Cassandra Dean's Blog: Blog of Bloggy Blogness, page 9

Cover Reveal: A Perfect Moment by Becca Lee, Book One in The Perfect Series #giveaway

Cover Design: Louisa Maggio @ LM Creations

 
“When life threatens perfect, it’s time to step up and kick life in the balls.” 

Ella’s perfect moment was taken from her in the worst possible way. Humiliated, heartbroken and absolutely determined not to allow her heart be destroyed for a second time, she builds an ice wall around her heart.

Preston has known that he was in love with his big sister’s best friend since the age of fifteen. Over ten years on, and an opportunity to be her knight in shining armour is too good to miss. Putting his heart on the line, he’s on a mission to show Ella that the perfect moment is possible.

Ella’s instinct is to run when she realises her feelings for her bestie’s little brother may just run a little bit deeper than just friends. But if she can’t run, she’ll try every trick in the book to shake off his affection and realign his feelings.

She’s already had her perfect moment, and there is no chance she’ll let her heart thaw for Preston. No matter how good he looks in the firefighter’s Christmas calendar.

 

Contemporary Romance
Expected Release Date: April 1st 2014

 

 

 

About the Author
Growing up near the Queensland coast, Becca Lee was rarely out of the sea or off the beach. Dragging her long board with her and a soggy paperback to the beach as often as possible, which she’s since upgraded to her overworked Kindle Fire, Becca became addicted to the loves of her life: reading, surfing and ogling surfers, one of whom became her husband 10 years ago.

She can still regularly be found on the beach with her family. Becca tends to leave the surfing to her boys; she’s far too busy immersed in her own writing or, of course, with her head still buried in a new read.

 

 

Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Website ~ Twitter

 

Teaser

Her eyes widened. I assumed in alarm, but who the hell knew what was going on in her stubborn head. I took the coffee cup from her hand and rested it on the grass next to mine. I leaned in toward her slowly. Her eyes remained steady on mine. Just as I was so close I could feel her warm erratic breath on my face, her hand landed on my chest.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

Maintaining eye contact I smiled, reached out, held the back of her head and pulled her closer still. “What I should have done ten years ago.” ~ Preston, A Perfect Moment

 

 

Giveaway
5 x swag winners
2 x $5 Amazon GC

 


Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Edible Christmas Treats – Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

Every year, I like to give friends homemade treats. I gather recipes from various sources throughout the year (okay, mostly from the ‘edible Christmas presents’ blog posts that pop up at the end of the year) and experiment with them. I have the staples, the tried and true recipes that make an appearance every year, but I also like to try new things. This is what I tried this year.

 

Chocolate. Peppermint. Together in a cookie. HOW COULD I POSSIBLY RESIST?

From Things for Boys

Ingredients:

100g dark chocolate, broken into pieces

60g butter, chopped coarsely

1 tsp Peppermint Extract

1 cup plain flour (all-purpose flour)

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1/4 tsp baking (bi-carb) soda

3/4 cup caster sugar

pinch of salt

1 egg

1/3 cup icing (powdered) sugar

Place chocolate, butter and peppermint extract in a small saucepan and heat over low heat, stirring until the butter and chocolate melt. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in the caster sugar. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the chocolate mixture. Stir together. Crack the egg into the mix and then incorporate the egg.

The dough should be sticky and hold together well. If your dough is not firm enough to roll into balls, chill in the fridge, checking every 15mins until it is firm enough to use.

Preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F). Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper. Sift icing sugar into a small bowl.

To form each cookie, roll a level tablespoon of dough in your hands to form a ball. Roll each ball in the icing sugar, giving it a nice thick coating. Place cookies 8 cm (3″) apart on the prepared trays. If it’s a really hot day, chill the cookies in the fridge for about 20 mins before baking. This helps them to ‘crinkle’.

Bake the cookies for about 15 mins. The tops will be puffed and crinkled, but the dough in the cracks will still look a little under-done. They will firm up as they cool. When done, cool on trays.

makes 24 – 30

 

Next up -> FRUIT MINCE PIES

 

 

Happy 1st Book Birthday, FOOL’S GOLD! I’m celebrating with a #giveaway

Happy 1st Book Birthday
FOOL’S GOLD !

 

To celebrate FOOL’S GOLD’s first book birthday, I’m holding a giveaway. Click on the Rafflecopter link below to go in the running to win:

 

* An ebook copy of FOOL’S GOLD

* A Prize of Mystery

 

International entries are welcome – if Australia Post can reach your country, you can enter. The giveaway ends on 23 January, so make sure you enter quick.

 

Click on the Rafflecopter link to enter

 

Thanks for celebrating with me, peeps! 

 

 

 

Edible Christmas Treats – Macadamia and Pecan Shortbread

Every year, I like to give friends homemade treats. I gather recipes from various sources throughout the year (okay, mostly from the ‘edible Christmas presents’ blog posts that pop up at the end of the year) and experiment with them. I have the staples, the tried and true recipes that make an appearance every year, but I also like to try new things. This is what I tried this year.

 

This shortbread is delicious, so much so I found it hard to stop eating last year. This year, I made only enough for the gifts I planned to give – there’s enough delicious naughty things around this time of year without adding this more-ish treat.

 

recipe from The Australian Women’s Weekly Christmas Collection

Ingredients:

250g butter, softened

1/2 cup caster (superfine) sugar

2 tspns vanilla extract

2 cups plain (all-purpose) flour

1/2 cup rice flour

1/2 cup finely chopped macadamias

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

2 tbsn caster sugar, extra

Preheat oven to 160C (325F). Line two oven trays with baking paper.

Beat butter, sugar and extract with electric beater until light and fluffy. Stir in sifted flours and nuts. Press mixture together. Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and knead gently until smooth.

Divide dough in half and press into each tin or, if desired, shape into circles and pinch the edges into a frill. Sprinkle with extra sugar.

Bake for approx 20mins. Cool and then cut as desired.

 

Next up -> CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT CRINKLE COOKIES

 

 

Edible Christmas Treats – Hazelnut Crunch Chocolates

Every year, I like to give friends homemade treats. I gather recipes from various sources throughout the year (okay, mostly from the ‘edible Christmas presents’ blog posts that pop up at the end of the year) and experiment with them. I have the staples, the tried and true recipes that make an appearance every year, but I also like to try new things. This is what I tried this year.

 

This recipe I pilfered ages ago from a Tupperware party. The Tupperware lady had us make these chocolates that mimic well known branded chocolates (rhymes with berrero focher) and I’ve been making them ever since.

 

375g chocolate melts

100g copha (vegetable shortening)

1/2 cup puffed rice (branded cereal rhymes with bice rubbles)

1/2 cup crushed nuts

hazelnut spread

whole hazelnuts

ice trays

Melt chocolate and copha together. Add puffed rice and crushed nuts. Mix well.

Spoon mixture into ice trays until half full. Add hazelnut spread to center of each and place a hazelnut on top. Cover with chocolate mix.

Chill in refrigerator or freezer.

 

Next up -> Macadamia and Pecan Shortbread

 

 

Edible Christmas Treats – Bacon Jam

Every year, I like to give friends homemade treats. I gather recipes from various sources throughout the year (okay, mostly from the ‘edible Christmas presents’ blog posts that pop up at the end of the year) and experiment with them. I have the staples, the tried and true recipes that make an appearance every year, but I also like to try new things. This is what I tried this year.

 

I made this mainly for a Canadian friend who LOVES her bacon. As the recipe also incorporates maple syrup, how could I resist?

recipe from YumSugar

 

Ingredients

500g smoked bacon

1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced

5 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons sriracha, plus more to taste

1 cup coffee

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, plus more to taste

1/4 cup maple syrup, preferably grade B

Freshly cracked black pepper

Slice the bacon into 2cm strips then cook in batches until it’s lightly browned and just starting to crisp. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.

Add the onion and garlic. Cook until soft and translucent, 10-12 minutes.

Return the bacon to the pan. Add the brown sugar, sriracha, coffee, apple cider vinegar and maple syrup. Bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat and allow to simmer, stirring every now and then to prevent sticking until it has a thick, jam-like consistency and a deep, rich brown color (approx 3-4 hours).

Allow to cool and then transfer to a food processor. Pulse for several seconds to finely chop and blend the jam. Allow the solids to settle and then skim off any fate. Season to taste with additional vinegar, sriracha and salt.

Serve at room temperature with crackers, crostini, or on a burger.

 

Next up -> Hazelnut Crunch Chocolates

 

 

Edible Christmas Treats – Cashew and Salted Caramels

Every year, I like to give friends homemade treats. I gather recipes from various sources throughout the year (okay, mostly from the ‘edible Christmas presents’ blog posts that pop up at the end of the year) and experiment with them. I have the staples, the tried and true recipes that make an appearance every year, but I also like to try new things. This is what I tried this year.

 

I decided on this recipe due to the current caramel and salt trend sweeping the nation. The combination isn’t new but it seems to have really taken hold here in Oz this year.

 

recipe from The Australian Women’s Weekly Christmas Collection

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups caster (superfine) sugar

1 1/2 cups thickened (heavy) cream

1/4 cup glucose syrup

1 1/2 cups unsalted cashews

2 teaspoons sea salt

Line a baking pan with baking paper. I used a square tray about 20cm x 20cm. Also, neat trick with baking paper I learned from Jamie Oliver is to cut off the required amount, scrunch into a ball and then dunk in some water. This will make the paper extremely pliable and able to fit any shape. Nifty, hey?

Stir sugar, cream and glucose in a saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil and keep boiling uncovered until the mixture reaches 120C (248F). If you don’t have a candy thermometer, there are nifty ways to tell if the mixture is ready. I have a candy thermometer but I have no idea where it is so used the old fashioned method. It worked out a treat – you can totally see when the mixture is ready, btw.

Add nuts and half the salt but don’t stir (um, whoops. Totally stirred. Oh well, the world doesn’t end if you stir, so don’t fret, peeps.) Pour caramel into prepared pan and sprinkle with remaining salt. Allow to cool.

Use a warm knife to cut caramel into pieces.

You can store the caramels between layers of baking paper in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to a week.

 

Next up -> BACON JAM

 

 

Cover Reveal – What You Need by Landra Graf

Royce is looking for a woman who won’t cringe at the words “sexual submissive,” and a chance for all his fantasies to come true. The 1Night Stand he signed up for was supposed to be simple with no attachments, but when his match is his ex-best friend, simple goes out the window. He can’t stop seeking the answers to why Victoria left or deny his new-found attraction to her.

Victoria has loved Royce forever, but his rejection of her affections eight years ago caused her to walk away from everything. She’s not the same girl from college, and no longer naive and willing to run too just anyone. A sexual dominant born from her mistakes, she wants a chance to start a relationship based on her terms. She’ll settle for one night, but she’s planning on forever.

 

A 1 Night Stand from Decadent Publishing

AVAILABLE JANUARY 2014

 

 

Landra Graf consumes at least one book a day, and has always been a sucker for stories where true love conquers all. She believes in the power of the written word, and the joy such words can bring. In between spending time with her family and having book adventures, she writes romance with the goal of giving everyone, fictional or not, their own happily ever after.

Check out Landra at:

Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays to all. I wish you a wonderful holiday season, full of fun and frivolity and eating good times. Tonight, I’m enacting a Christmas tradition with friends – watching the Christmakkuh episode of The OC and stuffing our faces with homemade mince pies.

Enjoy mightily.



 

 

 

You guys, it’s totally Christmas!

Hey peeps, hope you’re all super well! Is anyone else excited by the fact CHRISTMAS IS NEXT WEEK??? No? Just me? Oh wells

I do love the Christmas. It’s one of my favourite times of year and I just love all the tinsel and twinkles and the good will towards all humans (and other lifeforms).

Christmas also means lots and lots of celebrating. To that end, The Romance Studio are holding a week-long party where heaps and heaps of authors are chatting about their books and fun things and there are giveaways! Lots and lots of giveaways!

One of these giveaways is mine. That’s right, trundle on over to The Romance Reviews Christmas Party for your chance to win some stuff…oh, and read tids and bits about my books. Should probably mention that too, huh?

And while I have your ear, I thought I’d let you know to keep an eye out for a series of posts I’ll be doing after Christmas. As some of you may know, I LOVE cooking and every year I make some goodies for friends and family. I’ll be detailing my efforts for your culinary enjoyment once the hustle and bustle of Christmas settles down. So make sure you check back!

Alrighty, hope you all are having glorious days. Chat soon.

Cassandra

xx