A Cookbook Christmas

As I contemplated what I wanted to write about for this month I began to reminisce about all the Christmas holidays of the past. One year holds a vivid memory that I’d like to share.

Each year I strive to find special gifts for those I love. I usually make a handmade gift for my girls. A few years ago, I received an old recipe book that was my Aunt Betsy’s. I love to cook family recipes each year, such as pumpkin bread, fudge and a chocolate coconut cookie to name a few.  All of which hold very special memories for me. 

Over several weeks I scoured my recipe files and I asked their dad for some of his grandmother’s recipes too. I had lemon pie from my aunt, donuts from my grandmother who passed when I was five, a relish recipe from Mom and of course a few of my “secret” recipes that had never been written down. Each special dish was included in the cookbook I had created just for them. The special touches; in some cases, I had time-faded handwritten notes to include, of course, after I had typed the recipe for ease of use. 

When Meg and Em opened them on Christmas morning tears flowed. It was as if all the amazing women who came before them and who were gone lived within the pages of their new cookbooks. 

From time to time one of them will call and tell me they just made something from it. Or Meg swears I left something out of the ingredient list for my turkey stuffing, which of course I didn’t. I reminded her that sometimes Mom’s will always taste better but to keep trying. 

This year as I prepare my cookie baking schedule the girls will wonder which of our favorites will be discovered as they open the well-worn tins which will fill the table. 

As for many families the special foods we prepare for any holiday are little bits of family history. I like to think that the women who came before me are watching adding a dash or sprinkle of love to all I bake. I know the recipes I’ve passed down to my girls will live on for years to come. 

Happy Holidays! 

Love,

Lucinda

As a small token of my appreciation, and for a limited time, you can purchase book 1 of The MacLellan Sisters Trilogy for just 0.99 

Smashwords

Our December Rafflecopter has 5 Amazon Gift Cards as prizes. Be sure to enter often to improve your chances of winning, and, please, tell your friends about Romance Gems—our Authors, our books, our blog posts, and our Giveaway every month.

Complete information on the contest can be found on our Monthly Giveaway page.

Watch our December Promotion Video, Candy Cane Kisses, and share the celebration with our authors. You'll also find this video and many others on our Movie Theater page. You can also watch our videos on YouTube.

People Watching at the Beach

Hello Everyone, 

When it was time to plan for our vacation, hubby and I decided it would be the coast of Maine in early September. For the last few years we enjoyed Cape Cod but there is something about the pace of life in Maine. Yes, we knew the weather would be cooler but in the overall scheme of things we’d be near the ocean, and there would be sun and lobster. 

We drove in heavy traffic Labor Day weekend. It took about thirty minutes longer but we made it. We pulled into the busy campground, got set up and drank in the fresh air tinged with salt. I could feel my internal spring beginning to unwind. As we looked around the campground, something interesting caught our attention, most of the people camping were older couples like us. I guess the generation of empty nesters all decided to hit the road at the same time. 

After enjoying an amazing lobster roll for dinner, hubby built a campfire. As the shadows grew longer the fire glowed bright orange and yellow. The chill in the air was sharp and refreshing. Thoughts turned to my next book I’ve been mulling over. Recently, I finished the first draft of a new book, but I’m not ready to begin the editing process. So, I’ve begun the outline for book 2 in the Crystal Lake Series. People that walk by add spinets of ideas, and conversations that drift through the park are also tucked away for further use.

While on the beach I people watch, making up storylines for everyone I see. A dad playing Frisbee with his two small girls in the shallows of the Atlantic; a mother with three children having dinner with a man named George who leaves before they finish their meal. The waitress asks the family if anyone wants dessert while the mom boxes up all the leftovers. Over iced tea and melt in your mouth pulled pork I confess to hubby I’m itching to start writing the next book. 

I wonder with all the ideas I’ve gathered while on vacation if I can write the trip off as a business expense. I’m sure the accountant would say no. Hopefully the ideas that I brought home with me will turn into stories you will love to read. 

Until next time, 

I wish you happiness. 

Lucinda

Don't forget to enter our September Rafflecopter Giveaway – Back to School ... Backto You!
The prizes are listed on our GIVEAWAY TAB above, along with the entry form. You can also click HERE to go straight to the entry form!

Kids are back to school. Now it’s time to pamper yourself a little. September’s Giveaway features Winner’s Choice of Amazon Gift Cards or Gifts for Reading and Pampering.
Dates: Sept. 4 through 27^th. Winnerchooses from gift item or Amazon Gift Card.

My Summer Reading List by Lucinda Race #RomanceGems

Hello again.

It’s Summer and it’s HOT!

So, for the months of June, July and August I’ve embarked on a personal reading challenge. To read at least one book from every author in the #RomanceGems group. Prior to deciding to make this a short-term goal I did have a reading goal on Good Reads. But I’ve gone from twenty-four books as my goal to adding twenty more. But where to begin.

As an author of ten books I have a favorite and I was sure the other amazing authors in our group did too, so I asked. Where do I begin? 

So far, I’ve read Joan Reeves, Bonnie Edwards, Kathy Lawless, Elsa Kurt, Karen Kelly, Connie Vines, Jan Scarbrough and Kathryn Hills. Each novel or series of books I’ve read has been a wonderful diversion in the long wonderful days of summer.

I’ve been diligent to post reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and Bookbub to support this amazing and talented group of authors is very important to do. Writers supporting writers is critical as writing and editing is such a solitary pursuit.

My kindle is full of books to be read and up next is anyone’s guess. But I see some amazing books in my future. If you’re interested in my reviews check out my Goodreads page. Every word is honest and comes from the love of reading. 

When I was telling a friend what I was doing she said it reminded her of the reading list she got from her teachers each summer. I had to laugh at the comparison but this is much better than the assignments of old. I know that as a romance novel junkie I’m going to spend the summer falling in love again and again.

Don’t forget to sign up for this month’s contest. 

BEACHES and BOOK BOYFRIENDS is the Romance Gems Julytheme. Enter our drawing for a chance to win 1 of 3 Amazon Gift Cards and fun beach books too! Read the post, leave a comment, and enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway.

Until next time, 

I wish you happiness. 

Lucinda

Birthdays are for People and Books! by Lucinda Race #RomanceGems

Today is my book birthday, Old and New, Book 1 in The MacLellan Sisters Trilogy. And not so coincidentally it is my birthday too. This is the third time I’ve released a book on June 19; and this book was pure joy to write from the concept, to the actual butt in chair time, choosing covers and working with Nancy Fraser for my awesome video clips. This book along with two others, Borrowed and Blue were a true labor of love. 

When this idea came to me I had just attended a book event in New Hampshire. As I drove through the Green Mountains to see my dad in northern Vermont the foliage was at its peak and I let my mind wander. BAM! I began to rattle off details to Meg in the co-pilot’s seat. I just knew this trilogy had to be set in this beautiful state. 

I’ve never written anything so fast as I did this trilogy. My fingers were on fire as they flew over the keyboard. Each click a comforting confirmation that the thoughts in my head were spilling onto the page, weaving the story. 

Now as I’m on the cusp of sharing these three novels with you, I wonder, will you fall in the love with the MacLellan sisters? Will their connection to each other and their grandmother touch and move you as they did for me? Even as I proofread each manuscript I still cried as each sister met challenges in their lives head on with grace and strength as they found love. 

I love writing strong women and the men who love them.

For my birthday I have a wish. Please take a moment to view the video on my Youtube channel  and celebrate this book birthday with me.

Until next time, 

I wish you happiness. 

Lucinda

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED to the ROMANCE GEMS June Wedding celebration. Enter our #Rafflecopter for a chance to win jewelry designed for Readers or Amazon Gift Cards or romance ebooks about love & happy-ever-afters.

Watch our Wedding video, You Are Cordially Invited. You’ll find it on our Movie Theater page and also on YouTube.

To see the gorgeous prizes and to enter our June Rafflecopter, visit our Monthly Giveaway page. Or you can click this short link if you wish: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/21df08a224/

#RomanceGems

From Cari's Kitchen by Lucinda Race #RomanceGems

As with many authors my early books had a lot of who I am sprinkled within the pages. 

In the Loudon Series I have a café, What’s Perkin’ where Cari McKenna starts her life over after losing her husband and best friend. It’s within those fictional walls where Cari perfects her recipes for blueberry muffins, which happen to be a favorite of Ray Davis along with many other treats. 

As Cari is passionate about friends and helping those in need one young woman in need of a job comes to town. Of course, Cari immediately comes up with a plan to start by giving her a job on a trial basis for two weeks. During the two weeks Dani wins over not only Cari but her customers with delicious and decadent cupcakes. 

Since I can’t invite each of you into my kitchen for a cup of coffee and a cupcake I wanted to share with you one of Dani’s special creations. 

S’Mores Cupcakes

Chocolate Cupcakes with Graham Cracker Crumb

1 Sleeve Graham Crackers

1 Stick Butter

Place graham crackers in a 1 gallon plastic bag and crush with your hands, or use a rolling pin to crush the graham crackers into crumbs. Once a nice crumb has been reached, transfer crumbs to a bowl.

Melt butter in a sauce pan, keeping a close eye to make sure it doesn’t burn. Once butter is melted, allow to cool for two minutes. Then, pour butter over crumbs and mix until all crumbs are moistened.

Line your cupcake tins with your liners of choice, and then scoop approximately 1.5 tablespoons of the crumb mixture into the base of each muffin cup patting down slightly to form a layer in the bottom of the cup.

Prepare your cake batter, either homemade or store-bought mix, and pour over the crumb layer, filling each cup about 2/3 full. 

Bake as the directions indicate, to when a toothpick comes out almost clean, with perhaps a few crumbs attached. Allow to cool for 5-8 minutes in the pan, and then transfer cupcakes to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Chocolate Layer

4 ounces Semisweet Chocolate Chips

4 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon honey

In a saucepan, melt together the chocolate, butter, and honey over medium heat and stir until completely combined, then allow to cool to room temperature. Chocolate should be at a point where it is easily spreadable, but not runny.

Marshmallow Meringue

4 egg whites

1 cup granulated sugar

In a double boiler (pot of boiling water with a metal mixing bowl set on top, but not touching the water’s surface), whisk together the egg whites and sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved and the egg whites are just warm to the touch, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat, transfer to a medium mixing bowl or to a stand mixer with whisk attachment, and beat the egg whites until they form stiff, shiny peaks, which should take about 5-8 minutes.

The Final Step

Using a spatula or knife, apply a thin layer of chocolate to the top of each cupcake, then, add a dollop of meringue to the top. This can be done by either using two spoons, or a piping bag, or even a gallon size bag with the corner cut off to create a piping bag. To finish, use a kitchen torch to toast the tops to give it that fresh from the campfire s’more look.

Then…Enjoy!

If you’re interested in other sweet treat ideas check out The Loudon Series where e-books are sold and don’t forget to visit www.lucindarace.com for details on upcoming releases and my newsletter. 

As a reminder enter the Romance Gems’ “Comment and Win” weekly drawing for a $5 Amazon gift card. The drawings are on Friday! Just comment on any of our posts throughout the month and you’re automatically entered.

And, of course, enter the Rafflecopter drawing for a chance at winning a Kindle Fire or one of six bundles of books by the wonderful authors of this blog!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time, 

I wish you happiness. 

Lucinda