without coming off like someone desperate to be making an exit.

***

Hell no, he didn’t want privacy. Through the shield of his sunglasses, he inspected her body from the tips of her pink-painted toenails to the top of her brightly flowered swimming cap. Did people still actually wear those things? “No, you look comfortable. Stay and enjoy the day.”

“Oh…are you sure?”

“Sure.”

Amazed at his own ability to talk without his tongue hitting the cement, Chet turned to throw his towel and sunglasses on a nearby lounge chair. Damn.

The red and white polka-dot halter-style suit featured a tight bodice, but her slender hips and shapely thighs hiding beneath a matching skirt grabbed his attention until all oxygen left his blood. Even showing less skin than the average girl on the beach, she far exceeded sexy and alluring.

Get a grip, Castle. She’s off limits, no matter how delectable.

He turned and stepped onto the diving board. He bounced along the surface as he made his way over the water. When he looked at Jill’s bathing cap covering her head, he held back his grin. The neon rubber flowers reminded him of something his grandmother would’ve worn, but there the similarity ended.

Everything beneath that cap was far from making him think of Grandma.

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CONNECT WITH CHRISTINE AND HER BOOK:

Website: http://christine-warner.com/

Twitter under @ChristinesWords: https://twitter.com/#!/ChristinesWords

Facebook page : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Warner/143430882396013

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5763713.Christine_Warner

BUY LINKS:

Barnes & Nobel: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bachelors-special-christine-warner/1115250848?ean=9781622661312

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bachelors-Special-Entangled-Indulgence-ebook/dp/B00CNTSVB6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369342052&sr=8-1&keywords=christine+warner

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Bachelors-Special/book-ymNN_qSIaUi8PBWwPe_JyA/page1.html?s=K2kMxRAOXE-3u7T7udMTew&r=2

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 99 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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THE JUICY LUCY
[Makes 1 Burger]

The recipe Christine is sharing is one that is mentioned in Bachelor’s Special. Jill is a chef, but one night Chet decides to take Jill out to the Burger Bar and give her a break from the kitchen. In the process Jill has an adventure with a new burger.

THE JUICY LUCY…perfect for this summer’s menu.

Lightly mix 6 ounces ground beef chuck with a big pinch of salt. (I use sea salt)

Form into two equal balls, and then shape into two flat patties.

Take 2 slices of your favorite prepackaged cheese. (I use American and Swiss). After I open each slice and divide into 4 smaller individual slices…so I finish with 8 tiny squares. You can also leave them whole if you prefer and just lay each slice on top of the other on one patty.

After you have your cheese on one patty, place the other patty on the top and crimp along the edges so that the cheese is hidden and you have 1 patty total. Make an indentation in the center of the patty.

Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat; sprinkle the skillet with salt. Cook the burger 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve on a soft bun with your favorite toppings and enjoy the gooey cheese-filled center when you bit into your Juicy Lucy.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: BBQ Mexican Sandwiches w/Tomato Salsa

July 5, 2013 Karen Docter 2 Comments

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 BBQ MEXICAN SANDWICHES with TOMATO SALSA!!

Since this recipe uses tortillas and not bread, some might quibble about calling these sandwiches. But not quibbling! These are a flavorful lunch or dinner, and sooooo easy to make with just a little forethought for marinating time. Have to love the grill cooking, too. No heat in the kitchen…a real bonus if it’s a hot, summer day!

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 98 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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BBQ MEXICAN SANDWICHES

¼ cup olive oil
1 large 1 ½ lb. flank steak
¼ cup white vinegar
12 large flour tortillas
½ tsp oregano
1 ripe avocado
1/8 tsp pepper
3 cloves garlic

Stir together oil, vinegar, oregano pepper and garlic. Pour over meat in close-fitting container, marinate for 6 hrs to overnight. To cook, drain meat and place on grill. Cook 5-8 min each side. Cut across grain for thin slices. Heat tortillas, stuff with meat, top with salsa.

Tomato Salsa: Use container with lid, combine 2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped, 3 finely chopped green onions (include tops), 2 T. chopped canned green chiles, 2 T. chopped cilantro and 1 T. olive oil. Cover and refrigerate at least 5 hrs. Fold in chopped avocado before serving.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Rice Pudding

June 28, 2013 Karen Docter 6 Comments

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Rice pudding is one of my husband’s favorites. It’s funny I didn’t learn that early in our marriage. As the “perfect” wife, you’d think I’d have figured it out. Although it kind of fit into the same “I should have known” story I tell of when I went to the trouble of mastering the “over easy” egg. I didn’t eat eggs back then so I had to work really hard to learn how to make them, only to find out years later that he actually preferred his eggs with broken yolks and over hard! 🙂 Ah, well, at least I can now make eggs any way anyone likes them.

When my husband reads today’s Fixin’s, he’ll be craving a batch of rice pudding. It’s been a while. Nice thing is he can have his pudding, and eat it, too! This one won’t heat up the kitchen. He might even make it himself. Wanna bet it’s a double batch? 🙂

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 97 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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RICE PUDDING
[Serves 6-8]

3 beaten eggs
½ tsp. salt
2 cups milk
2 cups cooked rice
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup raisins
1 tsp. vanilla
ground cinnamon
light cream

In 2-quart casserole, combine eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla and salt. Add rice and raisins. Mix well. Microwave, uncovered, just until thickened, 8-10minutes, stirring every 1½-2 minutes. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Let stand 30 minutes without stirring. Serve warm or chilled with light cream.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Maple Barbecue Ribs

June 21, 2013 Karen Docter Leave a comment

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted any pork recipes. In keeping with my “no heating the kitchen” theme from last week, I chose these ribs because they can be done quickly on the grill. It also has a flavor variation you might find appealing for another night. Sweet or Tangy? You’ll have recipes for both. Make up a moist, flavorful potato salad. Microwave some fresh peas, and you’re good to go!

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 96 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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MAPLE BARBECUE RIBS
[Serves 6]

¼ cup maple sugar
1 T. firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 T. Worcestershire Sauce
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tsp. paprika
1½ tsp. dry mustard powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
4 racks (1½ lb. each) baby back pork ribs

To make marinade, place all ingredients except ribs in large bowl. Stir well to combine. Place ribs in bowl in batches and rub marinade over surface to coat. Cover and leave to marinate for at least 1 hour, but preferably overnight, in refrigerator. Preheat broiler or grill to medium heat. Place ribs under broiler or on grill, reserving marinade. Cook, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 25-30 minutes. Baste with any extra marinade during cooking. Serve immediately.

NOTE: For tangy ribs, replace Worcestershire sauce, mustard and spices with ½ tsp. five-spice powder and 2 tsp. grated ginger.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Grilled Shrimp Satay w/Ginger & Lime

June 14, 2013 Karen Docter Leave a comment

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

It’s summertime and the last thing many of us want to do is heat up the house. If you’re like us, you’re grilling as much as possible. This is a fun, fast, and FLAVORFUL recipe for the shrimp lovers out there. Make a green salad and butter some chewy French bread and you’ve got a filling family meal without even turning on a stove or oven.

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 95 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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GRILLED SHRIMP SATAY WITH GINGER & LIME
[Serves 4]

1 lime
3 T. olive oil
3 T. soy sauce
2 scallions, white & green parts, chopped
1 ½ tsp. grated fresh ginger
20 lg. shrimp (@ 1 ½ lbs.), peeled, deveined
Flavorless vegetable oil spray
4 wooden skewers, 8-10 inches long
Peanut Dipping Sauce (Bonus recipe below)

Grate zest from the lime and reserve ¾ teaspoon. Juice the lime. In shallow glass, ceramic, or other nonreactive dish, combined lime zest and juice, olive oil, soy sauce, scallions and ginger and mix well. Add shrimp, turn to coat and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Prepare a charcoal or gas grill so that coals or heating elements are medium-hot. Off the heat, lightly spray grate with vegetable oil spray. Soak the wooden skewers in cold water until ready to use. Remove the shrimp from marinade and discard marinade. Thread 5 shrimp onto each skewer and grill for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and just cooked through. Serve immediately with Peanut Dipping Sauce (see below).

PEANUT DIPPING SAUCE
[Makes ½ cup]

2 tsp. canola oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ tsp. red pepper flakes
½ cup hoisin sauce
3 T. chunky peanut butter
½ cup water
Juice of 2 limes

In a small sauté pan, heat the oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, or until lightly golden brown. Add pepper flakes and sauté for a few seconds. Stir in hoisin sauce, peanut butter and water, and reduce the heat to medium-low so the sauce simmers gently. Add lime juice and simmer, stirring, for 3-4 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Let sauce cool to room temperature. Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 week in a lidded container.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Unbaked Peanut Butter Cookies

June 7, 2013 Karen Docter Leave a comment

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

It’s summertime and the last thing many of us want to do is turn on the oven to bake cookies. However, that doesn’t mean we have to do without homemade cookies for the next three months. Many of you might recognize this old-fashioned recipe. I know it was a family favorite when I was growing up. They’re flavorful — I really like peanut butter — and quick to make…without heating up the house!

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 94 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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UNBAKED PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups Special K cereal

Bring to rolling boil, sugar and syrup. Turn off heat. Add peanut butter, vanilla. Mix. Add Special K and stir and drop by teaspoon on greased waxed paper.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin

May 31, 2013 Karen Docter Leave a comment

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

This is one of my favorite chicken dishes, even if I don’t allow myself to make it often. Since I’m a big bacon fan, I usually use more than the required amount but that’s just me. It’s just too easy to pig out! Pun intended. 🙂

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 93 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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SLOW COOKER COQ AU VIN
[Serves 4]

3 slices bacon, cut in ¾ inch pieces
1 pkg. (10 oz.) mushrooms, cut in half
2 cups frozen pearl onions
1 chicken, 3½-4 lb. cut up and skinned
1 onion, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup dry red wine
2 T. tomato paste
1 bay leaf
¾ cup chicken broth
Salt & Pepper

In non-stick skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until brown. Drain bacon on paper towel. Meanwhile, in 5-6 quart slow cooker, combine mushrooms and frozen pearl onions; set aside. Sprinkle chicken pieces with ½ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper. In skillet with bacon fat, cook chicken (in 2 batches if necessary) over med-high heat until browned, about 10 minutes. Place chicken over vegetables in slow cooker. Discard drippings from skillet. Reduce heat to medium; add onion and carrot and cook 2 minutes or until onion softens, stirring frequently. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute. Add wine, tomato paste, and bay leaf; heat to boiling stirring to dissolve tomato paste. Pour wine mixture and broth over chicken pieces. Cover slow cooker and cook on low 8 hours or on high 4 hours. To serve, discard bay leaf. Serve over mashed potatoes or rice.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Bierox

May 24, 2013 Karen Docter 2 Comments

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

Bierox is a German version of a hamburger. My best friend shared this recipe with me because she knows I make my own homemade sauerkraut and love to find new recipes that uses it. I’m so glad I found this one to share because I haven’t made it since she first introduced me to them, and that just won’t do! Guess what I’m making sometime soon? 🙂

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 92 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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BIEROX
[Serves LOTS]

Filling:

Brown 1 ½ lb. ground beef.

Add 16 oz. sauerkraut, 1 pkg. onion soup mix, salt & cayenne pepper to taste.

Make your favorite soft dough/roll recipe with 1 pkg. yeast. Let rise until double or refrigerate up to 24 hours to rise. Then, divide into 4 parts to work. Roll each part to ¼-inch thickness and cut into 4” squares. Place 2 heaping tablespoons filling on each square and pinch corners together to seal. (Or cut dough into circles and fold to half circles.) Let rise another 15-20 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes on greased sheet.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Two-Tone Fudge

May 17, 2013 Karen Docter 1 Comment

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 TWO-TONE FUDGE!!

This is a fun recipe and an impressive gift for the holidays or that special occasion or just for the fun of it! I love the two flavors blended together.

I hope you enjoy today’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating! Karen P.S. We’re at 91 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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TWO-TONE FUDGE

1/2 cup softened butter (+ 1-1/2 Tbl. to grease pan)
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar 1 cup evaporated milk
½ cup walnuts 1 jar marshmallow
1 tsp. vanilla 1 pkg. (6 oz.) butterscotch chips
1 pkg. (6 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips

Combine brown sugar, sugar, milk, and butter in pan. Bring to full boil, over medium heat. Stirring. Boil 10 minutes over moderate heat. Remove from heat. Add marshmallow and vanilla. Stir until smooth. To 2 cups of hot mixture, add butterscotch and ½ of the walnuts. Stir until smooth. Pour into greased pan. To remaining mixture, add chocolate pieces and the rest of the walnuts. Stir until smooth. Pour over butterscotch. Chill.

Karen's Killer Fixin's

Karen’s Killer Fixin’s: Tangy Grilled Kabobs

May 10, 2013 Karen Docter Leave a comment

It’s time for Karen’s Killer Fixin’s!

There are a lot of different ways you can make kabobs. This version is simple, easy and tangy. Serve with a salad or rice and you’ve got a good meal. If you’re like me and like your marinades stronger, simply leave everything in the marinade longer than suggested.

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 90 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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TANGY GRILLED KABOBS
[Serves 6]

1 ½ lb. boneless beef sirloin steak or boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1½-inch pieces
Assorted cut-up fresh vegetables (peppers, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, etc.)

Prepare marinade of 1 cup MIRACLE WHIP Salad Dressing, 1 pkg. Italian Dressing Mix, 2 T. vinegar, and 2 T. water. Arrange meat and vegetables on skewers. Marinate at least ½ hour. Grill over medium-high coals 10-15 minutes to desired doneness, turning once and brushing with additional marinade.

NOTE: Can also be broiled in your oven if you can’t grill the kabobs.

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