Ros Clarke's Blog, page 33

The Christmas Leftover Sandwich of Awesomeness

I am now eating my third of the season. You will thank me for sharing, I promise.

You will need:

Bread (white sliced works best)

Butter (you can use oil but butter is better)

Bread sauce

Stuffing

Leftover cooked vegetables

You can add turkey, but I froze all mine so I have been eating these without. If you're using turkey, I recommend also adding cranberry sauce. I did have sausagemeat stuffing, though, so my sandwiches have been suitably meaty.

Instructions:

Spread a generous layer of bread sauce on one slice of bread. Add sliced stuffing and leftover veg, sliced if necessary. Top with turkey and cranberry sauce if using. Place the second slice of bread on top.

Heat the butter gently in a frying pan. You want a low enough heat that will allow the sandwich filling to heat through before the bread is burnt. Place the sandwich carefully in the pan. Cook for 3/4 minutes. Turn carefully and cook the other side.

Enjoy.[image error]

2012 goals

1. Increase yarn stash

2. Increase number of WIPs

3. Watch a lot of daytime TV

4. Improve wardrobe

5. Read a lot of romance novels

6. Increase fabric stash

7. Have regular intake of chocolate

8. Have regular spa days

9. Go on holiday

10. Choose to be happy

News of Great Joy

I have NEWS. And it is EXCITING!

I have just signed a contract with Entangled Publishing for the book currently known as The Oil Tycoon and Her Sexy Sheikh. The finished manuscript is due on February 1st. It needs about 10,000 words adding to it before then.

Gosh. I am going to be an author.

Who would have thought?

Happy Christmas!

The sprouts are peeled, the sausages are wrapped in bacon and the bread sauce is made. It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas here, with cloves and cinnamon and all sorts of good things. My house is too tiny for a tree, but I have made a wreath, hung paper chains, baked salt dough ornaments and put up lights. If only I hadn't decided yesterday to start knitting a pair of socks for my Dad's present, I would be all done by now. As it is, he might well be getting one sock and one promise.

I've been amazed by the lovely reviews and responses to my Christmas story. I'm working on a Valentine's Day story to submit to Entangled as well. The thesis is making progress and my supervisor is mostly happy with the last chapter I sent him, which is a huge relief. So, life is good and I shall be enjoying the next few days with family and friends.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and that 2012 brings you much joy and laughter. [image error]

Last Minute Tea Cosy

Brilliant to give to non-knitters, especially. It looks impressive, uses up all those yarns you wouldn't normally knit with, and takes less than 2 hours to make. Choose yarns from the same colour family for a subtle effect. Choose yarns of two or three colours for a variegated effect. More than three colours will give a mottled grey/brown effect.

You will need:

150g total of various yarns (novelty yarns work well, boucle, mohair, sparkly, even eyelash!)

9mm straight needles

Wool needle for sewing up.

Instructions (make two):

Throughout, change yarns as often as you like (or whenever you run out). If you change only one or two at a time, you'll get a nice graduated effect. Pick up the loose ends of yarn after the first stitch and knit them in as you go (the extra thickness won't show).

Take approximately half a dozen strands of various yarns (fewer if they are DK or heavier, more if they are laceweight) and holding them together, cast on 21 stitches.

Row 1: K1, [p1, k1] repeat to end

Row 2: P1, [k1, p1] repeat to end

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have knitted 16 rows (ending with a row 2).

Row 17: Slip 1, k1, pass slipped stitch over, rib to last two stitches, k2tog.

Row 18: Rib

Repeat rows 17 and 18 four more times (11 stitches remain).

Cast off.

Sew together, leaving gaps for spout and handle. Sew in ends.

Sorry, I wrapped mine up before I remembered to take any photos.

Among the Muses

Today you can find me at Among the Muses, talking about what I want for Christmas this year and reminiscing about my best – and worst – gifts. There's also a giveaway for All I Want For Christmas. Come and join the chat!

All over the place

I am OWNING the internet in the next couple of weeks. My fab publicist at Entangled has lined up hundreds of guest blog posts. So I will be talking about Christmas, my story and all sorts of stuff at the following places:

Rachel Firasek's blog on Dec 9th

Among the Muses on Dec 13th

Books on the House on Dec 14th

Cheeky Reads on Dec 16th

Stitch-Read-Cook on Dec 17th

Chick Lit Reviews and News on Dec 18th

Book Chick City on Dec 21st

Reading Between the Wines on Dec 14th or 21st.

Phew.

Today, I am everywhere!

A lovely review for Reckless Runaway at the Racecourse at Sugarbeat's Books.

This short little book is delightful. Although I thought Fliss was a ditz at the beginning of the book, I grew to like her and her sunny personality. The character of Luke just needed a kick in the pants at times, but he was endearing and very well written! The action of this book is believable and marches right along. It is a warm, frequently funny romance. Overall, a nice light read!

Another lovely review, this one on Amazon for All I Want for Christmas:

This is a lovely little story, tender and sweet, with nicely drawn characters and some really touching moments. Anna's difficult plight highlights a real issue in today's society of caring for elderly relatives and the kind of sacrifices some people have to make. A lovely Christmassy read. You won't be disappointed!

And finally, I'm talking about what makes a British Christmas special at Rachel Firasek's blog.

Don't forget to enter for the giveaway too!

Promotional videos!

It was nice of Mariah Carey to do a version of All I Want for Christmas with Justin Bieber in the run up to the release of my story by the same name. Now the Royal Navy are getting in on the act:

Are there any other versions of the song I should know about? Feel free to post them in comments – or even to record your own special karaoke version!

All I Want For Christmas is… a giveaway!

IT'S TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry, I'll stop shouting now. Okay, once more. MY BOOK IS BEING PUBLISHED TODAY!!!!!!!!!

It's not available right this second, it not being December 6th in Colorado yet, but I'll let you know the instant you can buy it. And to celebrate, I'm having a giveaway. Five people will win free (digital) copies of my two self-published novellas. To enter, send me the answer to the following question using the website contact form, by the end of December 12th (GMT). Here's the question:

Which saint's day is celebrated on December 6th?

Remember, please don't leave your answer as a comment – use the contact form instead.

(I'm running a similar competition on FB and you're welcome to enter both if you like. 5 winners will be picked here and another 5 there.)