Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with TESSA McFIONN!

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, TESSA McFIONN, and her favorite recipe for MOM’S MOLASSES CRINKLES!

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SPIRIT FALL
The Guardians Book One
BY TESSA McFIONN

Blurb

For centuries, Guardian Warrior Malakai Vadim has fought against the dark powers of the agents of chaos, moving through history and enjoying all that life has to offer. But even eternity can become stale. Yet, a chance encounter with a troubled beauty will forever change Kai’s destiny.

Siobhan Whelan, stands on a very edge between life and death, exhausted from the nightly terrors plaguing her since the murder of her fiancé. Only the tempting voice of a Good Samaritan guides her down and into a world beneath the world she knew, for this handsome stranger is more than meets the eye.

Now, Kai and Voni must test the limits of their growing passions against an enemy bent on nothing less than their very lives. His compassion saved her life. Can her love save his soul?

SPIRIT FALL
The Guardians Book One
BY TESSA McFIONN

Excerpt

Malakai’s moody introspections had allowed something other than his feet to dictate his impending destination. The blocks and buildings melted into the darkness until he arrived on the edge of Balboa Park. Now this place was more like it. He enjoyed the park. Its neatly trimmed grassy flats surrounded by ancient shade trees, sprinkled with historic museums and architectural landmarks, sprawled across a couple miles in the heart of the city. The park had a much friendlier feel than New York’s Central Park, but it still gave any visitor the impression of being in a place other than a congested city.

The hour was late, well after one in the morning, so the grounds were pretty much empty. Except for one lone figure, partially obscured by a copse of eucalyptus trees, standing against the bridge barricade. The figure was small, perhaps a teenager looking for a lost skateboard. Kai watched for a few moments when, to his horror, the figure climbed onto the ledge.

Was this for real?

He allowed a split second to pass before he moved to the bridge. Trees and houses rushed by in a blurred blink as he appeared a few feet away from the person whose desperation poured out from their very skin. He could almost taste the emotion in the air, bittersweet misery tempered with the salt of unshed tears.

An unfamiliar energy began to pulsate just beneath his skin, and he paused as he experienced an unfamiliar sensation. Silence. For so many years, the hum of scattered thoughts from passing strangers had kept him mental company. Could this be real? Could she be the one?

His mind raced, trying to find a way to halt the jumper, searching for the right thing to say.

“Wait. Please.”

Kai reached out to gently touch the worn-out running shoe nearest to his hand. His gaze journeyed up to find the face of a young girl, her thick, wavy hair pulled into a haphazard ponytail, and her eyes closed in preparation for an untimely demise. Her body was just beginning to show curves. Small, high breasts and shapely legs were concealed by the thin clothes. No. That couldn’t be right. He’d been paired with a child?

His voice must have caught her by surprise, judging by the jolt that lanced down her body. Eyes flitted behind closed lids as her chin twitched in his direction.

“What? Why?” Her voice was weak and confused.

“Because I asked nicely?”

Kai kept his eyes trained on her profile, carefully watching her inner struggle play across her face. Through the light contact with her body, he was able to pick up on her troubled, swirling emotions, his appearance shaking her resolve. Still, her eyes remained shut.

“Why should you care? You don’t even know me. Now just leave me alone.”

The spite in her voice seemed forced and insincere. He sensed she was a kind person by nature. Kind, but very disheartened. The more he heard her speak, the more he realized his initial guess at her age was off by a few years. Early twenties, perhaps. The tone was deeper and richer than most of the women he’d encountered in the city, conjuring images of Lauren Bacall and other seductresses of film noir. He needed to keep her talking. More than that, he had to stop her from killing herself. If his instincts were right, she was the other half of his spirit, and he was not about to let her go in this manner.

“True,” he sighed. “But still, I did ask nicely.” He leaned casually against the concrete barrier, hoping he might get close enough to grab for her should she decide to go through with her plunge. She looked small; it would be easy enough to pull her down. But somehow, Kai suspected that wouldn’t stop her from trying again on another night.

“Give me a reason.”

The voice sounded thin and breathy, hollow and empty. Most likely from disuse, but he detected traces of a different person than the one perched upon this ledge. Faint whispers of faded laughter and lost smiles echoed in the distant background, dimmed by despair and gloom. Loose strands of deep chestnut hair whipped around to reveal hints of pale skin, natural and unkissed by the sun. Slender and youthful in appearance, she was petite in every way, with small curves above and below the waist.

No. The longer he studied her, the more he realized her body was strong, athletic, and still entirely feminine. His efforts seemed to be wearing her down. She would have jumped already if she were truly determined.

Kai thought carefully before he responded.

“I can think of about a million of them, but somehow I’m not sure I’ll pick the right one for you on the first try.”

Karen

P.S. We’re at 544 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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Growing up, I loved to help my mom with the Christmas cookies. When I got engaged and moved out, I would still go to her house and bake, finally taking over the role as family baker some years after that. It’s been six years since my mom joined my dad in the Great Beyond, and I still make the cookies to honor her. This recipe has always been a favorite, the original recipe modified so many times over the years, but this one still works. (A couple of suggestions: DO NOT SUBSTITUTE BUTTER. Makes a huge mess. Also, you can try other flavors of jam, but I find the berries work great.)

MOM’S MOLASSES CRINKLES

Ingredients:

¾ cup margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
¼ cup molasses
2¼ cup flour
2 tsp soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp salt

For finishing:

Raspberry jam
White sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cream together margarine and brown sugar.
2. While blending, add flour, soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt. Set aside.
3. Add egg and molasses to mix.
4. Lower speed and add flour and spice mixture.
5. Chill dough in fridge overnight.
6. Preheat oven to 350°
7. Grease cookie sheets.
8. Use a teaspoon to scoop out dough. Roll into a ball and dip top in sugar before setting onto the cookie sheet about an inch apart.
9. Once the sheet is filled, make a small dent in the top and fill with raspberry jam.
10. Bake for 7-10 minutes.

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Special Giveaway: Tessa will give away a signed copy of SPIRIT FALL and a swag pack to one lucky reader who comments on her Karen’s Killer Fixin’s blog.

Happy Reading!

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Thanks, Tessa, for sharing your story with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!