Sherry Morris's Blog, page 24

Seven Shopping Days Until Christmas...Stop Shopping!

Seven Shopping Days Until Christmas...Stop Shopping!By Sherry Silver
Seven shopping days left until Christmas. Stop shopping! Unless you really haven't started yet.

If you have been shopping, and logically have gifts for everyone on your list, stop shopping. Stop trolling the online sites. You'll have to pay more to overnight ship it than the gift costs. That probably will discourage you.

Stop devouring the glossy ads in the morning newspaper. Stop perking your ears to the commercials tempting you with 'our last one day sale before Christmas!'. Stop believing 'All toys, buy one, get one half off' is really a good deal. It's actually just 25% off all toys. And that's only a good deal on price fixed items like Legos.

Stop reading all the great coupons coming in your inbox. You really don't need to open a store charge to save an extra 5 or 10% on your purchase. The interest rate is at least 20% on the card so you're out money before you get the bill if you don't pay it off in full.

Stop falling for the 'no interest for 12 months' deals. It shows up on your credit report as a maxed out charge card because your credit limit is the exact amount you owe.

You don't need one more little thing. Some great something out there you haven't thought of yet that will just make it a perfect Christmas for so and so.

Does anybody remember what they got for Christmas last year? How about the year before?

It's the thought that counts. And you've been thoughtful and bought them gifts. Enjoy the opening, thank everyone and return the duplicates and unwanted items. Better yet, donate them to your local charity.

My point is, you've done it well. Well enough. Now stop, enjoy and remember what Christmas is. Our joy for the birth of Jesus. And our family and friends. Peace and goodwill to all and to all sweet dreams.

Still Searching for my Audience

I've been published for seven years. Small presses and now Indie. Someday I will find my audience. Some year I will earn royalties which exceed my frugal writing expenses.


Yes, I write quirky, too far out of the box fiction. I can't help it.

I don't purposely try to write funny, but my critique partners giggle through my readings. It's the kind of thing that while something is happening to my character, it's mortifying to her, but later when she has survived and is telling the story, it's funny.

I happen to love Alfred Hitchcock movies. My editor for HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL wrote that It's a made-for-the-movies adventure that Alfred Hitchcock could only wish he'd dreamed up himself! I guess people only like to watch his movies, they aren't interested in reading books that he didn't produce and never will because he predeceased their publication.


Nobody is interested in reading an historical romance set in Washington, DC during WWII. I guess I wrote the book I wanted to read. I loved Elliott Roosevelt's mysteries where he featured his mother as the fictional sleuth. When I learned he passed and there would be no more books, I wrote some. Mine have full blown romances included.

I keep trying new genres. Historical, paranormal, erotic, contemporary, fantasy, mystery, women's fiction. There must be another genre out there in which I could successfully publish a book someone would want to read.

The market is flooded. Many writers are struggling, fighting and persevering, trying to float, not drown. I'm not alone. And I do enjoy reading books by Sherry Silver.

The Best House Cleaning Books

Sidetracked Home Executives:  From Pigpen to Paradise by Pam Young and Peggy Jones

Cookie Recipe: Toll House Cookies

Toll House Cookies
2 1/4 cup flour1 tsp baking soda1 tsp salt1 cup butter or shortening3/4 cup sugar3/4 cup packed brown sugar1 tsp vanilla1/2 tsp water2 eggs12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
Preheat oven to 375°
Sift flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Combine 1 cup butter or shortening with both sugars, vanilla and water. Beat until creamy. Beat in the eggs. Add flour mixture and mix well. Stir in chocolate morsels. 
Bake on ungreased cookie sheets 10  to 12 minutes. 
Makes about 100 2" cookies.
***I like to add walnuts to the batter at the end. My mother-in-law stirred in peanut butter.

Cookie Recipe: Toffee Topped Bars

Toffee Topped Bars
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened1 tsp baking powder1/2 tsp salt1 tsp vanilla extract1 cup milk1 egg1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips1/2 cup chopped walnuts1/4 cup unsweetened flaked coconut (optional)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the brown sugar and flour.Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Remove 1 cup of mixture and set aside.
To mixture in large bowl, add baking powder and salt. Using a fork, lightly beat in vanilla, milk and egg.
Continue beating until a smooth batter forms. Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
In a small bowl, combine the chocolate chips and walnuts. Fold in the coconut.
Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over top of batter in pan. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips and walnuts.
Using a long flat spatula, spread topping evenly over the top of the batter in pan.
Bake bars for 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in center comes out clean.
Transfer pan to a wire rack. Cook bars in pan completely before slicing.
Using a serrated knife, cut into 24 bars. Store in airtight container for up to 5 days.

Cookie Recipe: Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprint Cookies

1/4 cup packed brown sugar1/4 cup shortening1/4 cup butter, softened1/2 teaspoon vanilla1 egg, separated1 cup all-purpose flour1/4 teaspoon salt3/4 cup finely chopped hazelnuts, walnuts or pecansJelly (I use raspberry preserves)
Preheat oven to 350°. Mix brown sugar, shortening, butter, vanilla and egg yolk in medium bowl. Stir in flour and salt until dough holds together.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Beat egg white slightly. Dip each ball into egg white. Roll in nuts. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press thumb deeply in center of each. Fill depression with jelly.
Bake about 10 minutes or until light brown. Cool on wire rack. 
Makes about 3 dozen cookies
***These are my signature take along cookies to holiday parties.

Cookie Recipe: Struffoli (Italian Honey Balls)

Struffoli (Italian Honey Balls) 
2 1/2 cups flour 4 eggs 1 egg yolk 1/4 cup Leaf lard! (I substitute butter) 1 1/2 tsp sugar 1/8 tsp salt 1/2 tsp grated lemon peel oil for deep frying 2 cups honey 1 tsp grated orange peel
Place flour on board, make well in center. Place eggs, yolk, lard or butter, sugar, salt in center. Mix well with hands. Shape into tiny balls. Heat oil 375°. Drop balls into oil a few at a time. Drain. het honey. Drop balls in it to coat.
***This is my late mother-in-law's recipe. She was from the Brooklyn, NY Italian community. What a cook. Yum!

Cookie Recipe: Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter  3/4 cup sugar 1tsp vanilla 1 egg 2 1/4 cups unsifted flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/8 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 400°.
In bowl cream butter thoroughly. Gradually beat in sugar and beat in vanilla and egg. Add flour gradually with baking powder and salt, mixing thoroughly. Fill cookie press. Press dough onto ungreased cookie sheets about 2" apart. Decorate if desired. 
Bake 8 - 10 minutes or until lightly brown. Store in tightly covered tin.

Cookie Recipe: Russian Tea Cakes

Russian Tea Cakes

2 sticks of  butter, softened1/2 cup powdered sugar1 teaspoon vanilla (I use up to 1 tablespoon) almond or strawberry extract is also good at 1 teaspoon2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour3/4 cup finely chopped pecans or hazelnuts1/4 teaspoon saltExtra powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 400. 
Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but NOT brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly on wire rack.
Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.
Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
***They melt in your mouth...these will disappear fast!

Cookie Recipe: Ricotta Cookies

Ricotta Cookies 
1/4 lb butter 1/4 cup ricotta cheese 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup sugar 1 egg 2 cups sifted flour 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 375°.
Allow butter to soften. Blend with cheese until creamy. Add vanilla. Mix well. Add sugar gradually, beating until well blended. Add egg and mix well. Slowly stir in dry ingredients and blend well. Drop[ from a teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.