Deborah Vogts's Blog, page 128

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Here's another delicious cake recipe for you to enjoy! This is my husband's favorite cake recipe.
1 cup margarine, softened2-1/2 cups sugar, divided2 teaspoons vanilla 4 eggs3 cups flour2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon salt2 cups (16 oz) sour cream2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon1/2 cup chopped pecans
In large mixing bowl, cream butter and 2 cups sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Add alternately with sour cream, beating after each addition. In another small bowl, combine remaining 1/2 cup sugar, cinnamon and pecans. 
Spoon 1/3 batter into a greased 10" tube pan. Sprinkle 1/3 of sugar mixture over batter. Repeat layers two more times. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

Book Drawing ~ Valley of Dreams

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingValley of DreamsBethany House (November 1, 2011)byLauraine Snelling   Award-winning and best selling author Lauraine Snelling began living her dream to be a writer with her first published book for young adult readers, Tragedy on the Toutle, in 1982. She has since continued writing more horse books for young girls, adding historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers to her repertoire. All told, she has up to sixty books published.


Shown in her contemporary romances and women's fiction, a hallmark of Lauraine's style is writing about real issues of forgiveness, loss, domestic violence, and cancer within a compelling story. Her work has been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German, and she has won the Silver Angel Award for An Untamed Land and a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart for Song of Laughter.


As a most sought after speaker, Lauraine encourages others to find their gifts and live their lives with humor and joy. Her readers clamor for more books more often, and Lauraine would like to comply ... if only her paintbrushes and easel didn't call quite so loudly.


Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a cockatiel named Bidley, and a watchdog Basset named Winston. They love to travel, most especially in their forty-foot motor coach, which they affectionately deem "a work in progress".  


ABOUT THE BOOK
Addy Lockwood's mother died when she was little, so Addy traveled with her father's Wild West Show and became an amazingly skillful trick rider, likened by some to the famous Annie Oakley. When her father died, she continued to work with the show, having nowhere else to go.


Now Addy has discovered that "Uncle" Jason, the show's manager, has driven the show into debt, and he's absconded with what little money was left. Devastated, Addy decides to try to find the hidden valley where here father had dreamed of putting down roots. She has only one clue. She needs to find three huge stones that look like fingers raised in a giant hand. With Chief, a Sioux Indian who's been with the show for twenty years, and Micah, the head wrangler, she leaves both the show and a bundle of heartache behind and begins a wild and daring adventure. If you would like to read the first chapter of Valley of Dreams, go HERE.


Leave a comment below to enter your chance to win this week's book drawing. A winner will be chosen on Sunday, November 13. 
*Void where prohibited. Open only to US residents. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants. Comments must be made on this blog. Social network comments are not valid.  

Italian Herb Cheese Ring

1 package active dry yeast1/4 cup warm water (110 - 115 degrees)1 cup warm milk (110 - 115 degrees)1/4 cup vegetable oil2 tablespoons honey1 egg1 teaspoon salt1 cup whole wheat flour2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon each: dried oregano, basil, and crushed rosemary
FILLING:1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese1/2 teaspoon dried parsley 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder1/4 teaspoon paprika
TOPPING:
1 egg, beaten2 teaspoons sesame seeds4 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese


In large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, oil, honey, egg, salt, whole wheat flour, 1 cup all-purpose flour, and herbs. Beat until blended. Stir in enough remaining all-purpose flour to form a soft dough. Cover and let rise till double, about one hour. 


Punch down dough and turn onto a floured surface. Divide in half. Roll one portion into a 15X10-in rectangle. Combine filling ingredients and sprinkle half over dough. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Pinch seams to seal. Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Pinch ends together to form a ring. With a sharp knife, cut 1/2-inch slashes at 2-in intervals. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. 


Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. Brush each ring with egg. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks. Makes 2 loaves. Enjoy! 

Book Preview - A Lasting Impression

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Lasting Impression Bethany House (November 1, 2011) by Tamera Alexander ABOUT THE BOOK To create something that will last is Claire Laurent's most fervent desire as an artist. It's also her greatest weakness. When her fraud of a father deals her an unexpected hand, Claire is forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville, only a year after the War Between the States has ended. Claire's path collides with that of Sutton Monroe, and she considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But when they meet again and he refuses to come to her aid, she realizes she's sorely misjudged the man. Trading an unwanted destiny for an unknown future, Claire finds herself in the middle of Nashville's elite society and believes her dream of creating a lasting impression in the world of art may finally be within reach.
All that Sutton Monroe holds dear lies in ruin. He's determined to reclaim his heritage and to make the men who murdered his father pay. But what he discovers on his quest for vengeance reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined.
Set at Nashville's historical Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America in the 1860s, A Lasting Impression showcases the deep, poignant, unforgettable characters that set Tamera's stories apart and provides an inspiring love story that will capture readers' hearts and leave them eager for more. If you would like to read the first chapter of A Lasting Impression, go HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tamera Alexander is the best-selling author of Rekindled, Revealed and Remembered, the critically acclaimed Fountain Creek Chronicles historical series with Bethany House Publishers. Her second historical series, Timber Ridge Reflections (From a Distance, Beyond This Moment, and Within My Heart) continue her signature style of deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose which has earned her devoted readers—and multiple industry awards.
These awards include the 2009 and 2008 Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the 2010 and 2007 RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, the 2010 and 2007 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the 2010 HOLT Medallion, the 2007 Bookseller's Best Award, the 2007 National Reader's Choice Award, and Library Journal's Top Christian Fiction for 2006, among others.
Tamera's newest novel A Lasting Impression is the first of a brand new three-book Southern historical series, and the first two chapters are available for review. She's at work on her ninth novel which will release in fall 2012.
After living in Colorado for seventeen years, Tamera has returned to her Southern roots. She and her husband now make their home in Nashville, Tennessee, along with Tamera's father, Doug, and with their two adult children who live near by. And don't forget Jack, their precious--and precocious--silky terrier.

What's in a Name?

We have a new member in our family. Many of you may remember that we lost our dear friend Ruby this past September, a beautiful golden retriever that had been in our family for many years. This weekend, we brought home a three month old Labrador Retriever to help keep Rusty (our other golden) company. Rusty has been so lonely . . . 
We knew we wanted a puppy.

We didn't realize how much we'd love a black Lab. She is so smart and sweet. We already love her to pieces.
But we need your help. We need to come up with a name for her and we're at a loss. Every name that comes to mind just doesn't seem to fit. Can you help? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below. If we decide on one of them, we'll be sure to tell you here. Thanks!

Chicken with Biscuits

This is my humble attempt to imitate the recipe from the Cheesecake Factory. Enjoy!
1 lb. chicken strips (cut into 1-in pieces)1/4 cup butter 1/2 cup onion, minced1 cup carrots, sliced1 cup frozen peas1 cup sliced mushrooms2 cups chicken broth1/4 cup cold water2 tablespoons cornstarchsalt and pepper to taste
Heat 1/4 cup canola oil in large skillet. Cook chicken strips until lightly browned. Remove chicken pieces from skillet and drain on paper towels. On medium heat, saute onions, carrots, peas and mushrooms in butter until tender. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. In glass measuring cup, mix together cornstarch with cold water. Stir into broth mixture. Add chicken and season with salt and pepper. Serve over mashed potatoes and biscuits. Get biscuit recipe here. Serves 4.

Book Drawing - A Bride's Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas

A Bride's Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas by Erica Vetsch
Hoping to leave the shadows of her shady yesteryears behind, Adeline Reid is focusing on her photography career. But when her ex-boyfriend's compatriot in crime shows up in Dodge City her entire past is threatened by exposure. Can Addie keep her secrets while helping to catch a killer? Deputy Miles Carr's investigation into a shopkeeper's murder leads him to Addie's door. Will his attraction to this female photographer keep him from catching the true culprit? Or will Addie lead him off course in more ways than one?

Deputy Miles Carr has his hands full trying to keep the peace in Dodge City and find a local shopkeeper's killer. When his inquiries lead him to the door of Addie Reid's photography studio, he finds himself more than a little distracted. Does this beauty hold the clue to the killer's identity?


Learn more about Erica and her books at her author website. 


To enter this week's book drawing, please leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen on Sunday, October 30. 
*Void where prohibited. Open only to US residents. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants. Comments must be made on this blog. Social network comments are not valid. 

Images of Autumn

Fall is my favorite season. 
[image error] I love the cooler weather, 
the changing colors in the trees 
 and native pastures.
[image error] I love when we experience our first frost or hard freeze,

and yes, even the shorter length of days.  
(Pictures by our youngest daughter.)
What is your favorite season? Share in the comments below. 

Oat Rolls

Here's a recipe that is one of our family favorites. Easy and soooo good. 
2 cups old fashioned oats3/4 cup brown sugar1/4 cup butter1 tablespoon salt2 1/2 cups boiling water2 packages yeast1/2 cup warm water (110-115 degrees)5 1/2 - 6 cups flour
In a large mixing bowl combine oats, brown sugar, butter and salt. Add boiling water and stir. Cool to 100-115 degrees. In small dish, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand for five minutes. Add to oat mixture along with two cups of flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. 
Turn onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5-7 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about one hour. 
Punch dough down. Turn onto lightly floured surface. Divide into 20 pieces. Place in greased 13x9 baking pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter. Serves 20.

Book Preview ~ Wonderland Creek

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Wonderland Creek Bethany House (October 1, 2011) by Lynn Austin


Alice Grace Ripley lives in a dream world, her nose stuck in a book. But happily-ever-after life she's planned on suddenly falls apart when her boyfriend, Gordon, breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction instead of the real world. Then to top it off, Alice loses her beloved job at the library because of cutbacks due to the Great Depression.


Fleeing small-town gossip, Alice heads to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to the library in the tiny coal-mining village of Acorn. Dropped off by her relatives, Alice volunteers to stay for two weeks to help the librarian, Leslie McDougal.


But the librarian turns out to be far different than she anticipated--not to mention the four lady librarians who travel to the remote homes to deliver the much-desired books. While Alice is trapped in Acorn against her will, she soon finds that real-life adventure and myster--and especially romance--are far better than her humble dreams could have imagined. If you would like to read the first chapter of Wonderland Creek, go HERE.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
[image error] For many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she'd earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.


It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.


Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.


Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.


Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published twelve novels. Five of her historical novels have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. And two of her inspirational fiction books were chosen by Library Journal for their top picks in 2003, and 2005. One of Lynn's novels has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.