Sharon Wray's Blog, page 71
January 1, 2021
Happy New Year!
I wish you all a very happy New Year with more blessings than troubles, more joys than sorrows. From my family to yours, I send much love and happiness to you all!
Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Amazon bestselling Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning .
Her bestselling debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | Google | Books-a-Million | Audible
Her second book, ONE DARK WISH , a passionate redemption of Othello with a HEA, is about an ex-Green Beret who must give up the woman he loves in order to redeem his honor and save the life of his men. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks | Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
Her third book, IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, is about an ex-Green Beret desperate to win back the woman he loves and save the men he betrayed, even if he must make the greatest sacrifice. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks| Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
The post Happy New Year! appeared first on Sharon Wray.
December 31, 2020
The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Hoppin’ John
My husband grew up on a sea island off the coast of Charleston, SC. And since I met him when I was sixteen, his mother has served Hoppin’ John every New Year’s Day.
This classic southern dish is made with rice, black eyed peas, and a salted ham hock that is boiled for hours in a Dutch oven with spices and even more salt. While there are many, many recipes for this dish (most of which use cowpeas or field peas instead of black eyed peas), there are even more myths about the original recipe. Ask anyone in Charleston, and you’ll hear a different origin story. One of my favorites says this humble dinner is named after a man named John who used to dance in Charleston’s downtown market.
There’s also a belief that if you eat this dish, alongside a bowl of cooked collard greens, you’ll have good luck and good fortune all year long. (Maybe we didn’t eat enough of it last New Year’s Day!). Some believe that the collards represent greenbacks the peas represent coins. Other will swear that if you DON’T eat this dish on New Year’s, you somehow inherit a curse.
Being a girl from New Jersey, I didn’t care which story was true. Just the fact that the dish HAD a story was enough for me to eat the entire plate. The irony is that my husband and kids HATE this meal and refuse to eat it. So the only time I have it is when we spend New Year’s in Charleston with his mother and sisters. And the best part of the meal is the homemade cornbread that inevitably is served to mop up the gravy.
The recipe below is not perfectly authentic, but it uses ingredients that are available throughout the country. Even in New Jersey!
I hope you all have a happy and healthy New Year!
Sharon Wray
Serves 8-10
238The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Hoppin’ JohnThis takes hours to cook, and that's not including the overnight soaking of the beans. But it's well worth the time and effort to make this dish. This recipe came from my mother-in-law years ago and I'm still so grateful she shared it with me. I serve this with collard greens and homemade cornbread. It's prefect for a crowd because it makes so much. And it can be made up to four days in advance and stored in the fridge for up to five days.
12 hr, 15 Prep Time
3 hr, 30 Cook Time
15 hr, 45 Total Time
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Ingredients
1 1/4 pound smoked ham hock1 medium yellow onion, peeled and quartered2 bay leaves1 1/2 cups black-eyed peas, rinsed and soaked overnight1 tablespoon salt1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1 teaspoon garlic powder1 teaspoon onion powder1 1/2 cups uncooked parboiled white riceExtra boiling waterInstructions
In a 5-quart Dutch oven, add the ham hock, bay leaves, and onion quarters. Cover the ingredients with three quarts of fresh water.Set the Dutch oven over high heat and bring to a boil. Cook for five minutes.Reduce heat to keep a gentle boil and cover the pot with the lid slightly askew.Cook for about three hours or until the meat is fork tender. During this cooking process, add boiling water to make sure the meat is always covered.When them meat is cooked, toss out the bay leaves.Transfer the meat and onions to an ovenproof pan. Then pour the broth into an ovenproof bowl.Measure out two cups of broth and add them back to the Dutch oven.When the meat is cool enough, pull it off the bone and add it back to the pot. If necessary, chop up larger pieces of meat.Then throw the onions back into the pot along with the salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder.Drain and rinse the black eyed peas and add them to the pot.Bring to a simmer and, with the lid slightly askew again, cook for about 40-50 minutes until the black eyed peas are al dente.15 minutes before the peas are done, preheat the oven to 325 degrees.When the peas are cooked, stir in the parboiled rice.Cover with the lid and put the Dutch oven into the oven to cook the rice.Cook in the oven for 30 minutes. When finished, take the Dutch oven out and let it sit on the stove for 5-10 minutes.Be careful removing the lid as the steam will be hot. Fluff with a fork and serve with cooked collard greens and homemade cornbread.7.8.1.2159https://sharonwray.com/the-hungry-writer/the-hungry-romance-writer-hoppin-john/{
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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Amazon bestselling Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning .
Her bestselling debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | Google | Books-a-Million | Audible
Her second book, ONE DARK WISH , a passionate redemption of Othello with a HEA, is about an ex-Green Beret who must give up the woman he loves in order to redeem his honor and save the life of his men. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks | Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
Her third book, IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, is about an ex-Green Beret desperate to win back the woman he loves and save the men he betrayed, even if he must make the greatest sacrifice. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks| Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
The post The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Hoppin’ John appeared first on Sharon Wray.
December 29, 2020
Sarah Munro’s Hot Toddy
The Hot Toddy has been around for centuries.
And Sarah Munro (the heroine of ONE DARK WISH, book 2 of the Deadly Force series), has updated this recipe with crystallized ginger (which has a milder flavor than fresh or dried ginger) and raw honey. For a long time, whiskey has been known as a natural decongestant whereas raw honey is a natural anti-microbial. Lemons are loaded with vitamin C and ginger is an anti-inflammatory. Also, in general, warm drinks help ease sore throats due to colds or just normal post nasal drips.
The wonderful thing about this recipe is that you don’t have to be sick to enjoy it. It’s a wonderful way to wind down after the craziness of the holidays and before work starts up again in January.
Sharon Wray
Yields 1 mug
Sarah Munro’s Hot ToddyWhen I was a kid and sick with a cold and cough, my father would make this for me. It always helped me sleep and it wasn't until years later that I realized it had Glenfiddich Whiskey in it. Even now, the moment I feel like I'm coming down with something, I'll make up this recipe and drink it while curled up with a book. While it won't prevent the cold or cough, it does help me sleep and I wake up with a clearer head.
2 minPrep Time
2 minCook Time
4 minTotal Time
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Ingredients
Drink2 ounces bourbon or whiskey (the best you can afford!)4 ounces of water2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice1 1/2 Tablespoons raw honey1 cube crystallized ginger (or 1/4 teaspoon dried ginger)Optional Garnishes:Fresh lemon sliceFresh orange sliceCinnamon stick1 star aniseInstructions
In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together the bourbon/whiskey and water and lemon juice.Once it begins to simmer slightly, remove from heat and stir in the honey and ginger.Pour into a mug and garnish with favorite garnishes.7.8.1.2158https://sharonwray.com/the-romance-herbalist/sarah-munros-hot-toddy/{
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I mportant disclaimer about wild plants, foraging, and making herbal and homeopathic remedies:
I am not a medical professional and nothing written on this blog is medical advice. None of my statements have been evaluated by the FDA (I am legally required to give you this disclaimer).
It is important to do your due diligence before foraging, harvesting, and/or consuming any type of medicinal plant.
If you are taking any medications, talk to your doctor about any potential drug interactions.If you are allergic to anything, make sure whatever you are foraging is not in the same family. Example: While dandelions are typically considered safe, those who are allergic to ragweed, latex, daisies, or any other plants in the same or similar families, may not be able to consume dandelion.
Always research potential side effects, dosage recommendations, and how to properly prepare and consume each medicinal plant.
Always make sure you are foraging what you believe to be. Fully prepare and study the anatomy before harvesting wild plants.
Always make sure your kitchen/work area is clean and that all materials are sterilized.
Do not forage plants from areas that have been sprayed within the past 2 years at the very least.
I am not legally or morally responsible for the health of any of my readers. Please do your own research!
Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Amazon bestselling Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning .
Her bestselling debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | Google | Books-a-Million | Audible
Her second book, ONE DARK WISH , a passionate redemption of Othello with a HEA, is about an ex-Green Beret who must give up the woman he loves in order to redeem his honor and save the life of his men. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks | Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
Her third book, IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, is about an ex-Green Beret desperate to win back the woman he loves and save the men he betrayed, even if he must make the greatest sacrifice. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks| Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
The post Sarah Munro’s Hot Toddy appeared first on Sharon Wray.
December 25, 2020
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas! May you all stay safe and healthy. And I hope Santa brings you lots and lots of books for 2021!
The post Merry Christmas appeared first on Sharon Wray.
December 24, 2020
The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Huguenot Torte
Happy Christmas Eve! Today is the last installment of the Christmas Eve at Pinckney House story and we’re ending the night with a classic Charleston dessert known as Huguenot Torte. It’s a heavenly confection made with apples and sugar that is easily one of my most favorite dessert requests, especially this time of year.
A few days ago we left Zack and Allison (the hero and heroine of IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, the third book in the Deadly Force trilogy) eating dinner in the conservatory with their guests. Now dessert is being served and the dancing has begun.
Allison Pinckney ~ “Once Zack drags us off the dance floor to get another drink, I grab a glass of water and slip away into the silence of the sitting room. My ears are ringing and I’ve have a bit too much to drink. Except once I enter the room, I see one of my guests I don’t know well–Juliet Montfort.
She’s sitting on the sofa, holding a mug of hot cider, and staring into the fireplace. I’m surprised she’s alone since I know she recently married Rafe Montfort, a buddy of Zack’s.
“Are you alright?” I ask Juliet.
She glances at me and smiles. “I’m great. I just needed a moment alone. I’m not used to being around so many people.”
I laugh because I feel the same exact way. After I sit across from her and finish my water, I try to think of something to say. I am the hostess who’s supposed to be looking after all of her guests. But since I’m not great at small talk, the best I can do is, “Are you having fun?”
She smiles at me and her entire face lights up. “I am. In fact, I was just sitting here thinking about how grateful I am.”
“Grateful for what?” I ask.
She waves her hand around the room, encompassing the two trees that flank the front windows. As far as Christmas decorating goes, I believe that this room is the most beautiful. White lights and greenery adorn the fireplace and the trees sparkle with silver and white ornaments. And in contrast to the white, silver, and green decorations, Juliet’s red dress shines.
“There’s so much to be grateful for this year,” Juliet says. “Rafe and Zack and all of their men are safe and healthy. They’ve won three battles against Remiel. And the more they settle into their lives here in Savannah, there more they become a stronger, more cohesive group.”
Considering that last battle they fought with Remiel almost killed many of us, I’m grateful for that as well.
“I’m also grateful that my husband and I found our way back to each other,” Juliet added. “We’d been separated for so long that I’d given up on us.”
“I feel the same way about Zack,” I say softly. “But Zack never gave up on me. And I will never stop loving him for that.”
Juliet reaches out to take my hand. “We are very lucky women.”
“And blessed,” I add. “So very blessed.”
Juliet nods and even in the dim firelight, I notice her eyes are watering. But before I can say anything else, I hear a noise in the hallway. It’s Susan and Alex near the front door.
After excusing myself, I rush to the foyer. There I find Alex (a former Army Ranger) in a sweatshirt and jeans along with Susan (Maddie’s almost-eight-year-old daughter) in her coat and hat. They’re laughing and opening the front door until I ask, “Where are you two going?”
Alex frowns but Susan rushes over to me and whispers, “It’s a secret, Miss Allison. Mr. Mitchell and I are on a secret mission!”
“Well,” I say in a not-too-stern voice, “Your mom will be surprised when she finds out you left the party. Where is your babysitter anyway?”
Alex comes over and shoves his hands in his jean pockets. “Baby-sitter is on her phone. And I promise that Susan and I will only be out for a moment. We’re on a secret mission.”
I tilt my head at Alex and give him my best scolding look.
He raises his hands, surrenders-style. “I promise I can look after a kid–“
“I’m not a kid!” Susan says. “I’m almost eight! We have to do this, Miss Allison. Please!”
“Alright. But,” I nod at Alex, “Fifteen minutes. Or I’m telling Maddie.”
Alex smiles wide. “Got it. We’ll be back even sooner!”
Once the door slams shut, Zack find me in the foyer. “Everything alright?”
“Yes.” I notice people working their way towards the study. “Are the gingerbread houses ready?”
He takes my hand. “Yes. Apparently the chef has made the Charleston Battery entirely out of gingerbread.”
Since Pinckney House is on the Holiday Historic Homes Tour, pastry chefs from around the city have been baking gingerbread houses for each mansion on the tour. And, luckily, this year Pinckney House scored the best pastry chef in the city.
When I enter, I inhale sharply. The gingerbread display is exquisite and everyone is slowly walking around the free-standing tables set up in the center of the room.
Just as I finish congratulating the pastry chef, Maddie touches my shoulder. “Have you seen Susan? It’s almost midnight.”
I share a glance with Zack (who knows that Alex and Susan snuck out) and am about to deflect when I hear a noise. “Are those jingle bells?”
“Yes.” Zack takes my hand and we hurry into the foyer. Now the bells are much louder and my guests are following us.
A moment later, Susan and Alex reappear. Susan rushes into her mother’s arms and says, “Guess what we did!”
Maddie frowns at Alex, but he just smiles and opens the door wider. Outside on the street are four horse-drawn carriages all decorated with Christmas lights.
“What is this?” Zack asks Alex.
“What does it look like?” Alex waves toward the carriages. “Four horse-drawns that will fit all of us. We’re taking a midnight Christmas tour of the city and then we’re all going to midnight mass at St. John’s Cathedral.”
I glance at Zack, but he’s already gone to talk to the staff to gather everyone’s coats.
So I return my attention to Alex. “Whatever gave you this idea?” I have to ask because I know he has no money.
“Just doing as I’m told.” But as he says it, he motions towards Kells in the corner.
As usual, Zack’s boss Kells is standing in a corner alone. The past few weeks taught her that Kells, as Zack commanding officer, kept himself apart from the unit on purpose. Something which she believed made him a very lonely man.
When Kells catches her gaze, he just nods. After that, it’s a flurry of coats and laughs until everyone is settled in the carriages. As the horses began to clip-clop down the road, she snuggles next to Zack. It rarely snowed in Charleston, but tonight the sky is clear and it’s bitterly cold. Sparkling stars cover the sky.
A few minutes later, just as the carriages pull up in front of the church, all of the church bells in the city start to ring.
“It’s midnight,” Zack whispers. “Merry Christmas.”
I meet his dark gaze and whisper back, “Merry Christmas, my love. And may it be the first of many.”
Sharon Wray
Yields 8 servings
The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Huguenot TorteThis came from my sister-in-law in Charleston, SC and she serves this at almost every holiday dinner. Although this recipe is actually called "Ozark Pudding" and originated in Arkansas and Missouri, it appears in a famous Charleston cookbook called Charleston Receipts (circa 1950). The torte was attributed to Evelyn Anderson Florance (then Mrs. Cornelius Huguenin) and it has since become one of the most iconic desserts in the city. I think I've had it at every wedding and christening and Christmas Eve dinner I've ever been to. It's super easy to make and, if there are leftovers, tastes just as good the next day. I serve it with vanilla ice cream (because I'm from Virginia) but in Charleston it's always served with whipped cream. Sometimes the whipped cream is flavored with rum. 
December 23, 2020
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Many years ago, I worked as an archivist for the Newspaper Association of America. Basically, it’s the national association for all newspaper publishers/owners. One of the great things about working at NAA’s library was the fabulous special collection of original newspapers and other documents that dated back to the 18th century and were once personally owned by publishers like Joseph Pulitzer.
But this time a year, our reference desk was inundated with information about one of the most famous editorial letters ever written–the response to an eight year old girl’s question about whether or not Santa Claus exists. Our special collection had one the last remaining original copies of this letter which ran in the New York’s Sun newspaper, and every year we sent out copies to whoever requested one.
The letter, reprinted below (it’s now in the public domain), was published on September 21, 1897 by veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church and has become the most reprinted newspaper editorial of all time. It has been translated into dozens of languages, has appeared in books, movies, posters and even stamps.
This sweet-yet-profound letter has transformed even the most Scrooge-like hearts and never fails to make me smile. I hope you all enjoy it!
{Letter from Francis Pharcellus Church to Virigina O’Hanlon in New York’s Sun newspaper on September 21, 1897 currently in the public domain.}
DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
VIRGINIA O’HANLON.
115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.
VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Amazon bestselling Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning .
Her bestselling debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | Google | Books-a-Million | Audible
Her second book, ONE DARK WISH , a passionate redemption of Othello with a HEA, is about an ex-Green Beret who must give up the woman he loves in order to redeem his honor and save the life of his men. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks | Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
Her third book, IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, is about an ex-Green Beret desperate to win back the woman he loves and save the men he betrayed, even if he must make the greatest sacrifice. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks| Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
The post Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus appeared first on Sharon Wray.
December 22, 2020
Sarah Munro’s Lemon Cough Drops
I can’t believe the year is almost gone! And since it’s now officially winter, this week I’m sharing Sarah Munro’s recipe for homemade Lemon Cough Drops.
Homemade cough drops are much easier to make than one would think and the great thing about making homemade ones is that you get to choose the ingredients, including the amount of sugar, that you want to add. These cough drops include lemon and honey, both excellent choices to help ease discomfort and inflammation.
This recipe, updated by Sarah Munro (the heroine in ONE DARK WISH, book 2 in the Deadly Force series), originated in the late 18th century. Adding ginger, cloves, and a bit of confectioner’s sugar makes this a delicious, updated alternative to store-bought cough drops. The one tool you definitely need is a good candy thermometer. If you don’t have one, it’s worth investing in one. Luckily, they’re not that expensive and then you can use it to make homemade fudge!
Sharon Wray
Yields About 5 dozen
Serves 2 pieces
3225Sarah Munro's Lemon Cough Drops5 minPrep Time
1 hr, 20 Cook Time
1 hr, 25 Total Time
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Ingredients
1/2 cup water1 cup granulated sugar1 Tablespoon honey1 Tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (depending on taste)1/8 teaspoon ground clovesPowdered confectioner's sugar (10x sugar) for coatingInstructions
One a baking sheet with parchment paper and grease it well.In a heavy saucepan, combine all the ingredients (except for the powdered sugar).Whisking constantly, cook to the hard crack candy stage. Using a candy thermometer, bring it to about 300°F.Keep whisking while checking the color and consistency, about 15-20 minutes over medium heat.Test the candy by dropping small spoonfuls into a bowl of ice water. When the candy cracks, it's ready. (It it's still chewy, cook a bit longer)Watch it carefully so it doesn't burn. The hotter it gets the faster it cooks.Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the mixture cool only slightly.Using a spoon, drop spoonfuls onto the baking sheet, forming small candy rounds.Allow the cough drops to cool completely.Once cool, dust with the powdered confectioner's sugar.Store cough drops in an airtight container and keep in a cool, dry place away from any moisture. (Moisture will cause them to stick together.)Or the drops can be dusted and wrapped individually in pieces of waxed or parchment paper.Can be stored for up to a year in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.7.8.1.2154https://sharonwray.com/the-romance-herbalist/sarah-munros-lemon-cough-drops/{
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Important disclaimer about wild plants, foraging, and making herbal and homeopathic remedies:
I am not a medical professional and nothing written on this blog is medical advice. None of my statements have been evaluated by the FDA (I am legally required to give you this disclaimer).
It is important to do your due diligence before foraging, harvesting, and/or consuming any type of medicinal plant.
If you are taking any medications, talk to your doctor about any potential drug interactions.If you are allergic to anything, make sure whatever you are foraging is not in the same family. Example: While dandelions are typically considered safe, those who are allergic to ragweed, latex, daisies, or any other plants in the same or similar families, may not be able to consume dandelion.
Always research potential side effects, dosage recommendations, and how to properly prepare and consume each medicinal plant.
Always make sure you are foraging what you believe to be. Fully prepare and study the anatomy before harvesting wild plants.
Always make sure your kitchen/work area is clean and that all materials are sterilized.
Do not forage plants from areas that have been sprayed within the past 2 years at the very least.
I am not legally or morally responsible for the health of any of my readers. Please do your own research!
Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Amazon bestselling Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning .
Her bestselling debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | Google | Books-a-Million | Audible
Her second book, ONE DARK WISH , a passionate redemption of Othello with a HEA, is about an ex-Green Beret who must give up the woman he loves in order to redeem his honor and save the life of his men. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks | Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
Her third book, IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, is about an ex-Green Beret desperate to win back the woman he loves and save the men he betrayed, even if he must make the greatest sacrifice. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks| Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
The post Sarah Munro’s Lemon Cough Drops appeared first on Sharon Wray.
December 21, 2020
The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Barbecue Beef Brisket
Welcome to the next installment of Christmas Eve at Pinckney House. Last week we left Zack Tremaine and Allison Pinckney, the hero and heroine of In Search of Truth (book 3 in the Amazon bestselling Deadly Force series), in the music room singing Christmas songs and about to serve dinner.
This week Allison is serving a do-ahead Barbecue Beef Brisket. Although she set up round dining tables in the conservatory–a glass-walled room decorated with Christmas trees and fairy lights–for an intimate feel, she’s still serving dinner buffet style in the dining room. With this number of people, it’s easier to let them eat and visit the bar and wander the house at will. The quartet, still in the dining room, can be heard in conservatory. And because the walls are mostly floor-to-ceiling windows, her guests have a perfect view of the garden decked out in colorful Christmas lights and her enormous poinsettias that love the more humid weather. It’s enchanting and beautiful and I’m wishing I was invited as well!
Allison Pinckney ~ “After everyone has gone through the buffet line and found a seat in the conservatory, Zack and I fill our own plates. I’ve decided to serve Barbecue Beef Brisket because it feeds a ton of people and is so delicious. Once we have our plates, we head into the conservatory. Zack immediately is pulled to a table with a few of the other single men including Detective Garza, Kells, and Vane.
Just as I set my place down to Samantha and Pete, I hear the doorbell and excuse myself. Since the staff is busy serving and cleaning, I hurry into the foyer and open the door. And I’m shocked to see Zack’s sister shivering on the porch.
“Emilie!” I pull her inside and give her a huge hug. “What are you doing here? I thought your flight from New Orleans was cancelled?”
She releases and hands me a gift with a red and gold bow while she takes off her coat. “My flight was cancelled but then Vivienne made a phone call….”
I laugh and, after handing her coat to a waiter, lead her into the dining room. “Of course Vivienne made a phone call. She owns her own plane, after all.”
Emilie brushes her dark brown hair off her shoulders and shakes her head. The blue sequins on her dress sparkle. “I should have realized Vivienne would take control of the situation, but–” Emilie nods to the present I’m still holding, “I really wanted to be here tonight. It’s the first Christmas Eve with my future sister-in-law–my future family–and I was not going to miss it.”
I make a mental note to thank Vivienne. “Well,” I say as we enter the dining room, “Zack is going to be so happy to see you.”
Emilie pauses in the doorway, takes a Christmas Cranberry Cocktail from a passing waiter, and stares at the decor. “Allison, the house looks incredible. It rivals Vivienne’s mansion in the Garden District.”
“Thank you. I have to admit, though, that the house has its own decorating budget that includes a decorator.”
Emilie laughs and takes my arm. “Before I eat, I want you to open your present.”
“Now?”
She nods and drags me to a pair of chairs near the Christmas tree. “Please.”
It takes me a moment to untie the elaborate bow but once I open the box I inhale sharply. “Emilie!”
She takes out the crystal tiara that had been tucked into mounds of tissue. “This belonged to my grandmother. For some reason, neither my mother nor Aunt Vivienne wore it. But I’ve always thought it was so beautiful and, if you like it, I’d be honored if you wore it when you wed my brother.”
I take it from her and the crystals throw prisms around the room. “It’s beautiful. I have no idea what I’m going to wear for the wedding–we haven’t even set a date yet–but I would love to wear the tiara.” I hug her again before putting it on my head. “What do you think?”
“I love–“
“Miss Allison!” Susan Ashton runs into the room, probably hiding from her sitter who spends more time upstairs on her phone than looking after an almost-eight-year old girl. “What is that?”
Once she stops in front of me, I take the tiara off and place it on her head. “I’m going to wear this on my wedding day.”
She smiles wide, showing off a missing tooth. “I can’t wait until your wedding!” With one hand holding the tiara on her head, she dances in front of the Christmas tree in time to the quartet nearby. “Do you need a flower girl?”
“Susan!” Maddie, Susan’s mother, enters the room and hurries over. “That’s not polite.”
Susan stops dancing, still holding the tiara on her head. “Why? Every bride needs a flower girl. And since most bridesmaids are between the ages of six and eight, I’m the perfect age.”
“Are you sure you’re forty instead of almost eight?” Emilie stands, takes Susan’s hand, and slowly twirls her around so the crystals catch the lights on the Christmas tree.
Susan giggles. “I’m not forty!”
“Well,” Zack says as he enters the room, “I think you’re sixty!”
Susan stops twirling, takes off the tiara, and hands it to Emilie. “I am not old. But I am the perfect age to be a flower girl.”
“Then,” Zack says as he kisses his sister on the cheek, “you shall be a flower girl.” He winks at me. “If it’s okay with Miss Allison, of course.”
I bend down to meet Susan’s serious gaze. “I would love it if you would be my flower girl.”
She kisses me on the cheek, says goodbye to the adults, and runs out of the room again, snagging some cookies from the table along the way. But as she enters the hallway, she runs straight into Alex Mitchell.
Without hesitating, he swings her up in his arms and says, “Want to sneak into the study? The cook is setting up the gingerbread houses.”
“Yes!” She wraps her arms around his neck and they disappear.
I glance at Maddie and am surprised to see her cheeks are flushed. Or maybe it’s too much Christmas Cranberry Punch.
As if knowing I’m watching, Maddie turns to Emilie and gives her a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. And now that we have a headpiece, we can choose Allison’s dress.”
“How about we choose a date first.” Zack wraps his arm around my shoulder and kisses my head.
Now I feel a hot flush turning my face red. Since I’m not quite ready to set a date, I kiss his cheek and say, “Let’s tell Vivienne that Emilie has arrived so we can eat dinner.”
A few minutes later after all the introductions have been said, and hugs and kisses given, I find my plate and start eating. Although my dinner has gotten a bit cold, I don’t mind. I’m at a table with Emilie, Vivienne, and Samantha who are all snapping selfies and talking about Christmas shopping in New Orleans (apparently they are all natives). As I sip my Christmas Cranberry Punch, the quartet shifts from dinner music to dancing music. Within a minute, Zack pulls me up and draws me into a Christmas waltz.
“Thank you,” he whispers in my ear.
“For what?”
“For giving my friends and family what we haven’t had in a very long time.”
“A Christmas party?”
We pause in our dance because a noise is coming from the garden, near the gate that leads to the street. We move quickly to the French doors. Once we open them, we see a group of people holding candles and singing.
Susan appears next to me, out of breath, as if she ran through the house. “Carolers!”
All of my guests gather around as the carolers sing one song after another.
Zack, standing behind me, says softly, “You’ve haven’t just given up a party.” He kisses my head and adds, “You’ve given us a home. You’ve given us a miracle.”
Sharon Wray
Yields 12 sandwiches
The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Barbecue Beef BrisketI adapted this great do-ahead beef brisket recipe from Marlene Sorosky's Cookery for Entertaining Book, page 88, HP Books, 1979. This is a perfect recipe for the holidays because the sauce and meat can be cooked ahead of time and frozen, or the entire casserole dish can be frozen (if you have the room). This recipe serves 12 people but if you're serving it for a buffet dinner with lots of sides, you can easily get 16 servings out of it. The leftovers taste even better the next day.
1 hrPrep Time
5 hrCook Time
6 hrTotal Time
Save RecipePrint Recipe
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My Recipes
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Ingredients
Beef1 4-5 pound Beef Brisketsalt and pepper to tasteBest Barbecue Sauce3 8-oz cans tomato sauce½ cup water½ cup onion, chopped1 clove garlic, minced¼ cup red wine vinegar3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce1/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed2 Tablespoons honey2 teaspoons dry mustard1 teaspoon chili powder1 teaspoon salt1 small lemon, thinly slicedDash liquid smoke, if desiredRolls if you want to serve this as sandwiches.Instructions
Firs, make the sauce by mixing all the ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.Remove from heat and set aside. If making ahead of time, store in the refrigerator.The sauce may be frozen for up to two months. Makes 4 cups.For the meat, preheat oven to 325 degrees F.Sprinkle brisket with salt and pepper. Roast in covered roasting pan 3-4 hours until tender when pierced with a fork. Cool and refrigerate for at least four hours or until the next day.To prepare for serving, cut excess fat from beef and slice meat into thin slices.In a large oven-to-table casserole dish, place a very thin layer of BBQ sauce on the bottom. Then layer some meat ito line the bottom. On top of that, spread with a layer of Best Barbecue sauce. They layer on more meat. Continue layering meat and sauce until all is used. Cover with aluminum foil. May be refrigerated up to 2 days, or frozen for up to two monthsBefore serving, bring meat and sauce casserole to room temperature.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake 1 hour or until heated through. Serve with assorted sandwich rolls.Makes 10-12 servings.7.8.1.2157https://sharonwray.com/the-hungry-writer/the-hungry-romance-writer-barbecue-beef-brisket/{
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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Amazon bestselling Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning .
Her bestselling debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | Google | Books-a-Million | Audible
Her second book, ONE DARK WISH , a passionate redemption of Othello with a HEA, is about an ex-Green Beret who must give up the woman he loves in order to redeem his honor and save the life of his men. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks | Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
Her third book, IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, is about an ex-Green Beret desperate to win back the woman he loves and save the men he betrayed, even if he must make the greatest sacrifice. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks| Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
The post The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Barbecue Beef Brisket appeared first on Sharon Wray.
December 16, 2020
A Romance Writer’s Favorite Holiday TV Movies
Last year I wrote a post about my favorite classic holiday movies. It was a way to catalog for myself all the movies my family and I love to watch.
But this year I’ve been reviewing all of our favorite made-for-TV holiday movies. While these kinds of stories have been around for a while, Hallmark and Netflix have really made these movies commonplace instead of a special event. Pandemic lockdowns have only increased their popularity.
For the most part, these movies are kind of silly and sometimes bland. But there are standouts in this genre that are definitely worth mentioning. Every year, bloggers and magazine writers announce their favorites but for some reason they’re not my favorites. So I thought I’d share my own list with you.
These movies didn’t have big budgets or huge marketing campaigns, but the interesting thing about this list is that over 80% of the movies were books first. As a writer, I believe that makes a difference although there are plenty of instances where movies butcher books. Anyway, the movies I listed below all have three things in common besides a happy Christmas ending. They make me laugh, they make me cry, and they make me worry that the happy ending won’t ever come. And the fabulous tensions brings me back to these movies every single year.
These movies played on Lifetime, Hallmark, and Up channels. (And yes, Candace Cameron-Bure does appear in at least one these. LOL) And if I had to pick my top three, they would be A SEASON FOR MIRACLES and CHRISTMAS IN CONWAY and CHRISTMAS ANGEL.
Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Amazon bestselling Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning .
Her bestselling debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | Google | Books-a-Million | Audible
Her second book, ONE DARK WISH , a passionate redemption of Othello with a HEA, is about an ex-Green Beret who must give up the woman he loves in order to redeem his honor and save the life of his men. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks | Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
Her third book, IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, is about an ex-Green Beret desperate to win back the woman he loves and save the men he betrayed, even if he must make the greatest sacrifice. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks| Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
The post A Romance Writer’s Favorite Holiday TV Movies appeared first on Sharon Wray.
December 15, 2020
Sarah Munro’s Golden Milk
This week Sarah Munro (the heroine in ONE DARK WISH, book 2 in the Amazon Bestselling Deadly Force series), has shared her recipe for turmeric milk, also known as Golden Milk.
Golden Milk originated in India centuries ago, but even colonists in 18th century America knew of the powerful immunity-building affects of turmeric (due to the anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin found in turmeric). The cinnamon and ginger also add antimicrobial properties that are great for an immune boost in the middle of winter. In this updated version, Sarah combines coconut milk and almond milk to make this drink a super creamy holiday treat.
Sarah Munro’s Golden Milk
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups light coconut milk (canned is best)1 1/2 cups unsweetened plain almond milk 1 1/2 tsp ground turmeric1/4 tsp ground ginger 1 whole cinnamon stick1 Tablespoon coconut oil1 pinch ground black pepper1 Tablespoon raw honeyGround cinnamon for garnish
Directions:
In a small saucepan, stir together the coconut milk, almond milk, ground turmeric, ground ginger, cinnamon stick, coconut oil, black pepper, and honey.Whisk constantly over a warm heat and bring to near boil. But do NOT boil. Remove the saucepan from the heat and adjust the flavor by adding more honey or extra ground cinnamon. Remove the cinnamon stick and discard.Serve with a dash of ground cinnamon on top. This makes two mugs.
Important disclaimer about wild plants, foraging, and making herbal and homeopathic remedies:
I am not a medical professional and nothing written on this blog is medical advice. None of my statements have been evaluated by the FDA (I am legally required to give you this disclaimer).
It is important to do your due diligence before foraging, harvesting, and/or consuming any type of medicinal plant.
If you are taking any medications, talk to your doctor about any potential drug interactions.If you are allergic to anything, make sure whatever you are foraging is not in the same family. Example: While dandelions are typically considered safe, those who are allergic to ragweed, latex, daisies, or any other plants in the same or similar families, may not be able to consume dandelion.
Always research potential side effects, dosage recommendations, and how to properly prepare and consume each medicinal plant.
Always make sure you are foraging what you believe to be. Fully prepare and study the anatomy before harvesting wild plants.
Always make sure your kitchen/work area is clean and that all materials are sterilized.
Do not forage plants from areas that have been sprayed within the past 2 years at the very least.
I am not legally or morally responsible for the health of any of my readers. Please do your own research!
Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Amazon bestselling Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets meet their match in smart, sexy heroines who teach these alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning .
Her bestselling debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | Google | Books-a-Million | Audible
Her second book, ONE DARK WISH , a passionate redemption of Othello with a HEA, is about an ex-Green Beret who must give up the woman he loves in order to redeem his honor and save the life of his men. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks | Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
Her third book, IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, is about an ex-Green Beret desperate to win back the woman he loves and save the men he betrayed, even if he must make the greatest sacrifice. It’s available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks| Google | Kobo | IndieBound | Audible
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