Deborah Vogts's Blog, page 148

Easy Fudge Cake

This cake is the best chocolate cake I've tasted in years and very easy to make. Try it. I'm sure you'll be delighted!

1 cup mini chocolate chips (divided)
1 pkg. 2-layer chocolate cake mix
1 pkg. instant chocolate pudding
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup water
1 tub (8 oz) frozen whipped toppping
2 Tablespoons sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flower two 9-inch round baking pans. In large bowl, beat cake mix, dry pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, oil and water on low...

ACFW Conference 2010

This past week I attended the 2010 ACFW Writer's Conference in Indianapolis. What a fun five days! As is usually the case, I finally remembered to retrieve my camera from the hotel room on the last day. Here are a few highlights from the event:

Pictured here with fellow Kansans and travel buddies, Julane Hiebert and Sara Meisinger. We drove the ten hours to Indy and giggled the entire way!

Beth Vogt (note the interesting spelling of the name) with our agent, Rachelle Gardner.

I found this...

Book Preview ~ In Every Heartbeat

In Every HeartbeatBethany House (September 1, 2010)
byKim Vogel Sawyer

As three friends who grew up in the same orphanage head off to college together, they each harbor a cherished dream. Libby Conley hopes to become a famous journalist. Pete Leidig believes God has called him to study to become a minister. And Bennett Martin plans to pledge a fraternity, find a place to belong, and have as much fun as possible.

But as tensions rise around the world on the brink of World War I, the friends...

Chicken Salad for Fifty Guests

Here is a recipe I like using when I'm expecting a large crowd. Works especially well for ladies' luncheons.

10 cups cooked chicken, shredded (3 whole chickens)
10 cups diced celery
3 cups salad dressing
2 pounds red grapes (cut in half)
1 Tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
3 cups cashews (chopped if desired)
1 1/2 cups chopped onions

Cook chicken in large roasting pans and shred. May do this a day ahead if desired. In large bowl, mix chicken with remaining ingredients. Serve on leaf of lettuce, or on ...

Book Drawing - More than Words

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
introducesMore than WordsBethany House; Original edition (September 1, 2010)byJudith Miller
Journey to the charming villages of the Amana Colonies, 1885

Gretchen Kohler is an Amana storekeeper's daughter with a secret passion for writing. But artistic pursuits are frowned upon in her conservative Amana village, so she confines her poems and stories to her journals, letting only close friends read them.

When a young reporter comes into her store, she believes she's...

Corn Harvest

Last week the combine arrived to harvest our corn! Yay! It's always a grand day when a crop makes it to harvest. And they finished the job right before the rain set in for the weekend. Here are some random pictures from the weekend! (Photos taken by our youngest daughter.)
Morning Glory


Harvesters arrive

Transferring the corn to the trailer

Grasshoppers

What's left of the cornstalks

Cat on fencepost wondering about all the ruckus

Sunset after a long day . . .

Ranch Loaves

(This is a favorite of all my daughters & has won a purple ribbon at the county fair.)

2 packages active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (110-115 degrees)
1/2 cup sugar, divided
2 cups warm buttermilk (110-115 degrees)
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3 eggs
1 envelope original ranch salad dressing mix
2 teaspoons salt
8-9 cups all-purpose flour

In mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add 1 teaspoon sugar; let stand for five minutes. Add the warm buttermilk, butter, eggs, ranch dressing mix...

On Pens and Fun Advertisements

As a writer I have an addiction to writing pens. I LOVE them. For Christmas, I almost always request a new pen--some of my favorites made by Cross. Here is a fun advertisement I learned about from author Brandilyn Collins about the new Pilot Pen - the FriXion erasable gel pen.

Be sure to click on this link to learn more about the pen and to watch the fun video on the creation of the perfect man. Too cute. My daughters and I are now on the lookout for this product.

Mailbox Monday

I'm delighted to learn that people are still finding out about my books through the Country magazine article that came out last April/May. Click here to view a copy of it if you haven't read it yet. Last week I heard from a lovely woman who had seen the article. She writes:

Dear Deborah,
It was the photo write-up in April/May issue of 'Country' that
caught my interest. I couldn't get to the local book store fast
enough! I purchased the only copy of "Snow Melts in Spring",
and you had me from page...

Steak Marinade

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup chopped green onion
3 Tablespoons lime juice
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 pounds sirloin steak (1 inch thick)

Combine first six ingredients in large resealable bag. Add beef. Refrigerate for two hours or overnight, turning occasionally. Broil or grill 4-6 minutes or each side. Delicious marinade to use in the summer when you grill!