Kate Collins's Blog, page 134

A FINAL HOLIDAY INDULGENCE? CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES!

By Mary Kennedy
                                                       
 So the holidays are over, you say? Well, technically, you're right, but isn't there time for just one last indulgence? And if making delectable truffles is a little too guilt-inducing, or doesn't fit in with your New Year's resolutions, take heart. You can make them and give them to that friend, neighbor or family member that you forgot to buy a gift for. Trust me, you can be surethat a box of home-made truffles will be cherished and not "re-gifted."   So let's get started. You will be amazed at the basic recipe, it only requires two ingredients, chocolate chips and raspberry jam. BASIC recipe for chocolate truffles. Makes about 16, the number pictured in the box above. Ingredients:  one cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 Tablespoons seedless raspberry jam. Directions: Use a double boiler to melt the chocolate chips and jam. Stir and heat until mixture thickens to a consistency that looks like fudge. Remove from heat and let mixture cool. Shape into balls. See, I told you it was easy! Now you have several choices.  You can roll the balls in cocoa...  You can roll them in sprinkles, or in chopped nuts, or coconut, or powdered. sugar.  Really, there is no limit to what you can do.  You can also dip them into melted chocolate and then drizzle them with one of those little tubes of "decorator frosting" you find in the baking aisle at the supermarket. They look pretty elegant this way!   What if you're a fan of white chocolate? No worries, simply substitute white chocolate chips in the BASIC recipe listed above. You can try some fun adaptations, just as using apricot jam with white chocolate chips (delish!) and one of my friends swears by pineapple jam.  She rolls the truffles in powdered sugar and voila!  Be sure to chill them in the fridge and take them out 30 minutes before serving. They're especially good at room temperature.  You can buy little candy wrappers at a candy store or craft store if you want to box them up as a gift. You don't need to, but it makes them look so elegant.                                                                                                      
 So enjoy your last little bit of the holidays or share these goodies with a friend. It's a great way to start the New Year!  By Mary Kennedy 

With all best wishes from The Cozy Chicks!

Five generations: that's us!

BY VICTORIA ABBOTT aka Victoria and Mary Jane Maffini
Sometimes the best gift is free and yet worth more than all the Christmas purchases put together.  It may be a gift of time, of affection, of just being together.  This season we were really thrilled to get a picture of the five generations of ‘girls’ in our family.  We range from 1 ½ years for Baby Ella to 93 ½ for Nonna, with a range of unspecified dates for the rest of us.  Ahem. The picture was captured despite a very chaotic and large gathering on Christmas Eve and despite some interference from non-girls.  There were also the usual shouted instructions to the photographer (long suffering hubby and dad): No chins! No red-eye!  That type of thing.




We can’t wait to get it printed, framed and give it a place on the wall.  It marks a moment in time that we were lucky to experience.  For the record, the girls are: back row, from left to right, Cassandra (and her Baby Ella, wearing antlers and reflecting the family trait of fondness for silly headwear), Victoria (Supreme Auntie), Virginia, (MJ’s daughter, Victoria’s older sister and Cassandra’s mum). Front ‘row’: Nonna (Victoria and Virginia’s grandmother and MJ’s MIL),  MJ and the talented little Teagan, daughter of grandson Devon.  Not shown pooches: Peachy, Daisy, Lily, Molly and Pika. All were sleeping happily under blankets and not available.Next year, we’ll try to corral the ‘boys’, although there are only four generations.  We’re hoping this will be a fun new tradition, if we can continue to convince ourselves to behave long enough to get a good shot.  Maybe we all need antlers!Why not drop it and tell us about the family photos that you cherish?  Serious, happy, silly? We love to hear these things.
Have the happiest 2016, everyone. May it be full of good books, good friends, good food and good times!





XO from MJ and Victoria!

If your pet could talk…

I have two cats Dr. Watson and Spooky and the other night I had a dream were Dr. Watson could talk. See, this is what happens when you OD on Christmas cookies. The thing is, my reaction in my dream wasn’t surprise like Holy cow you can talk so much as What took you so long? I think his reply was Well up until now everything’s been okay.
So this got me thinking, what if your pet could talk? What would his story be? What would he say?
Watson is a big gray long-hair cat. The jury is still out on the big part being genetic or from the fact that I give him too many treats because he is so darn cute. He is adorable, totally friendly to one and all.
When someone comes into the house he goes to greet them. He purrs and blinks his big green eyes. He is not a watch-cat so much as the welcoming committee. He loves ham…I think that’s because he is one.
If he could talk this is probably what he would say…Dr. Watson here with my staff, that would be Duffy Brown. I have her so wrapped around my little paw. All I do is look cute and she coughs up the treats. But life wasn’t always this great, I got dumped in a DQ parking lot. I  made pitiful kitten sounds and looked pathetic and Duffy came along and  gave me her cookie-dough ice cream cone. Talk about an easy touch. She named me Dr. Watson. Her license plate is Sherlock. Personally I think the girl needs therapy. 
So what would your pet say if he/she could talk? What is his/her story?
Next week you’ll hear from Spooky,

Have a wonderful New Year.

Hugs, Duffy

Hoping for a Very Happy New Year

by Maggie Sefton



I couldn't resist posting new photos of daughter Serena and S-I-L Jeff's doggies----12 month old  French Mastiff "puppy" Boss and Sweet Dachsund Oscar.  How better to celebrate the New Year than with beloved pets?  My doggies, Katy and Max, and I are celebrating the holidays already with taking it easy every day.  :) 


I hope all of you enjoy the upcoming New Year's Eve and celebrate in your own
special way----at a party with friends, pizza and beer with family, standing with the crowd in Times Square and counting down the minutes and seconds, or quietly enjoying a rich eggnog with rum while watching favorite movies at home.

Boss helping load dishes in the dishwasher




I've always found the prospect of beginning a new year somewhat exciting.  A new year is the time for new beginnings, new projects, or returning to old pursuits that you haven't engaged in for a long time.  Anything is possible.  Really.  Think about it.  If you decide you want to pursue a new goal or take up a new hobby, learn a new language. . . whatever.  You can begin.  You're already halfway  there by making the decision.  The next step is to take action.  And you get to define what that entails.

Is there a treat coming?  


Every new direction I've ever taken in my life or in my writing career I've begun in the January of a new year.  Somehow it seems there's a special energy that's available in January.  What new path or project will you choose this New Year?  

VINTAGE FLORIDA POSTCARDS, SWEET MEMORIES

By Mary Kennedy
                                                          
 I came across a box of old postcards last night that hold a lot of sweet memories for me.  When I think of Christmas, I think of Florida.                                                             I started going to Ft. Lauderdale with my parents every Christmas when I was growing up. We drove straight through, even though it was 1500 miles! It was so much fun, stopping at our favorite places, looking at the fields of orange trees (with smudge pots to keep them warm) and feeling a little buzz of excitement as we crossed the Georgia state line and headed into Florida.                                                                                                                          No trip was complete without a quick stop at Stuckey's...                                          for one of their famous pecan logs.  And of course, a glass of fresh-squeezed Florida orange juice. There were loads of places along that way that sold this Florida staple. It was amazing, the stuff you buy in the carton can't compare!                                                                 So even though we didn't have a "traditional" Christmas, it was a wonderful experience, being with my parents, enjoying the warm sunshine and soft ocean breezes. I looked forward to it all year.  Maybe this is why Florida holds a special place in my heart, and I make a pilgrimage there every winter.    Do you have a special Christmas memory, something you'd like to share, something you've continued into your adult life? I hope you're having a wonderful holiday and making your own special memories.  By Mary Kennedy

New Year, New Times

by Leann


It has been my honor and privilege to be part of the Cozy Chicks for a good long time. Now it is time to give some other wonderful author a chance to blog and become your new friend. My health has suffered--nothing serious--just a lot of invisible chronic illnesses that leave me tired and wondering some days if I can write another word. That is why I am letting go of a few responsibilities. The Cozy Chicks are an energetic bunch with lots and lots of events and a new blog post every day. They will be bringing you all that and more in 2016!

I will still be writing my cat books, I will still be on facebook and twitter and pinterest. I hope to post a blog every now and again on Tumblr. and add more pictures on Instagram. Writing books is the most important thing and requires almost all my attention. You have all sent me such kind words and responses to my blogs and I will always treasure that. Thank you!

You can always contact me via my website leannsweeney.com and of course in all those other places I mentioned.

The Cozy Chicks are an amazing bunch of women whom I am so happy to call my friends now and forever. So this is my last blog. Happy New Year to all of you and know you have brought me much joy.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH, RELAX AND ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS!

by Mary Kennedy


                                                          
    Happy Holidays from all the Cozy Chicks!

We wish you a ...

Some wishes for you

 BY VICTORIA ABBOTT AKA MJ AND VICTORIA MAFFINI 

Well, here we are on December 24th.   We’re finally ready (just under the wire), polished and prepped

 and slightly out of breath. Of course, we will have forgotten to do or wrap something, but we'll all survive.Now it’s time to wish you all the very best of the season, however or whatever you celebrate.  
For us, Christmas Eve is a big family night with folks from 1 to 93 ½.  Little children will be full of wonder and everyone will contribute to the meal.  We bring like to contribute dessert. 


 We’ll open our gifts quietly by the tree around midnight, with nightcaps and carols.  We have always found Christmas Eve to be a magic night, especially with the twinkling lights, candles and music.  We’re lucky to have MJ’s brother and Janet, her friend since Kindergarten (and later Maid of Honor) with us again this year.
Christmas Day is a quieter day around here with a turkey and general relaxing.  Six of us, including Victoria and her grandmother. The attire for some of us will be pajamas for much of the day. Just sayin'..  



Naturally, there will be dogs. Numbers may vary. 






Some of my friends love to attend midnight mass with the entire family. A few go caroling in their neighborhoods. One couple we know does nothing except order in Chinese food (almost everything on the menu) and binge-watch their favorite shows. For another, it's about pizza and reading.  For some, it’s time to line-up in excitement as big movies ‘open’.   
Others volunteer to serve food to homeless teens.  A few are busily off in the woods with the Christmas ‘bird count’. A few have headed south to a beach and a bar.  Some have already celebrated the big days in their own religious tradition and are glad of a bit of down time.  Still others miss absent family and friends and try to keep busy.  



December 26th is our most relaxing day of the year: Boxing Day, which is an official holiday in Canada.  Yes, really! For many people Boxing Day is a giant slug-out for deals, like Black Friday.  No shopping for us, it’s the day with not a single ‘must-do’ item, except for read our new books, check the bulging fridge for leftovers and eat turkey sandwiches.  It’s feet-up around here!


There are so many ways to spend the coming days.  We hope however you chose to spent it that it gives YOU pleasure, joy and relaxation.
Several of our characters from the book collector mysteries also want to wish you well:  
Signora Panetone wishes you lots of big food.  Eat! Eat! Yes, You!
Jordan hopes you get something vintage, a print scarf, maybe or an art deco brooch.
Vera hopes that she gets some new to her first editions. Vera doesn’t have wishes for other people.
Uncle Mick and Uncle Lucky wish you have the luck of the Irish.  (Note from us: lock your doors if you go out).
Uncle Kev hopes if you need bail money, that it’s there for you.  
Officer Tyler 'Smiley' Dekker wishes you a safe and law-abiding season. 
Lance  the reference librarian wishes that you'd visit him in the library more often.  
And Tiffany Tibeault is out of range, yet again, but we're sure she'd like you to be healthy.
They look forward to seeing you again soon in a new book.
Back in real life, Victoria and MJ wish you a year full of books, friends and fun.  We wish for ourselves many more conversations with our wonderful readers.
We hope you'll drop in and tell us what you love about the season and how you choose to spend it. .