Kate Collins's Blog, page 104
November 27, 2016
MY (NEW) FAVORITE THANKSGIVING RECIPE
By Mary Kennedy
One of the fun things about Thanksgiving is sharing food, exchanging recipes and discovering delightful new dishes! I want to share an absolutely fabulous broccoli casserole (thank you, Jerry!) that I enjoyed this Thanksgiving. It's so good people were going back for seconds and thirds.
Broccoli Cheez-It Casserole Ingredients: 1 can mushroom soup2 boxes chopped broccoli (or one 16 oz bag broccoli florets) cooked and drained well1 egg1 cup mayoI tablespoon chopped onions1 and 1/2 cups cups shredded cheddar cheese2 cups crushed Cheez-it crackers, divided (crush with rolling pin)1/2 stick melted butter Directions: Simple mix the soup, the broccoli, the egg, the mayo, the onions, the cheddar cheese and HALF of the crushed Cheez-its and place in a greased 13 x 9 inch casserole dish. Top with the remaining Cheez-Its. Drizzle on 1/2 stick melted butter. Bake uncovered, 350 for 30-45 minutes. Enjoy! This is the perfect covered dish to bring to a party, or just to enjoy at home. I have never seen people so exited over broccoli and it was definitely one of the hits of the dinner. I hope you try it, I think you will love it. Mary Kennedy
One of the fun things about Thanksgiving is sharing food, exchanging recipes and discovering delightful new dishes! I want to share an absolutely fabulous broccoli casserole (thank you, Jerry!) that I enjoyed this Thanksgiving. It's so good people were going back for seconds and thirds.
Broccoli Cheez-It Casserole Ingredients: 1 can mushroom soup2 boxes chopped broccoli (or one 16 oz bag broccoli florets) cooked and drained well1 egg1 cup mayoI tablespoon chopped onions1 and 1/2 cups cups shredded cheddar cheese2 cups crushed Cheez-it crackers, divided (crush with rolling pin)1/2 stick melted butter Directions: Simple mix the soup, the broccoli, the egg, the mayo, the onions, the cheddar cheese and HALF of the crushed Cheez-its and place in a greased 13 x 9 inch casserole dish. Top with the remaining Cheez-Its. Drizzle on 1/2 stick melted butter. Bake uncovered, 350 for 30-45 minutes. Enjoy! This is the perfect covered dish to bring to a party, or just to enjoy at home. I have never seen people so exited over broccoli and it was definitely one of the hits of the dinner. I hope you try it, I think you will love it. Mary Kennedy
November 25, 2016
WHY I LOVE WRITING FOR TEENS AND TWEENS
By Mary Kennedy
Lots of people don't know that before I wrote mysteries, I wrote teen and middle-grade fiction. Quite a lot of it, actually! I wrote 35 books for Scholastic, including mysteries, sweet romances, chapter books, stand-alone titles and series.
It was great fun and I made guest appearances in schools, thanks to a wonderful company called Authors in Schools. I'd spend the whole day giving presentations, chatting with the kids, teachers, librarians and parents. I also visited libraries and military bases.
And I always bought a couple of hundred home made chocolate chip cookies to hand out! They were my trademark and I was invited back year after year (it must have been the cookies!)
People ask me why I love writing for teens, and the answer is simple. This is a time when emotions are in overdrive, everything is larger than life, the joys, the sorrows, the angst are overwhelming. This is a goldmine for writers. Remember back to your teen (or tween years) when everything was high drama.
I'm happy these books are back as e-books, and I can guarantee that they are squeaky clean (after all, they had to pass muster with teachers, parents and librarians!).
I currently have two teen series, the Hollywood Nights series for older teens,
and the Crazy Love Diaries for young teens.
You can find descriptions of all six books and links to buy them at my website. http://www.marykennedy.net and I hope you'll give them a try. Have a young teen friend or relative who might enjoy a fun, wholesome read? The perfect holiday gift. Have a merry one! Mary Kennedy
Lots of people don't know that before I wrote mysteries, I wrote teen and middle-grade fiction. Quite a lot of it, actually! I wrote 35 books for Scholastic, including mysteries, sweet romances, chapter books, stand-alone titles and series.
It was great fun and I made guest appearances in schools, thanks to a wonderful company called Authors in Schools. I'd spend the whole day giving presentations, chatting with the kids, teachers, librarians and parents. I also visited libraries and military bases. And I always bought a couple of hundred home made chocolate chip cookies to hand out! They were my trademark and I was invited back year after year (it must have been the cookies!)
People ask me why I love writing for teens, and the answer is simple. This is a time when emotions are in overdrive, everything is larger than life, the joys, the sorrows, the angst are overwhelming. This is a goldmine for writers. Remember back to your teen (or tween years) when everything was high drama.
I'm happy these books are back as e-books, and I can guarantee that they are squeaky clean (after all, they had to pass muster with teachers, parents and librarians!).
I currently have two teen series, the Hollywood Nights series for older teens,
and the Crazy Love Diaries for young teens.
You can find descriptions of all six books and links to buy them at my website. http://www.marykennedy.net and I hope you'll give them a try. Have a young teen friend or relative who might enjoy a fun, wholesome read? The perfect holiday gift. Have a merry one! Mary Kennedy
Is it time yet?
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
I love holiday music. I start sneaking it into the daily repertoire a week or two before Thanksgiving, usually playing it on my computer in my office. Of course, my office is connected to Mr. L's office. He doesn't love holiday music as much as I do, although I will admit that our favorite local soft rock station starts playing it the Friday before Thanksgiving 24/7. That gets REALLY tiresome because you're liable to hear the same song 3 times during the day. (We have it on in the kitchen just for background noise.)
Last year, one of my readers (and I really wish I could remember who it was), introduced me to Straight No Chaser, an a capella group. They're known for singing some pretty whacky tunes. I first heard their rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas thanks to this Facebook friend. I liked it so much, I went straight to Amazon and bought one of their Christmas albums. (Christmas Cheer.) My favorites? That's a toughie. I think Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Why? Because not only have they a changed a few of the words, but it's a unique arrangement. I like different arrangements of familiar tunes. My Dad used to take me to The Arrangers Workshop at the Eastman Theatre From the time I was about 10 until I was in my mid-20s. Great music from great guest artists.
Another of my favorites is Popular Christmas for a New Age. I got it at Wegmans (grocery store) for about $5 about 10 years ago. It was re-released last year with a new (icky) cover, but it's the same wonderful instrumental CD that I've been enjoying for the past 10 or more years. It's jazz/new age kind of music and, again, it's the arrangement of familiar tunes in a different way that makes it unique and enjoyable for me.
Another artist I like, whose done quite a few holiday CDs, is David Arkenstone. I like his Visions of Christmas (my favorite on this one is Tchaikovsky's Arabian Dance from the Nutcracker. I could listen to that all day and tire of it), Christmas Lounge, and Celtic Christmas, but the one I like most of all is Enchantment: A Magical Christmas. They're all instrumentals and, again, all great arrangements of familiar holiday tunes.
I also have a few piano only DCs that I play over and over again (ad nauseam, Mr. L would say). My favorite is one I picked up at Target a few years back called Relaxing Christmas Piano. For some reason, it's the first one I play every year. My favorite cut is God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, which is done in a rather somber key--but it's so different from any other version of that tune, that I find myself looking forward to it every time I put on the CD. (Yes, I still use CDs, but I also have everything on my computer or in the cloud, too, just so it's always available.)
In all I must have at least 50 holiday CDs and not all of them get played every year.
Why not share the title of YOUR favorite CD so that many of us can give it a try. It might just become one of my/our favorites, too!
I love holiday music. I start sneaking it into the daily repertoire a week or two before Thanksgiving, usually playing it on my computer in my office. Of course, my office is connected to Mr. L's office. He doesn't love holiday music as much as I do, although I will admit that our favorite local soft rock station starts playing it the Friday before Thanksgiving 24/7. That gets REALLY tiresome because you're liable to hear the same song 3 times during the day. (We have it on in the kitchen just for background noise.)
Last year, one of my readers (and I really wish I could remember who it was), introduced me to Straight No Chaser, an a capella group. They're known for singing some pretty whacky tunes. I first heard their rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas thanks to this Facebook friend. I liked it so much, I went straight to Amazon and bought one of their Christmas albums. (Christmas Cheer.) My favorites? That's a toughie. I think Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Why? Because not only have they a changed a few of the words, but it's a unique arrangement. I like different arrangements of familiar tunes. My Dad used to take me to The Arrangers Workshop at the Eastman Theatre From the time I was about 10 until I was in my mid-20s. Great music from great guest artists.
Another of my favorites is Popular Christmas for a New Age. I got it at Wegmans (grocery store) for about $5 about 10 years ago. It was re-released last year with a new (icky) cover, but it's the same wonderful instrumental CD that I've been enjoying for the past 10 or more years. It's jazz/new age kind of music and, again, it's the arrangement of familiar tunes in a different way that makes it unique and enjoyable for me.
Another artist I like, whose done quite a few holiday CDs, is David Arkenstone. I like his Visions of Christmas (my favorite on this one is Tchaikovsky's Arabian Dance from the Nutcracker. I could listen to that all day and tire of it), Christmas Lounge, and Celtic Christmas, but the one I like most of all is Enchantment: A Magical Christmas. They're all instrumentals and, again, all great arrangements of familiar holiday tunes.
I also have a few piano only DCs that I play over and over again (ad nauseam, Mr. L would say). My favorite is one I picked up at Target a few years back called Relaxing Christmas Piano. For some reason, it's the first one I play every year. My favorite cut is God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, which is done in a rather somber key--but it's so different from any other version of that tune, that I find myself looking forward to it every time I put on the CD. (Yes, I still use CDs, but I also have everything on my computer or in the cloud, too, just so it's always available.)In all I must have at least 50 holiday CDs and not all of them get played every year.
Why not share the title of YOUR favorite CD so that many of us can give it a try. It might just become one of my/our favorites, too!
November 23, 2016
Happy Thanksgiving...and boo to the traffic
Well, its Turkey time again and getting together with family and friends and giving thanks for all that we have. This is the good side of the holiday, the bad side is the traffic.Lordy, the traffic!! Christmas isn’t so bad as it’s spread out. Some people travel the weekend before, Christmas Eve, the day of or weekend after and so on but Thanksgiving is that day period. That means everyone hits the roads today if they are heading out of town.
And as if all the traffic isn’t enough we seem to have a huge amount of construction going on around here and I bet you do too. They got to get it in before the bad weather hits. There are orange barrels and flashing lights and lanes blending at snail paces that really slow things even more.
While we’re on the subject, don’t you hate those drivers who take the closed lane, knowing it’s closed and they squeeze in waaaaaaay up ahead in line. I think we should be allowed to shoot them with paintballs or something. UGH!!
I have my daughter coming in from NYC. I am over the moon excited but I know the airport will be a holy mess and traffic on the expressway will be a nightmare. Still I’m over the moon happy to see her again.So what about you? Are you traveling? Having someone you love and miss coming in? Having someone you’d rather not see coming in ‘cause you couldn’t think of a we to say NO?
No matter what have a great day and Happy Thanksgiving!I am so thankful for all of you.
Hugs, Duffy
November 21, 2016
At the Movies
by Maggie SeftonI usually write my Tuesday Cozy Chicks blog posts on the Monday or Monday
evening before so they can be posted by 12am, Tuesday morning. Our Cozy Chicks Blog readers and fans are literally all over the globe. So---today, Monday 21, I will be traveling most of the day, either by car from here at the river house in the Northern Neck of Virginia a block from the Potomac River, back up to Dulles International Airport for my return flight to Colorado. Then, back to Fort Collins in an airport shuttle and my parked car at the shuttle parking lot. With luck, I should be stepping into my Fort Collins home around 11:30pm.
So---I decided this would be the best day to catch up with the last two movies on my Recently Seen list---DOCTOR STRANGE and HACKSAW RIDGE.
DOCTOR STRANGE----If you love magic and magical beings as well as adventure films as I do, then you should enjoy Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of this fascinating character. DOCTOR STRANGE takes place in an earlier time period and doesn't disappoint on the imaginative storyline. And it also does not disappoint with the villains. A strong, ruthless and relentless villain is a must in order for the hero or heroine to have a worthy challenger. DOCTOR STRANGE succeeds on all those levels. I recommend it.
HACKSAW RIDGE----This is an excellent movie. I can heartily endorse it. The storyline accurately depicts events that took place during the Korean War. And---this is the most important----the acting performances by the cast are EXCELLENT. Absolutely top notch. The portrayals are moving as well. It's a an honest and affecting movie and is definitely worthy of several Oscar nominations. Since the movie takes place during wartime, there are scenes of violence and people being shot and killed. Just a warning, so you would know. Be advised.
November 20, 2016
WHAT WILL YOU DO DIFFERENTLY IN 2017?
By Mary Kennedy
Hard to believe, but 2017 is almost upon us. A reporter pal asked me for some thoughts on the importance of traditions, of welcoming the new year (and marking the passing year) in some way. Many people have religious traditions, of course, but we were thinking of a special, non-sectarian way of honoring the year ahead of us. Something inclusive, that everyone could participate in (or not.) Here are a few ideas that I've shared with my clients. 1. This one is based on "the butterfly effect," the notion that small changes can lead to big effects. The idea was originally used for weather prediction but has acquired a broader meaning.
I like to ask my clients: "
What one thing will you do differently in 2017
?" The answers are sometimes touching, profound, amusing, fun and highly personal. Almost everyone has one thing they would like to do differently and of course, they ask me the same question! 2. Share something home-made and creative with a group of friends. When I lived down south, a group of us would meet during the "slow" week after Christmas to talk about the past year. And we each would bring a craft project that had a story behind it. People brought home-made quilts...
A painting...
a piece of beadwork that had some special significance.
Or a piece of hand-made jewelry.
Each piece had a story behind it. Since I'm totally not artistic, I usually brought a photograph that had some special meaning to me. One December, it was a beloved cat who had passed away during the year. This is Lucky, a 17 year old cat who I rescued as a kitten--she was eating paper (!) in a vacant lot in a rough neighborhood. I was on my way to a job interview, stopped in the middle of the street, and dashed over to save her. (and yes, I bagged the job interview!). She was skinny and covered with fleas, but as you can see, she turned into a lovely cat and was the light of my life for many years.
3. Children enjoy playing, "Make a wish." You simply go around the table and each child makes a wish for the new year. The answers will surprise you. Children didn't focus on gifts or shiny new toys, they wish for things that would benefit their family, their school, or the larger community. I was happy to see that they were unselfish and thinking of others. You might want to try some of these traditions with your own friends and family. Or maybe you have some traditions you'd like to share? I'd love to hear them and I know my readers would, too! Mary Kennedy
Hard to believe, but 2017 is almost upon us. A reporter pal asked me for some thoughts on the importance of traditions, of welcoming the new year (and marking the passing year) in some way. Many people have religious traditions, of course, but we were thinking of a special, non-sectarian way of honoring the year ahead of us. Something inclusive, that everyone could participate in (or not.) Here are a few ideas that I've shared with my clients. 1. This one is based on "the butterfly effect," the notion that small changes can lead to big effects. The idea was originally used for weather prediction but has acquired a broader meaning.
I like to ask my clients: "
What one thing will you do differently in 2017
?" The answers are sometimes touching, profound, amusing, fun and highly personal. Almost everyone has one thing they would like to do differently and of course, they ask me the same question! 2. Share something home-made and creative with a group of friends. When I lived down south, a group of us would meet during the "slow" week after Christmas to talk about the past year. And we each would bring a craft project that had a story behind it. People brought home-made quilts...
A painting...
a piece of beadwork that had some special significance.
Or a piece of hand-made jewelry.
Each piece had a story behind it. Since I'm totally not artistic, I usually brought a photograph that had some special meaning to me. One December, it was a beloved cat who had passed away during the year. This is Lucky, a 17 year old cat who I rescued as a kitten--she was eating paper (!) in a vacant lot in a rough neighborhood. I was on my way to a job interview, stopped in the middle of the street, and dashed over to save her. (and yes, I bagged the job interview!). She was skinny and covered with fleas, but as you can see, she turned into a lovely cat and was the light of my life for many years.
3. Children enjoy playing, "Make a wish." You simply go around the table and each child makes a wish for the new year. The answers will surprise you. Children didn't focus on gifts or shiny new toys, they wish for things that would benefit their family, their school, or the larger community. I was happy to see that they were unselfish and thinking of others. You might want to try some of these traditions with your own friends and family. Or maybe you have some traditions you'd like to share? I'd love to hear them and I know my readers would, too! Mary Kennedy
November 18, 2016
Where the heck are my keys?
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
I admit it; I have been known to lose my keys. A lot. So, imagine how upset I was on Monday to think I had lost my keys yet again. Especially since I just received Mr. L's new VERY EXPENSIVE car key.
I tore the house apart. I went through every jacket in the closet (even ones I haven't worn lately), my purse, my desk, Mr. L's computer desk, the file cabinets, the kitchen cabinets. Every flat surface in the house. NO KEYS. That key is worth over $200 and I was pretty upset.
Then Mr. L very smugly says, "I found your keys" and hands them to me.
I look them over and tell him, "These aren't my keys."
"Well whose key's are they?"
"They're YOURS."
(It felt like an Abbott and Costello routine.)
Over the weekend, he'd pocketed my keys, which is why I couldn't find them. Then, he'd put two copies of MY car key on the ring, and not his new one. (They look exactly alike. Oy! Talk about a mix-up.)
Today I'm packing MY car and tomorrow (Saturday, November 19th) I'll be heading for The Church Mouse Holiday Bazaar, where I'll be signing books. If you're in the Rochester, NY area, come see me at the Gates Presbyterian Church (1049 Wegman Road) from 9 until 3:30.
I admit it; I have been known to lose my keys. A lot. So, imagine how upset I was on Monday to think I had lost my keys yet again. Especially since I just received Mr. L's new VERY EXPENSIVE car key.I tore the house apart. I went through every jacket in the closet (even ones I haven't worn lately), my purse, my desk, Mr. L's computer desk, the file cabinets, the kitchen cabinets. Every flat surface in the house. NO KEYS. That key is worth over $200 and I was pretty upset.
Then Mr. L very smugly says, "I found your keys" and hands them to me.
I look them over and tell him, "These aren't my keys."
"Well whose key's are they?"
"They're YOURS."
(It felt like an Abbott and Costello routine.)
Over the weekend, he'd pocketed my keys, which is why I couldn't find them. Then, he'd put two copies of MY car key on the ring, and not his new one. (They look exactly alike. Oy! Talk about a mix-up.)
Today I'm packing MY car and tomorrow (Saturday, November 19th) I'll be heading for The Church Mouse Holiday Bazaar, where I'll be signing books. If you're in the Rochester, NY area, come see me at the Gates Presbyterian Church (1049 Wegman Road) from 9 until 3:30.
November 16, 2016
Meet the emergency cake
By Mary Jane Maffini aka half of Victoria Abbott
Twice this past week, I needed an emergency treat in the freezer and was out of luck. It’s been a busy fall, and while the cupboard wasn’t bare, it was full of ingredients, not ready to go items.
So when I needed to drop something off to a friend who had lost a loved one, I had to postpone it until I could make something. Then when a friend dropped in unexpectedly, we didn’t have a cookie or a cake in the freezer to produce. Not even ice cream and a topping. Nada.
Cheese and crackers had to do.
So today, I decided to start restocking. I choose this double recipe for our favorite plum cake. It’s the easiest cake ever and it tastes delicious despite having just a few ordinary ingredients.
Many years ago, I found this wonderful little cake recipe in a magazine. I no longer even remember which one and there’s nothing on the clipping or I’d give them credit! Of course, I’ve changed it a little bit. I can never resist. We usually have plums or plumcots around so, today, we were in business. Sure enough, someone dropped in tonight and one of those cakes has a big chunk out of it.
Plum or rhubarb cake
4 extra large eggs, room temperature1 cup plus two tablespoons sugar1 cup plus two tablespoons flour3 tablespoons chilled butter1 tsp good quality vanilla.4 -5 ripe prune plums or plumcots (or 1 cup or so chopped rhubarb)
Beat eggs until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar and vanilla. Beat in flour just enough to blend.
Pour into two greased 8 inch baking pans. Arrange a layer of fruit on the top. Top with dabs of butter.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes. Use a tester because bake times can vary because of the fruit.
When the cakes are cool, dust with icing sugar. Serve as is or with whipping cream or ice cream.This cake takes eight minutes to prepare and only 25 to bake.
You saved enough time to put your feet up and read a book (and eat your cake).
And you have a cake to eat and one to freeze for a rainy day, a friend in need or an unexpected visitor.
How about you? Do you have an emergency treat at hand for surprise visitors? Or maybe just for yourself? Time to share our secrets.
Retirement...in or out?
There’s this neat commercial on TV where a teacher is retiring. It’s her last day at school and she’s tossing papers into the air and dancing down the steps and jumps into an adorable red convertible VW bug and drives off.
Everyone looks forward to retiring but will you? You might give up your day job of working your butt off for a bazillion years for a company that doest appreciate you but when it when comes to hanging up work will you do it?
I’ve had a job for so long I cannot imagine not having one.
I’m not saying a 40 hour a week job but some kind of a job where you still draw a paycheck and have to show up. Right now I have two jobs...I write and I work at a consignment shop. I love both. Nothing is more fun than writing cozies and the consignment shop gig keeps me honest in that I have to get out from behind my computer and talk to real people.Sometimes I forget there’s another real world out there. Heck, sometimes I want to forget. But I digress.
I do volunteer work too as I think I need to give back for the amazing life I’ve had. There is so much that needs to be done but I still want a job that holds me accountable. I think it’s in my midwest genes of work.So what about you? Will you hang it up when you turn 65? Not retire at 65? Kick your boss in the shins and dace out the door? Get a part-time job? Volunteer? Travel till you drop?
What are your retirement dreams and plans?
