December 5, 2012

Holiday Cheer - A Different Kind of Holiday Celebration

By Linda Carroll-Bradd
My Thanksgiving holiday release was a bit different than one might expect. Over the years we lived in Texas, my husband and I loved to travel to small towns throughout the state and visit museums. In Fredericksburg is a pioneer museum that highlights the German immigrants who settled the area more than one hundred and fifty years ago. When I started plotting my story, I remembered the museum and created characters of German descent proud of continuing on the land (ranching and shop keeping) since that time. They don’t celebrate the fourth Thursday in November with the same traditions most of us know (turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie), and I had lots of fun researching cultural events and recipes. Here’s a recipe for hot chocolate like the one that the main characters share in On With the Show, my latest release from The Wild Rose Press.

German Hot Chocolate

·         4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
·         1/4 cup sugar
·         3-1/2 cups milk
·         ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
·         ¼ teaspoon cardamom
·         1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
·         1/4 teaspoon vanilla
·         miniature marshmallows
Mix cocoa powder, sugar and spices in small bowl. Heat both milks to scalding. Mix about 1/3 cup of the hot milk into the cocoa-sugar mixture, then pour cocoa mixture into hot milk in the saucepan; stir until well blended. Stir in vanilla. Serve with mini marshmallows. Serves 4.
 

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On December 7th, I will draw two names of those who either subscribe to my blog (http://blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com) or follow my author Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-Carroll-Bradd-author/440814942635289) and those individuals will win a 2013 calendar highlighting covers from The Wild Rose Press.

9 comments:

Anna Kathryn Lanier said...

Hi, Linda. Thanks for being my guest blogger today. Love the story line and the hot chocolate recipe. Thanks for sharing.

Paty Jager said...

Hi Linda, I drink hot chocolate every morning. It's my coffee. I'll have to give this recipe a try because I do make if with milk, cocoa, and powdered sugar. MY sister-in-law lives in Killeen, TX and when we were there visiting a couple years ago, she took us to Fredricksburg. It was a wonderful historic town.

Ally Broadfield said...

Mmm. This sounds like a great recipe - I'm gonna try it on the kids tomorrow morning. Best of luck with your book.

Patty said...

That hot chocolate recipe sounds wonderful. I'm going to have to give it a try.

Loretta Wheeler said...

I almost wish I "hadn't" read the hot chocolate recipe. That's all I can think about now! LOL:) Oh la, chocolate, warm and soothing, sitting by a fireplace, it doesn't get much better than that, does it?:)
Love the cover of On with the Show...just delightful!:)
Lo

Caroline Clemmons said...

That's a new recipe for hot chocolate. I also love to visit Fredericksburg and that area. Like Anna Kathryn, I live in Texas. Thanks for sharing.

Karen Ware said...

Mmmm, I enjoyed the blog and I am going to try your German Hot Chocolate recipe. This is my favorite holiday...too bad here in the deep South we MAY get an inch of snow each year. I could see how it is inspiring for great romance stories though!

Judy said...

Great story! I love any kind of German Chocolate. Sounds delicious!

Karen Michelle Nutt said...

German Hot Chocolate sounds yummy! Well anything chocolate is yummy! lol

I like hot chocolate at night when I can kick up my feet and relax.

Good luck with your book. Sounds great.

kmnbooks at yahoo dot com