Apple Punch

I have given up my Wednesday's Chow recipes to guest bloggers, which means I don't post recipes (usually) on my own.  But I found this great punch recipe I wanted to share.  Unfortunatly, I made it for a wake, but it was very well received.  With the holidys just around the corner, I wanted to share it with you all.

Apple Punch


Ingredients

1 (32 fluid ounce) bottle apple juice, chilled
1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen cranberry juice concentrate
1 cup orange juice
1 1/2 liters ginger ale
1 apple

Directions

In a large punch bowl, combine apple juice, cranberry juice concentrate and orange juice. Stir until dissolved, then slowly pour in the ginger ale.

Thinly slice the apple vertically, forming whole apple slices. Float apple slices on top of punch.

*** I didn't add any alcohol to this punch, but I'm thinking, rum or vodka would be a yummy addition!

The Story Tellers Grove - Donate a Tree

Seanachaidh’s Grove

Scottish Romance Readers, Authors and Publishers

Seamachaidh was the clan tradition bearer, genealogist, historian
and most importantly the storyteller;
a most fitting name
for a grove dedicated by the readers, authors

and publishers
of Scottish Romances and Mysteries.
As trees have played an important role
in the stories we have read, written and published,
here is our chance to give back

to the Scotland we all love.
Donating a tree, about the cost of one paperback,

will help restore
the natural environment and beauty of Scotland.

If you would like to donate a tree to our grove-The Storyteller's Grove-CLICK HERE

Wednesday's Chow - Cheesy Mexican Casserole

Cheesy Mexican Casserole

Ingredients
1 can (10.75 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chilies
1 container (8 oz) sour cream
1/2 cup fat-free (skim) milk
2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
8 yellow corn tortillas (6 or 7 inch), torn into bite-size pieces
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1 large tomato, chopped
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese or Mexican cheese blend, divided

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix soup, chilies, sour cream and milk until blended. Stir in chicken, tortillas and bell pepper. Stir in tomato and 1 cup of the cheese. Spoon and spread mixture in baking dish.

2. Cover with foil. Bake 40 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake uncovered 5 to 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and mixture is bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes.

Saturdays Salacious Suggestions - Share Your Blurb

I'm continuing with my invite to authors to post their blurbs for one of their books, and the links to buy them, of course.  Just paste your information as a comment.

I'm at the Northwest Houston Lone Star Conference today, so it'll be later when I check in, but I hope ya'll fill up my comment box!

Anna Kathryn
www.aklanier.com

Join me as post...

at Sweethearts of the West. Why Isn't My Muse Listening to Me?

Anna Kathryn

Wednesday's Chow - Pineapple Angel Food Cake

This week's guest blogger Jerrie Alexander with "Romancing the Serial Killer," has sent in a great cake recipe. Why is it great?  Well, because it's sooooo easy! Here's what Jerrie had to say about it:

Always watching my waistline and feeding my sugar habit, I found a two-ingredient recipe that couldn't be easier or taste better.
Jerrie Alexander

www.jerriealexander.com

Pineapple Angel Food cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients:

1- box Angel Food cake mix
1- 20 ounce can of crushed pineapple (in its own juice)

Directions:

Mix well. Yep. That's it. The mix will foam up like a mad scientist's experiment. (My granddaughter loves this part.)

Spray a 9x13 pan with Pam and pour in the mix. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. (Cake will fall as it cooks, but that's normal.)

For something extra, add a little fat free whipped cream to each slice.

Jerrie Alexander
www.jerriealexander.com

Romancing The Serial Killer

by Jerrie Alexander

I'm a native Texan. My husband and I live outside of Fort Worth, where my brother loves to tell people I'm so far out in the country we get Saturday Night Live on Wednesday morning. He's always been the family comedian. I'm the one who digs into the psychology of a killer's mind, trying to balance his evil with romance.

I've been told I'm at my best when I'm in the killer's point of view. If that's true, I believe it's because I've researched properly. It's certainly when I have the most fun! To construct a believable character, I metaphorically put on his or her hat and walk in their shoes. Creeps me out sometimes and has given me a nightmare or two, but realism and motivation are important to the story. And me.

No doubt, if the police ever took a peek at my hard drive, I'd be hauled in for questioning. Because of today's technology, information and insight into the killer's mind is there for the taking. I've downloaded files from FBI profilers, medical reports, bought books from Amazon and studied the different patterns of these troubled minds. As I read, and maybe because they were the hardest to understand, I was drawn to the analyst's description of the sociopath. Their lack of conscience and inability to care or feel compassion for the victim's pain fit my killer's motivation perfectly.

Maybe it was naive to write to the FBI with a list of questions. Imagine my surprise the day my phone rang, and the caller identified himself as a Special Agent. He answered all my questions, gave me his cell number and of all thing...he thanked me. Assured me, the FBI appreciates being written about, and they love it when the author tells the real story of the Agency. Ultimately, I used his information in another story, but his response gave me the courage to park next to a Texas Sheriff's car and strike up a conversation with him. Once he decided I wasn't completely crazy, he was very helpful.

If you're looking for resources here are my favorites.

The Yahoo group CrimeSceneWriter. Here you'll find FBI agents, police officers, EMTs, firefighters, private investigators, forensic specialists, and more, all willing to answer questions.

D.P. Lyle, MD. His blog, www.writersforensicblog.wordpress.com is like going to the library.

Lee Lofland. His blog, The Graveyard Shift, www.leelofland.com/wordpress gives insight and examples of his past police experiences.

My ace-in-the-hole is a retired Navy SEAL who answers all my questions about things that go boom. He's a real life hero, who still doesn't know he is one.

When The Green Eyed Doll is released, (I don't have a date yet) by The Wild Rose Press - in their Crimson Rose line, my readers will make the final analysis. Did I bring my killer to life? Was he sinister and believable? If so, my research paid off.

Many thanks to Anna Kathryn for hosting me today!

Jerrie Alexander
www.jerriealexander.com

Saturday's Salacious Suggestions

Oops, Saturday almost got away from me without posting this. As I did last week, I'm inviting authors to post their blurb and links to purchase book.  Hope you find something new to read!

BTW, I'm in San Antonio on a mini-vacation. I came up for the San Antonio Romance Authors meeting were Rhonda Penders, co-owner of The Wild Rose Press, spoke.  I had a nice lunch with the SARA members and then came back to my hotel for a nap. Then I went to The Chart House restaurant at the top of the Towers of the Americas. Then joined several SARA members for a ghost tour of San Antonio.

Anna Kathryn

Wednesday's Chow - Pumpkin Soup

Monday's Guest Blogger Alisha Paige, Craziest Halloween Book Signing Ever, has given us a great autumn recipe today.

 Halloween Pumpkin Soup

1 large onion, diced medium
3 stalk celery, diced medium
2 carrots, diced medium
1 large leek, diced medium
2 cups fresh pumpkin

Or 2 cups canned if in a hurry
6 cups vegetable broth
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of clove
pinch of nutmeg
salt, to taste

• Add all ingredients into a stock pot over medium high heat.
• Bring to boil and reduce to simmer.
• Simmer for 20 minutes (until pumpkin and carrots are tender) and remove from heat.
• Let cool for 15 minutes.
• Puree soup in blender and return to pot.

Alisha Paige lives in the Deep South. She writes romantic paranormal, fantasy, contemporary romance, time travel romance, erotica and vintage historical. Her favorite things are red wine, dark chocolate, hot summer nights and girls' night out. To find out more about her books and upcoming releases, visit Alisha Paige at www.alishapaige.com.

Craziest Halloween Book Signing Ever by Alisha Paige!

As the leaves begin to turn and fall from the trees, I generally do more book signings because of the simple fact that I'm a paranormal author. Sometimes I may do four to five signings in October.

Well, last year I was asked to sign books at a wine shop in my hometown on Halloween afternoon! Coolest! I'd get to sign books, wear my silly witch hat and drink wine with other wine drinkers who might just get tipsy enough to stroll over and talk to the goofy witch and maybe, just maybe buy a book. My book signing was scheduled for a couple of hours and I'd have time to run home, grab my three little goblins and head out the door for trick or treating! Awesome! I was all set! I had my books lined up on my spooky Halloween table cloth, wine in hand, witch hat on and I was ready for my fans. Well...I think my only fan for the first hour or so was the cricket in the corner. BTW, it didn't help that the wine shop owner forgot to advertise my signing with the adorable posters I'd sent her. Nice...sigh.

So, I was there, burning up in a long witch dress, pointy witch hat and gold eye lashes longer than the Mississippi River. After a while a group of young women come in and sit at a nearby table and order lots of wine and cheese. Cool. Drink up, girls and mosey on over here. Come buy my Jack-the-Ripper Tale. Please! I'm lonely and my wine glass is empty. So, a few minutes pass and the wine shop owner comes to my table and leans over to whisper in my ear. "You about ready to do some readings?"

I swear my fake eyelashes hit my forehead! Readings? What readings? "Uh...readings?"

The lady's mouth falls open. "Yes. Readings. You said you were a paranormal author."

Uh..yeah, lady. I write about paranormal stuff...in the romance fiction world that means I write about vampires, werewolves, other-worldly stuff...ghosts..maybe..but I sure as hell don't talk to them. I DON'T see dead people. Ever.

"That's right. I'm a paranormal author. I write mostly werewolf books. Paranormal is a genre, not to be confused with paranormal activity."

The lady is not pleased. Her lips pucker and she stares at me with Lucille Ball eyeballs! "That table of women are all expecting readings!"

I lean over and say, "Are you telling me I need to give them readings, as in psychic?"

She nods.

"But I'm not a fortune teller."

She just stares and stomps her foot for a full minute, then says in an icy tone, "I think you should read for them."

"I can do that. I'll just fake it."

She smiles. Sort of. "Good. I'll tell them you're ready."

Holy crap! I can't believe I have to read for these people! I'm not a damn psychic! But I remember back to a psychic fair I went to with my good friend and remember all the psychics who read for me. I can do this. Just fake it. Tell them a bunch of happy bull crap! They're drunk! They won't know! Just do it! So the first girl rushes up, all excited and I ask for her hand. Hell! I don't even remember what all these lines stand for. I think this long one is the life line and then the love line...wow..uh..okay..here goes.

"Looks like you have had two very interesting romantic relationships. Both of them were very dear to your heart."

The girl nods and whispers. "Wow. You can see that?"

"Sure. See that line there? That's the love line. See how it breaks off into two here and then a third line, it goes to the end of your hand. That's your soulmate."

She giggles. I feed her some more bullcrap and she leaves all giddy and happy. Hell yeah! I can do this. The next girl comes up and I change it up a bit but say some more happy sunshine crapola and she trots off happy as a lark too. A line forms. I see like twenty women before the night is over and half of them tip me five bucks!

And I don't sell a single book. The wine shop lady rushes over as I'm making my way to the door and thanks me for a great night! "Can you come do this next Halloween?"

"Sure. Call me."

I walk to my car and toss my box of unsigned books into the back of my car and slide behind the wheel before glancing at my reflection in the rear view mirror and winking with golden eyelashes and giggling to myself. I drive off and floor it home, excited about dressing up my little ones for a night of trick or treating.

Happy Halloween!
~Alisha Paige

www.alishapaige.com