Karen’s Killer Fixin’s
**AUTHOR SPECIAL**
with AMY ROSE BENNETT!

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, AMY ROSE BENNETT, and her favorite recipe: DARK CHOCOLATE GUINNESS CAKE!

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HOLLY AND HOPEFUL HEARTS
A Bluestocking Belles Collection
By AMY ROSE BENNETT, CAROLINE WARFIELD, JESSICA CALE, JUDE KNIGHT, NICOLE ZOLTACK, SHERRY EWING & SUSANA ELLIS

Blurb

When the Duchess of Haverford sends out invitations to a Yuletide house party and a New Year’s Eve ball at her country estate, Hollystone Hall, those who respond know that Her Grace intends to raise money for her favorite cause and promote whatever marriages she can. Eight assorted heroes and heroines set out with their pocketbooks firmly clutched and hearts in protective custody. Or are they?

***25% of the proceeds from HOLLY AND HOPEFUL HEARTS will be donated to the Malala Fund.***

HOLLY AND HOPEFUL HEARTS
A Bluestocking Belles Collection
By AMY ROSE BENNETT, CAROLINE WARFIELD, JESSICA CALE, JUDE KNIGHT, NICOLE ZOLTACK, SHERRY EWING & SUSANA ELLIS

The Bluestocking Belles’ 2016 Regency romance holiday box set, HOLLY AND HOPEFUL HEARTS, features eight novellas set in around a Yuletide house party at Hollystone Hall. My contribution is Dashing Through the Snow.

Dashing Through the Snow, by Amy Rose Bennett

Miss Kate Woodville, teacher and bluestocking, enjoys her independence, thank you very much. But when a very determined viscount insists she accompany him on a mad dash through the snow to Gretna Green to stop his younger sister, Violet, eloping with Kate’s own brother, she has little choice but to go. She’ll risk the ruin of her own pristine reputation if it means she can save Freddie from Lord Stanton’s wrath.

As they race along the road north and then back to Hollystone Hall in Buckinghamshire for a New Year’s Eve charity ball, hearts and wills are certain to collide. But will anyone—Freddie and Violet, or Kate and Lord Stanton—find the path to everlasting love?

EXCERPT

Kate Woodville, confirmed bluestocking, and Lord Stanton have found themselves—quite unexpectedly—sharing confidences late on Christmas Eve…

The heavy silence extended between them until Kate scraped up the courage to murmur, “Forgive me, my lord. Perhaps I have been too frank. It seems the wassail has loosened my tongue.” And made me fanciful.

“There is nothing to forgive,” said Lord Stanton. He gifted her with a warm smile that made her pulse dance oddly. “Thank you. For confiding in me. It cannot be easy to share such private matters.”

“No…” The moment stretched and Kate found that her gaze was trapped with Lord Stanton’s. The mood had shifted again, had become even more intimate. Tender yet also taut. Filled with expectation. It was too much to take in. If she stayed too much longer, she might begin to believe Lord Stanton cared for her which was utterly ridiculous.

She needed to go.

Kate stood and was taken aback to find she was a little light-headed from all the wassail and wine she’d drunk; she put a hand against the brocade covered back of the settee to steady herself. “I think I should retire.” She glanced at the mahogany longcase clock beside the door leading to the Great Hall and the stairs. It was almost midnight. “It is quite late.”

“Yes.” Lord Stanton rose also, a frown of concern creasing his brow as he regarded her. Perhaps he’d noticed she was slightly unsteady as he said, “Let me escort you.”

However Kate shook her head. “No, that won’t be necessary. Good night, my lord.” She crossed the room to the open doorway but as she took a step over the threshold, her slipper caught on the edge of the hall runner and she tripped. Gasping, she clutched at the doorframe but then strong male arms caught her and she found herself pulled up against Lord Stanton’s tall muscular frame, her back to his front.

“Careful now,” he murmured against her hair. His breath teased the hair at her temple, the curve of her ear, raising pleasurable goose-bumps along the exposed flesh of her neck.

“I… I’m not usually so clumsy.” She turned in his arms and attempted to take a step back so she could thank him eye to eye but Lord Stanton’s hold about her waist firmed.

“Well, well,” he said, his voice as rich and potent as the wassail punch they’d just been drinking. “Look where we are, Miss Woodville.” He glanced above their heads before his eyes met hers again. “Or may I call you Kate?”

“Whatever do you—?” Kate tilted her head up and then swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. Oh, no. A large garland of mistletoe—a kissing bough—hung from the carved wooden lintel right above them. “We don’t have to hold to tradition,” she whispered, her gaze returning to Lord Stanton’s.

“Oh, I think we most definitely do.” He pushed one of her curls behind her ear. “It’s Christmas Eve. It would be most remiss of us not to.” His gaze, as soft as moonlight on water caressed her face. Her lips. “May I kiss you?”

Oh, my goodness. I must be dreaming. Kate’s pulse thrummed with anticipation and her heart swelled with unexpected pleasure. Lord Stanton wants to kiss me. Before she’d even thought through the consequences her wassail-addled brain formulated a response and she whispered, “Yes.”

Lord Stanton’s mouth tipped into a devastating smile just as the longcase clock began to chime the hour of midnight. “Merry Christmas, sweet Kate.”

About Author Amy Rose Bennett.. 

Amy Rose Bennett has always wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember. An avid reader with a particular love for historical romance, it seemed only natural to write stories in her favorite genre. She has a passion for creating emotion-packed—and sometimes a little racy—stories set in the Georgian and Regency periods. Of course, her strong-willed heroines and rakish heroes always find their happily ever after.

Website and Blog: http://AmyRoseBennett.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyRoseBennett.Author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyRoseBennett
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/AmyRoseBennett/

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Links to The Bluestocking Belles Website, Books, & Social Media:

ABOUT THE BLUESTOCKING BELLES

The Bluestocking Belles, the “BellesInBlue”, are seven very different writers united by a love of history and a history of writing about love. From sweet to steamy, from light-hearted fun to dark tortured tales full of angst, from London ballrooms to country cottages to the sultan’s seraglio, one or more of us will have a tale to suit your tastes and mood. Come visit us at http://bluestockingbelles.net and kick up your bluestockinged heels!

BUY LINKS for HOLLY AND HOPEFUL HEARTS:
Amazon:  http://ow.ly/INwa3049Ey3
Kobo: http://ow.ly/Vx1n304jGzj
Barnes & Noble: http://ow.ly/LqCI304jGuS
iBooks: http://ow.ly/JcSI304jGWE

BLUESTOCKING BELLES ON THE WEB: Look for us online…

Website and home of the Teatime Tattler:
http://bluestockingbelles.net

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BellesInBlue

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/BellesInBlue

Pinterest: www.Pinterest.com/BellesInBlue

Amazon Author page: www.amazon.com/author/BellesInBlue

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

Karen

P.S. We’re at 286 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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DARK CHOCOLATE GUINNESS CAKE

 

NOTE FROM AMY ROSE BENNETT:  This is my version of the French Christmas cake, Bûche de Nöel that I make for my family—well the adults anyway! Although it’s nothing like a Christmas log, it is a gorgeous looking cake. It’s based on the following recipe for dark chocolate Guinness cake with Bailey’s cream cheese icing. Source: http://loveswah.com/2013/03/dark-chocolate-guinness-cake-with-baileys-cream-cheese-icing/

For the Dark Chocolate Guinness Cake:

• 250ml Guinness beer (1 cup)
• 250g butter (1 cup + 1 tbsp)
• 100g cup cocoa powder (2/3 cup)
• 400g caster/superfine sugar (1¾ cups)
• 140ml sour cream (2/3 cup)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 250g plain flour (2 cups)
• 2½ tsp bicarbonate of soda/baking soda

For the Baileys Cream Cheese Icing:

• 500-600g sifted icing sugar/powdered sugar (4-5 cups)
• 100g butter at room temperature (1/2 cup)
• 250g cream cheese at room temperature (8oz)
• 4-6 tbsps Baileys Irish Cream (or to taste)

To Make the Dark Chocolate Guinness Cake:

• Preheat oven 180°C/350°F and butter and line a 23cm (9″) springform tin.
• Melt the butter into the Guinness in a saucepan over low heat.
• Whisk in the cocoa and sugar and take the saucepan off the heat.
• Beat the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla in a separate bowl until combined, than add to the beer mixture.
• Whisk in the flour and bicarb until combined.
• Pour the cake batter into the tin and bake for an hour. The middle of the cake may still be slightly wet when you take the cake out, but it will firm up as it cools down.
• Leave to cool completely in the tin as it is quite a damp cake and could collapse.

To Make the Baileys Cream Cheese Icing:

• Cream the butter and icing sugar together until well mixed.
• Add the cream cheese in cubes slowly until incorporated.
• Add in Baileys. Continue mixing for 5 minutes until the icing is light and fluffy.
• Dollop lashings of the icing onto the top of the cake to recreate the froth on a glass of Guinness, or as I like to think of it, snow. If you are feeling particularly dexterous, slice the cake length-wise and fill the cake with the icing too (there will be definitely be enough icing).

Finishing Christmas Touches: I place decorative white pine cones on the snowy frosting then scatter silver cachous around to give the cake a festive finish.

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