Virginia Wright's Blog, page 30

Cranberry Nut Cake

Cranberry Nut Cake

This "Cranberry Nut Cake" is slightly dry with a texture much like a pound cake. It is a bit tangy with four cups of fresh cranberries. This Cranberry Nut Cake is just right, and delicious with coffee on Christmas morning!

4 cups self-rise flour

2 cups granulated sugar

4 tbsp butter, melted

2 large eggs

1 cup natural Orange juice

12 oz. bag fresh cranberries (about four cups) halved

1 3/4 cups chopped walnuts

Topping:

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp butter

2 tsp cinnamon

Prepare bundt pan by greasing with butter and flour. Mix topping and sprinkle in bottom of prepared pan. Then mix flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and orange juice until well blended– fold in cranberries and walnuts. Pour batter in prepared pan and bake in 350 degree oven for 55 min. or until knife inserted in cake comes out clean.

© 2005
http://www.virginiawright.com

Virginia Wright Recipes

 

 

 

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Nut Cookies

GF Cookies

1 tsp. pure vanilla
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup natural creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. sea salt
1 cup chocolate chunks
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup raw crystalised sugar to roll cookie balls in.
Mix all ingredients in order given. Regrigerate dough for thirty minutes for easier handling. Roll dough into balls, dip all sides in raw sugar.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place balls on cookie sheet and flatten with a tine of a fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Take out of oven and place whole cookie sheet on cooling rack and let cookies cool on baking sheet for ten minutes.
© 2009
http://www.virginiawright.com

GF Cookies

Christmas Dessert Recipes

Cinnamon Coffee Bundt Cake
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Streusel Topping:
½ cup walnuts, finely chopped
1 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp. cinnamon
3 tbsp. unbleached all-purpose flour
4 tbsp. softened butter
Put all streusel ingredients in a bowl and mix; set aside.
In large mixing bowl blend butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs slowly, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, combine sour cream and baking soda. In a third bowl add sifted flour, baking powder and salt. Beat flour mixture into butter – egg mixture alternating with sour cream. Spoon one-third of the batter into an oiled and floured Bundt pan. Sprinkle one-third of the streusel over batter. Cover with another third of batter and sprinkle with another third of streusel and over that, cover with remaining batter and sprinkle with remaining streusel. Bake in 350° F oven for 40-50 minutes or until a knife or wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. When done, sit on cooling rack for ten minutes. Turn cake out on a platter and sift confectioners' sugar on the top.
This is an easy to make, and delicious cake. Serve Christmas morning with your coffee or tea.
*Do not substitute milk soured by vinegar for sour cream as the consistency will not be the same.
© 2006   http://www.virginiawright.com
G luten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Nut Cookies

1 tsp. pure vanilla
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup natural creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. sea salt
1 cup chocolate chunks
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup raw crystalised sugar to roll cookie balls in.
Mix all ingredients in order given. Regrigerate dough for thirty minutes for easier handling. Roll dough into balls, dip all sides in raw sugar.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place balls on cookie sheet and flatten with a tine of a fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Take out of oven and place whole cookie sheet on cooling rack and let cookies cool on baking sheet.
© 2009   http://www.virginiawright.com




Cranberry Nut Cake

Cranberry Nut Cake

This "Cranberry Nut Cake" is slightly dry with a texture much like a pound cake. It is a bit tangy with four cups of fresh cranberries. This Cranberry Nut Cake is just right, and delicious with coffee on Christmas morning!

4 cups self-rise flour

2 cups granulated sugar

4 tbsp butter, melted

2 large eggs

1 cup natural Orange juice

12 oz. bag fresh cranberries (about four cups) halved

1 3/4 cups chopped walnuts

Topping:

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp butter

2 tsp cinnamon

Prepare bundt pan by greasing with butter and flour. Mix topping and sprinkle in bottom of prepared pan. Then mix flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and orange juice until well blended– fold in cranberries and walnuts. Pour batter in prepared pan and bake in 350 degree oven for 55 min. or until knife inserted in cake comes out clean.

© 2005
http://www.virginiawright.com

Virginia Wright Recipes

Writing Hiatus...

For the last several months I have been on a "writing hiatus" because my family and I moved from Ohio to the state of Maine. I've been very busy working on renovations in our new Antique Cape. After the holidays I will trade in my paintbrush and hammer for my mouse and key pad.

I'm excited to share that during my move "Crying Bear: Yes, Bears Cry Sometimes Too" was released and is available on Amazon.com and other online bookstores. In Belfast, Maine it is available at Mr. Paperback for a limited-time.


Crying Bear: Yes, Bears Cry Sometimes Too by Virginia Wright

Description: Join this very adventurous little bear cub, as she wanders too far from the den in the snow covered mountains of Maine.
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http://www.amazon.com/Virginia-Wright...

Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Mimi's Pumpkin Nut Cake

4 Large Eggs

1Cup Water

½ cup Light Olive Oil

Pumpkin 15-oz. can

3 ½ Cups Flour

1 ½ cup Brown Sugar

1 ½ cup Granulated Sugar

2 Tsp. Baking Soda

½ Tsp. Salt

1 Tsp. Cinnamon

1 Tsp. Nutmeg

¼ Tsp. Clove

1 Cup Walnuts

Topping:

2 Tbsp. Butter

3 Tbsp. Brown Sugar

½ Tsp. Cinnamon

With a pastry blender cut in butter until topping mixture is crumbly.  Directly out of the pan sprinkle mixture over the top. Then drizzle confectioner's glaze over top of warm pumpkin nut cake. This makes for a delicious Thanksgiving cake to serve.

Glaze

1 ¼ cup Confectioner's Sugar

3 Tbsp. Whole Milk

½ Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

Stir milk into confectioner's sugar. Add vanilla. Mix until smooth. Drizzle over top of warm cake.

Bake at 350 degrees for 60 – 70 minutes or until knife inserted cake comes out clean.

Butternut Squash Bundt Nut Cake

2 Cups Butternut Squash Puree

4 Large Eggs

1 Cup Sugar

½ Cup Brown Sugar

1 Cup Light Olive Oil

3 Tsp. Cinnamon

1 Tsp. Nutmeg

½ Tsp. Ginger

½ Tsp. Cloves

½ Tsp. Salt

1 Tsp. Baking Soda

2 Tsp. Baking Powder

2 Cups Flour

1 Tsp. Pure Vanilla

½ Cup Chopped Walnuts

Generously butter and flour Bundt pan. Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until tests done when knife inserted in cake comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10-minutes. Great breakfast  cake.

Recipes and Photos- Copyright 2008 Virginia Wright

Author Reading

Peavey Memorial Library in Eastport, Maine was very kind in hosting my author read this month. I read my latest book release "Crying Bear, Yes Bears Cry Sometimes Too." All children that attended the read received coloring sheets, crayons, stickers, and their choice of one of my books.

Machias News Observer reporter, Ruth Leubecker, sat in on the read and did an interview. A great article and photo went in the newspaper the following week. Many thanks go out to you Ruth for making the trip to Eastport, Maine to do a story on me!

Any school interested in hiring me to do an author visit please contact:

info [at] virginiawright [dot] com

I will be more than happy to go over my fee, and program.

~Virginia

Virginia Wright, Author

 

 

Author Visits Peavey Memorial Library in August

VIRGINIA WRIGHT, AUTHOR - will be attending a book reading and signing  hosted by Peavey Memorial Library in Eastport Maine on August 4th, 2011 at 1 p.m.

Crying Bear by Virginia Wright

The book that will be showcased is Virginia's soon to be 2nd edition of "Crying Bear, Yes Bears Cry Sometimes Too!" Wright will have copies of her book on hand for sale at $12.95, and will stay for an autograph session.

Hope to see you there!

26 Water Street

Eastport, Maine 04631

(207) 853-4021

ISBN-13: 978-1450587945

More about Peavey Memorial Library:

http://www.librarytechnology.org/lwc-displaylibrary.pl?RC=19388

Summer Fun Kids Writing Contest

SUMMER FUN IDEA WRITING CONTEST

Calling all parents and grandparents on facebook and beyond…

Please encourage your child, grandchild, or neighbor's child to put their thinking caps on and participate in the "Summer Fun Idea Writing Contest."  I encourage you to forward this message to your friends, family, and neighbors.  Beginning   today, June 10th, I will be taking submissions for a bedtime story idea for children.

The winning idea will be incorporated into a future book that I will write.

The first name of the child who has skillfully come up with the idea that I will use, will become the name of a character in the story.

Upon publication, the winner will also receive a "free" autographed copy of the book.

The winner will also win an autographed copy of one of my other published books of the winners choosing.

This is a great way to encourage writing creativity in children.  This must be a unique idea; it absolutely cannot be taken from another book. When discussing this contest with children, ask them what they think

would be a good bedtime story? What would they like to be read before falling

asleep?  Where would their story begin? Would it address a fear about bedtime? Such as being scared of the dark? Where would

that fear take them in the story, would adventures ensue because of the fear? Would their fear be solved in the story? How?  What would happen in the end?

The submission could be a couple hundred words or just a

couple of words, just as long as the main premise gets translated into those

few lines. A story should have a beginning, middle, and an end. I would like

your idea to have a beginning, middle, and an end.

If a suggestion comes up that has been written before,

explain to your child I want to write a "new" bedtime story.  Not one that has been written before.  The example of a bedtime fear, was only a

suggestion, your child's suggestion could be anything that would make a nice

bedtime story.

Deadline for submissions will be August 31st,

2011. The winner will be announced in October.  Send submissions to info@virginiawright.com in the

subject area write: "Summer Idea Writing Contest."

COMPENSATION – TERMS AND CONDITIONS

There is no monetary compensation for the idea. However,

there will be recognition—the winner's full name will be place in the acknowledgements.  The first name of the winner will also be

incorporated into a story character, and he or she, will receive a "free" copy

of the published book. Parents will sign Compensation, Terms and Conditions of the contest rules when winner is chosen.

When your child begins telling you their idea, remember to

tell them that if they win the contest with the best idea, that they will

become part of the story. So when thinking about a bedtime story imagining

themselves as a character may help with the creative process.

WHY POLLINATORS ARE IMPORTANT

WHY POLLINATORS ARE IMPORTANT

by Virginia Wright

Remember…honeybees, bumblebees, mason bees, sweat bees, wasps, hornets, hummingbirds and butterflies, are just a few of the "thousands" of pollinators on earth; and they all have very important jobs to do. We rarely– if ever, think of the thousands of other native pollinators that are diligently working on the plants. Our "unknown pollinators" bats, moths, flies, spiders, beetles, and bugs of all sorts, are working day and night to do nature's work.  Pollinators definitely have a place and purpose in our environment. When we don't have plants that our pollinators prefer, and we cut all the grass and don't leave any wild flowers, and then poison all the weeds, we take away the very fodder our pollinators need! When we take away these sources, and we don't have OUR very important pollinators– then we will only have wind pollinated plants– that is wheat, rice, and corn. Can you imagine living off of only those foods? I can't. Help safe our pollinators through, "Awareness and Education."

For more pollinator information:

1.)    http://www.davesbees.com/pollinators.html

2.)    http://www.fws.gov/pollinators/

3.)    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollination

4.)  Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do by Virginia Wright

© VW

May Activity Page

"May" Preschool Projects - Spring showers bring May flowers Theme Activity Page (s) for preschool children - Count how many flowers in the picture. Write the letter F, draw a flower. Number and Letter Recognition, plus art. This is just one of our monthly activity pages for preschool children- Click here for more lessons. http://www.amazon.com/Virginia-Wright...