Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with NANCY NAIGLE & KELSEY BROWNING!
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 authors, NANCY NAIGLE & KELSEY BROWNING, and their favorite recipe for NANOO’S MOON CAKE!
FIT TO BE TIED
The Granny Series
By KELSEY BROWNING & NANCY NAIGLE
Book Blurb
Honey, these are not your momma’s grannies…
Lillian Summer Fairview is settling right nice into the federal pen. She’s even making peace with Big Martha, the toughest broad on the cellblock.
After hearing Lil’s granny friends recently took down a swindler, Big Martha asks Lil for a favor. Her niece has fallen for a guy she met online, and Martha’s convinced Mr. Too-Good-To-Be-True is up to no good. All Lil’s friends have to do is a little look-see on the guy and report back. But when they poke around, they find the guy doesn’t really exist, and that triggers a wild ride through the world of online dating.
Meanwhile, a cantankerous septic system on Lil’s family estate in Summer Shoals, GA has the grannies fit to be tied. If Summer Haven isn’t in shipshape before the historic society’s inspection, they’ll be in deep you-know-what.
Big Martha sweetens the deal by promising to fix what ails Summer Haven if the grannies can find the elusive Romeo.
Will the grannies track him down before the inspection, or will they find themselves in trouble right up to their granny panties?About the authors…Kelsey Browning & Nancy Naigle.
Kelsey Browning writes sass kickin’ love stories and co-authors Southern cozy mysteries. She’s also a co-founder of Romance University blog, one of Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. Originally from a Texas town smaller than the ones she writes about, Kelsey has also lived in the Middle East and Los Angeles, proving she’s either adventurous or downright nuts. These days, she hangs out in northeast Georgia with Tech Guy, Smarty Boy, Bad Dog and Pharaoh, a (fingers crossed) future therapy dog. For info on her upcoming single title releases, drop by www.KelseyBrowning.com.
Also by Kelsey Browning::
TEXAS NIGHTS Series
Book 1:: Personal Assets
Book 2:: Running the Red Light
Book 3:: Problems in Paradise
Book 4:: Designed For Love
Nancy Naigle writes love stories from the crossroad of small town and suspense. Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Nancy now calls North Carolina home. She’s currently at work on the next book in The Granny Series, and a new women’s fiction novel. Stay in touch with Nancy on Facebook, twitter or subscribe to her newsletter on her website ~ http://www.NancyNaigle.com
Also by Nancy Naigle:
The Adams Grove Series
Book 1:: Sweet Tea and Secrets
Book 2:: Wedding Cake and Big Mistakes
Book 3:: Out of Focus
Book 4:: Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies
Book 5:: Mint Juleps and Justice
Book 6:: Barbecue and Bad News
Young Adult Mystery
inkBLOT – co-written with Phyllis Johnson
Short Works
Wrapped Around Your Heart Three short stories of <3
Pretty Little Liars #1: The PAth To RelAxAtion
Pretty Little Liars #2: The LiArs LAir
Pretty Little Liars #3: Secret TAlents
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Links to Nancy’s & Kelsey’s website, blog, books, etc.
Author Links:
www.TheGrannySeries.com
www.twitter.com/nancynaigle
www.twitter.com/kelseybrowning
https://www.facebook.com/nancy.naigle
https://www.facebook.com/NancyNaigleAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/kelseybrowning
https://www.facebook.com/KelseyBrowningAuthor
Email Newsletter Sign-Up via www.TheGrannySeries.com
I hope you enjoy the recipe Nancy & Kelsey sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!
Karen
P.S. We’re at 168 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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NANOO’S MOON CAKE
Since Nancy and I are both from the South, it probably comes as no surprise that food is pretty darned important to us. When we’re not eating, we’re either talking about food or writing yummy foods and drinks into our Granny Series stories (well, maybe not Sera’s tofu fajitas…).
During book two in The Granny Series, Fit to Be Tied, the grannies throw a big old birthday party for native Texan, Abby Ruth Cady. Lucky for Abby Ruth, her daughter and grandson come down to Georgia from Boston to celebrate with her. And even luckier, her daughter bakes Abby Ruth’s most favoritest chocolate cake.
Abby Ruth’s birthday cake is a reference to my family’s most favoritest chocolate cake. The one my mom used to bake. In fact, when my nephews and sister were visiting in August, we cooked not one but TWO of these cakes. That’s how delicious they are. So to honor my mom and Abby Ruth Cady, I’m sharing with you…
NANOO’S MOON CAKE:
Cake Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 2 sticks margarine (Nanoo always used the fake stuff, but I use unsalted butter.)
- 1 cup water
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk (You can also use that powdered buttermilk you find in the baking aisle. Just mix up enough for a half cup.)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Cocoa Frosting Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 6 Tablespoons evaporated milk (Why evaporated, I’m not 100% sure, but I say don’t mess with a good thing.)
- 1/2 cup margarine
- 1 pound confectioner’s sugar
- Pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Pecans, chopped (Just eyeball this based on how nutty your family is likes it.)
Cake Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sift flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. In saucepan, combine cocoa, margarine, and water. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. (Seriously people, stay with it because this stuff is WAY too good to burn.)
Remove from heat and pour over dry ingredients. With a hand mixer, beat at highest speed until well mixed. Add eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Beat well. Pour into greased and floured (you can “flour” your pan with cocoa powder, which keeps your cake from being white around the edges) 13”x9”x2″ baking pan. The batter will be thin so don’t worry!
Bake about 20 minutes or until well done. (I recommend using a toothpick or wooden skewer to test for doneness.)
Let cool a bit, then top with Cocoa Frosting. (If you pour the frosting on too soon, it’ll slide right off to the edges. Still tastes good, but not as pretty.)
Frosting Directions
In saucepan, combine cocoa, milk and margarine. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Keep warm and add sifted confectioner’s sugar, salt and vanilla. Blend well and pour over cake. Sprinkle with nuts.
My recommendation is to bake this cake when you’re expecting company. Otherwise, you might be tempted to sit down with a fork and eat the whole darned thing yourself!
Oh, and you’re wondering why it’s called a “moon cake,” right? Well, it’s because my mom simply could not make this thing without having it crater. Doesn’t matter if it’s ugly, though, because it tastes just like heaven!
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Nancy & Kelsey are giving away a print copy of FIT TO BE TIED (US Only) to one lucky winner who comments on their Killer Fixin’s blog. Don’t miss this chance to read this great story! Thanks, Kelsey and Nancy, for sharing your new release and recipe with us!
The book sounds great and so does the recipe, too bad I’m not a baker.
Robin –
I’m not much of one either, but this cake is so worth it! Smarty Boy requests it every year on his special day. 🙂
Thanks for popping by,
Kels
Hi, Nancy and Kelsey! Welcome back to Karen’s Killer Book Bench. I laugh out loud every time I read one of your book blurbs. What fun grannies! 🙂
Karen –
Thanks so much for having us. Believe me, if people have half as much fun reading the Grannies as we do writing them, then all is right with the world! 🙂
Kelsey
🙂 🙂
I definitely want to try this recipe! And I can’t wait to read the book! Congrats on the new book, Kelsey and Nancy!
Thanks so much, Kimberly. We’re thrilled the Grannies are back with a new adventure! Please let me know what you think of the cake. 🙂
Kels
Interesting cake. Is NANOO someone’s name?
bn100 – That’s what all the grandkids in my family called my mom, rather than something like “Grandma.” 🙂
Kelsey
Thanks for the recipe! My daughter refuses to bake cake from a box (one way she does Not take after her mother!) and she is an excellent baker! I’ll be getting her to make this when she is home from college during Christmas break!
Glenda – I’d love to know how you like it!
Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂
Kelsey