Kate Collins's Blog, page 68
March 8, 2018
White Tea, Anyone?
by Karen Rose Smith
I’ve been drinking tea all my life. My mom served me tea with lemon when I was sick. When I was older, my dad might add a shot of whiskey! My tea drinking days followed me through life as green tea and anti-oxidant information became more available. But when I began writing my Daisy’s Tea Garden series, I researched and tasted many more types of tea. Now my favorite by far is “white” tea also known as “silver needle white tea.”
I’m a fan of “white” tea because it has a lighter flavor than black or green tea. White tea is not rolled or oxidized. When brewed, it is pale yellow. The term “white” tea comes from silver-white hairs on the still-closed tea buds. It’s collected mainly from China, India, Southern Sri Lanka and Northern Thailand.
According to IHerb.com “White tea comes from the same plant as green and black teas, Camellia sinensis. However, white tea is made from the closed leaf buds, rather than open, and is normally less processed than other teas. Studies have indicated that white tea can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi, and research is ongoing regarding the large variety of possible medicinal uses for this tea.”
Just a note... On the Iherb.com website tea lovers can buy 100 organic white tea bags for less than $6.00. In comparison, you can also buy 20 herbal white tea bags from Total Tea on Amazon for $8.88, naturally caffeinated. If a tea is “naturally caffeinated” with no additives, then your caffeine dose is lighter. Prices vary on white tea, both loose tea and tea bags, from reasonable to beyond expensive. That’s why it’s best to sample tea before buying. When Teavana was a store in a nearby mall, the staff would brew several teas and have them on display for a tasting experience. That is a practical way to buy tea if you can find a shop that does it. Another practical practice is to purchase samplers.
White Tea Guides are available on the internet. Here is a link to one of them: WHITE TEA GUIDEAccording to this guide, health benefits from anti-oxidants to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol are possible. But I wonder how many cups of “white” tea you would need to drink for those benefits. Processing or lack of it is what gives each type of tea—black, green, oolong and white—distinctive flavor.
I brew loose white tea leaves and also use the tea bags. My favorites are Adagio’s White Symphony and Snowbud. Another favorite that has a beautiful scent is White Imperial from Vahdam, 100% pure Indian tea. I brew my white teas about three minutes. But your brewing time might be different.
If you’re a tea lover, either of hot tea or iced tea, try “white” tea sometime. I think you’ll like it!
I’ve been drinking tea all my life. My mom served me tea with lemon when I was sick. When I was older, my dad might add a shot of whiskey! My tea drinking days followed me through life as green tea and anti-oxidant information became more available. But when I began writing my Daisy’s Tea Garden series, I researched and tasted many more types of tea. Now my favorite by far is “white” tea also known as “silver needle white tea.”
I’m a fan of “white” tea because it has a lighter flavor than black or green tea. White tea is not rolled or oxidized. When brewed, it is pale yellow. The term “white” tea comes from silver-white hairs on the still-closed tea buds. It’s collected mainly from China, India, Southern Sri Lanka and Northern Thailand.
According to IHerb.com “White tea comes from the same plant as green and black teas, Camellia sinensis. However, white tea is made from the closed leaf buds, rather than open, and is normally less processed than other teas. Studies have indicated that white tea can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi, and research is ongoing regarding the large variety of possible medicinal uses for this tea.”Just a note... On the Iherb.com website tea lovers can buy 100 organic white tea bags for less than $6.00. In comparison, you can also buy 20 herbal white tea bags from Total Tea on Amazon for $8.88, naturally caffeinated. If a tea is “naturally caffeinated” with no additives, then your caffeine dose is lighter. Prices vary on white tea, both loose tea and tea bags, from reasonable to beyond expensive. That’s why it’s best to sample tea before buying. When Teavana was a store in a nearby mall, the staff would brew several teas and have them on display for a tasting experience. That is a practical way to buy tea if you can find a shop that does it. Another practical practice is to purchase samplers.
White Tea Guides are available on the internet. Here is a link to one of them: WHITE TEA GUIDEAccording to this guide, health benefits from anti-oxidants to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol are possible. But I wonder how many cups of “white” tea you would need to drink for those benefits. Processing or lack of it is what gives each type of tea—black, green, oolong and white—distinctive flavor.
I brew loose white tea leaves and also use the tea bags. My favorites are Adagio’s White Symphony and Snowbud. Another favorite that has a beautiful scent is White Imperial from Vahdam, 100% pure Indian tea. I brew my white teas about three minutes. But your brewing time might be different. If you’re a tea lover, either of hot tea or iced tea, try “white” tea sometime. I think you’ll like it!
March 7, 2018
Karma...good or bad?
“You want to marry me?” I asked Walker Boone who just happened to be the hunkiest guy in all Savannah. “Why in the world would you want to do such a thing?” I’m Reagan Summerside, owner of the Prissy Fox Consignment Shop, Bruce Willis...the black and white canine version who rescued me more than I rescued him...and a dilapidated Victorian that I love, pealing paint and all. So how did I get lucky enough to have the delicious Walker Boone want to marry me? Good question, I’m not exactly a lucky kind of girl. I’m more of a my hair turned orange because I dyed it myself kind of girl, or will you go to the prom with me because there’s no one else to ask. Why wasn’t I seizing my moment in the sun? Why didn’t I tackle Boone to the ground and have my way with him all the while yelling Yes, Yes, Yes, I’ll marry you! What was my problem? Reality! “I have bad man karma,” I blurted determined to tell all to the man I loved more than life itself.
This is the opening to Lethal In Old Lace coming out March 13. Reagan’s had really rotten man karma marrying Hollis Beaumont the third on the first go-round of marriage but now Waker Boone’s in her life and things look a lot better. Fact is, we should all have a Walker Boone in our lives.So my question to you today is...do you believe in karma?
I do to some extent. Like things I can’t control but seem to pop up no matter what I do. For example take winning stuff. I never win...and I do mean never. When I take chances on winning cars all the way to winning to willing a stupid door-prize it never ever happens. I might as well just write the check out as a donation and take it off my taxes.
And it seems to be hereditary. My kids have the same affliction. They can’t win squat either. When we wanted to win a lottery to go on a special hike where the park service only lets 20 people go a day, we had my son-in-law put in his name for all of us and guess what...we won! We got to do the hike!
Some call this luck good or bad and I guess that works too. So what about you? Are you lucky? Have good karma? Or like me and just make a donation to the cause and be done with it.
March 5, 2018
All Over the House. . . . Literally
by Maggie SeftonNot my house, of course, but I just love that photo. :)
Today (Monday) was such a weird day, I simply have to write about it. I had workmen or inspectors crawling all over (and under) my house. Why, you might ask? The answer is most of the house repairs or inspections of such repairs wound up happening on the same day. Sigh. . . .hectic to say the least.
What did I have done?
First, the workman and his helper whom I use to repair and do minor maintenance showed up to install one more smoke and CO2 alarm to the five they had already installed last week. The City of Fort Collins, Colorado, had sent me a notice to remind me that I needed to have any repairs and/or installation of new equipment on or around the house done by a certain date so I could have them inspected before the expiration date of the Building permit issued.
Last September I had had an air conditioner unit installed on the side of my house next to the garage. Of course, the unit was connected to the same interior system with the furnace and used the same vents. Of course, that meant I also needed to have the air conditioner inspected by another Inspector. That's why I had someone crawling around in the crawl space beneath one half of my 4-BR tri-level house. Oh, and that now required a smoke and CO2 alarm to be installed in every bedroom near the door plus the hallway (that would make four alarms upstairs) plus two installed downstairs in the Family Room level where two alarms would be installed----one in the Family room and one in the 4th bedroom which I use as a study. Have I lost you yet? Hold on, I'm not finished.
The City also requires ANOTHER Inspector to check out the smoke and CO2 alarms. He's coming tomorrow. Oh, joy. Meanwhile, another inspection was also needed because a roofing company installed my entirely NEW roof earlier this month that was necessary after a nasty hailstorm last August. Because of my super hectic family activities and wedding Back East in Northern Virginia last Fall, I was unable to schedule the repairs until now. Thankfully, nothing was leaking but roofing tiles had taken a pounding.
So, guess what that meant? You got it. Another inspector appeared today, of all days, to finally inspect the roof. Everything passed. The roofing installers are good and thorough, thank goodness. I think that's it. I hope I haven't bored you with this list of House Maintenance issues. Chalk it up to "venting." Mine. . . not the house.
March 4, 2018
YOUR CAT LOOKS LIKE JOAN RIVERS: WEIRD COMMENTS I GET
By Mary Kennedy
Okay, here are a few of the bizarre comments I've received online (and in person) over the last few weeks.
1. Your cat looks like Joan Rivers.
I doubt the talented Joan Rivers would have liked the comparison, and honestly, I don't see the resemblance. Now, here's something funny. The person making this comment had a dog that was a dead ringer for Ernest Borgnine. He even had the same space between his front teeth.
Did I point out the similarity to her? (I don't have a photo of her dog so you'll just have to take my word for it.). No, I just smiled and let it go. After all, neither Joan Rivers or Eliza will ever know someone saw a resemblance, so no harm, no foul!
2. Why aren't you on Oprah?
There are a number of ways to answer this question. None of them really satisfactory! Here are some possibilities. Sometimes, I pretend it's a riddle and reply, "Okay, I give up. Why aren't I on Oprah?"
Another possibility is the brutal truth. Never entertaining, but well, it's the truth. Answer: "She hasn't asked me." Of course, at this point, I secretly hope that the person quizzing me knows Oprah, or is related to her or the show in some way, etc etc. Naturally, that has never happened. I usually just get a sympathetic look and that's it.
Or I can just play it for laughs and say, "I'm going to be on next week!" Then before they can react, I say "Kidding!"
3. "Why aren't you super-rich?" This is a really tough one. Sometimes I go for the pity angle. "Well, I've made millions on my books, but my business partner embezzled all my money and took off for Columbia." Or, "I invested all my money with a crooked hedge fund manager and he took for the Maldives." (Since no one seems to know where the Maldives are, that usually stops the questioner cold.).
4. "Why haven't they made your books into movies?" Answer:"I'm in negotiations with Steven Spielberg right now."
Of course, I don't reveal that my "negotiations" consist of my sending an e-mail to Steven Spielberg's production company, offering to send him a copy of my latest book. Since he hasn't replied, I have to figure he's a little behind in his leisure reading.
5. "If I send you my book, will you publish it?" Whoa! I'm not a publisher, an editor, an agent or a book reviewer. Anyone who follows me on Facebook or visits my website or Instagram would know this. I'm a writer. Period.
6. Perhaps the most bizarre of all. "Do they pay you for writing these?" The first time I heard it, I thought it was a joke. But after hearing it half a dozen times, I can only assume the person asking the question is a recent visitor to the planet Earth!!
Hope these weird comments have amused you as much as they amused me!
Mary Kennedy
Okay, here are a few of the bizarre comments I've received online (and in person) over the last few weeks.
1. Your cat looks like Joan Rivers.
I doubt the talented Joan Rivers would have liked the comparison, and honestly, I don't see the resemblance. Now, here's something funny. The person making this comment had a dog that was a dead ringer for Ernest Borgnine. He even had the same space between his front teeth.
Did I point out the similarity to her? (I don't have a photo of her dog so you'll just have to take my word for it.). No, I just smiled and let it go. After all, neither Joan Rivers or Eliza will ever know someone saw a resemblance, so no harm, no foul!
2. Why aren't you on Oprah?
There are a number of ways to answer this question. None of them really satisfactory! Here are some possibilities. Sometimes, I pretend it's a riddle and reply, "Okay, I give up. Why aren't I on Oprah?"Another possibility is the brutal truth. Never entertaining, but well, it's the truth. Answer: "She hasn't asked me." Of course, at this point, I secretly hope that the person quizzing me knows Oprah, or is related to her or the show in some way, etc etc. Naturally, that has never happened. I usually just get a sympathetic look and that's it.
Or I can just play it for laughs and say, "I'm going to be on next week!" Then before they can react, I say "Kidding!"
3. "Why aren't you super-rich?" This is a really tough one. Sometimes I go for the pity angle. "Well, I've made millions on my books, but my business partner embezzled all my money and took off for Columbia." Or, "I invested all my money with a crooked hedge fund manager and he took for the Maldives." (Since no one seems to know where the Maldives are, that usually stops the questioner cold.).
4. "Why haven't they made your books into movies?" Answer:"I'm in negotiations with Steven Spielberg right now."
Of course, I don't reveal that my "negotiations" consist of my sending an e-mail to Steven Spielberg's production company, offering to send him a copy of my latest book. Since he hasn't replied, I have to figure he's a little behind in his leisure reading.
5. "If I send you my book, will you publish it?" Whoa! I'm not a publisher, an editor, an agent or a book reviewer. Anyone who follows me on Facebook or visits my website or Instagram would know this. I'm a writer. Period.
6. Perhaps the most bizarre of all. "Do they pay you for writing these?" The first time I heard it, I thought it was a joke. But after hearing it half a dozen times, I can only assume the person asking the question is a recent visitor to the planet Earth!!
Hope these weird comments have amused you as much as they amused me!
Mary Kennedy
YOUR CAT LOOK LIKE JOAN RIVERS: WEIRD COMMENTS I GET
By Mary Kennedy
Okay, here are a few of the bizarre comments I've received online (and in person) over the last few weeks.
1. Your cat looks like Joan Rivers.
I doubt the talented Joan Rivers would have liked the comparison, and honestly, I don't see the resemblance. Now, here's something funny. The person making this comment had a dog that was a dead ringer for Ernest Borgnine. He even had the same space between his front teeth.
Did I point out the similarity to her? (I don't have a photo of her dog so you'll just have to take my word for it.). No, I just smiled and let it go. After all, neither Joan Rivers or Eliza will ever know someone saw a resemblance, so no harm, no foul!
2. Why aren't you on Oprah?
There are a number of ways to answer this question. None of them really satisfactory! Here are some possibilities. Sometimes, I pretend it's a riddle and reply, "Okay, I give up. Why aren't I on Oprah?"
Another possibility is the brutal truth. Never entertaining, but well, it's the truth. Answer: "She hasn't asked me." Of course, at this point, I secretly hope that the person quizzing me knows Oprah, or is related to her or the show in some way, etc etc. Naturally, that has never happened. I usually just get a sympathetic look and that's it.
Or just play it for laughs and say, "I'm going to be on next week!" Then before they can react, I say "Kidding!"
3. "Why aren't you super-rich?" This is a really tough one. Sometimes I go for the pity angle. "Well, I've made millions on my books, but my business partner embezzled all my money and took off for Columbia." Or, "I invested all my money with a crooked hedge fund manager and he took for the Maldives." (Since no one seems to know where the Maldives are, that usually stops the questioner cold.).
4. "Why haven't they made your books into movies?" Answer:"I'm in negotiations with Steven Spielberg right now."
Of course, I don't reveal that my "negotiations" consist of my sending an e-mail to Steven Spielberg's production company, offering to send him a copy of my latest book. Since he hasn't replied, I have to figure he's a little behind in his leisure reading.
5. "If I send you my book, will you publish it?" Whoa! I'm not a publisher, an editor, an agent or a book reviewer. Anyone who follows me on Facebook or visits my website or Instagram would know this. I'm a writer. Period.
6. Perhaps the most bizarre of all. "Do they pay you for writing these?" The first time I heard it, I thought it was a joke. But after hearing it half a dozen times, I can only assume the person asking the question is a recent visitor to the planet Earth!!
Hope these weird comments have amused you as much as they amused me!
Mary Kennedy
Okay, here are a few of the bizarre comments I've received online (and in person) over the last few weeks.
1. Your cat looks like Joan Rivers.
I doubt the talented Joan Rivers would have liked the comparison, and honestly, I don't see the resemblance. Now, here's something funny. The person making this comment had a dog that was a dead ringer for Ernest Borgnine. He even had the same space between his front teeth.
Did I point out the similarity to her? (I don't have a photo of her dog so you'll just have to take my word for it.). No, I just smiled and let it go. After all, neither Joan Rivers or Eliza will ever know someone saw a resemblance, so no harm, no foul!
2. Why aren't you on Oprah?
There are a number of ways to answer this question. None of them really satisfactory! Here are some possibilities. Sometimes, I pretend it's a riddle and reply, "Okay, I give up. Why aren't I on Oprah?"Another possibility is the brutal truth. Never entertaining, but well, it's the truth. Answer: "She hasn't asked me." Of course, at this point, I secretly hope that the person quizzing me knows Oprah, or is related to her or the show in some way, etc etc. Naturally, that has never happened. I usually just get a sympathetic look and that's it.
Or just play it for laughs and say, "I'm going to be on next week!" Then before they can react, I say "Kidding!"
3. "Why aren't you super-rich?" This is a really tough one. Sometimes I go for the pity angle. "Well, I've made millions on my books, but my business partner embezzled all my money and took off for Columbia." Or, "I invested all my money with a crooked hedge fund manager and he took for the Maldives." (Since no one seems to know where the Maldives are, that usually stops the questioner cold.).
4. "Why haven't they made your books into movies?" Answer:"I'm in negotiations with Steven Spielberg right now."
Of course, I don't reveal that my "negotiations" consist of my sending an e-mail to Steven Spielberg's production company, offering to send him a copy of my latest book. Since he hasn't replied, I have to figure he's a little behind in his leisure reading.
5. "If I send you my book, will you publish it?" Whoa! I'm not a publisher, an editor, an agent or a book reviewer. Anyone who follows me on Facebook or visits my website or Instagram would know this. I'm a writer. Period.
6. Perhaps the most bizarre of all. "Do they pay you for writing these?" The first time I heard it, I thought it was a joke. But after hearing it half a dozen times, I can only assume the person asking the question is a recent visitor to the planet Earth!!
Hope these weird comments have amused you as much as they amused me!
Mary Kennedy
March 2, 2018
Not real, but cheerful
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
March came in like a LION. A big, stinky, ROARING lion. We woke up to at least 7 inches of snow, when just yesterday the grass was green. The huge pile of snow at the end of our driveway had melted, and we had a day earlier in the week with 60-degree weather.
Depressing.
But -- there are always cheerful flowers in my house. Right now, I've got two violets in and two orchids in bloom, but they need light and water. That's why I have artificial flowers scattered around the house.
This beauty sits in my office. I have beautiful roses all year long thanks to this little bouquet, which I found at a rummage sale. And last winter -- I found the exact same thing at a yard sale in Clearwater. That one lives in my dining room. (Not far from the dried hydrangea flowers in a vintage pottery base.)
These red and white silk carnations also live in my office. I did the arrangement myself, and it looks it. Still, I really love carnations. I think I'll have another go at arranging it and take out most of the red ones. It looks too crowded.
This arrangement used to live in my bedroom, but the only time I'd see it was right before I'd turn out the light. So I recently moved it to the top of a little cabinet in my kitchen, where it pleases me every time I pass by it.
This little arrangement lives in the office at our cottage, but it's so cute, I didn't like to think of it being there during the long cold winter, so I brought it home. It'll be going back in May so I can enjoy it there once again.
Do you have silk floral arrangments in your home?
March came in like a LION. A big, stinky, ROARING lion. We woke up to at least 7 inches of snow, when just yesterday the grass was green. The huge pile of snow at the end of our driveway had melted, and we had a day earlier in the week with 60-degree weather.
Depressing.
But -- there are always cheerful flowers in my house. Right now, I've got two violets in and two orchids in bloom, but they need light and water. That's why I have artificial flowers scattered around the house.
This beauty sits in my office. I have beautiful roses all year long thanks to this little bouquet, which I found at a rummage sale. And last winter -- I found the exact same thing at a yard sale in Clearwater. That one lives in my dining room. (Not far from the dried hydrangea flowers in a vintage pottery base.)
These red and white silk carnations also live in my office. I did the arrangement myself, and it looks it. Still, I really love carnations. I think I'll have another go at arranging it and take out most of the red ones. It looks too crowded.
This arrangement used to live in my bedroom, but the only time I'd see it was right before I'd turn out the light. So I recently moved it to the top of a little cabinet in my kitchen, where it pleases me every time I pass by it.
This little arrangement lives in the office at our cottage, but it's so cute, I didn't like to think of it being there during the long cold winter, so I brought it home. It'll be going back in May so I can enjoy it there once again.
Do you have silk floral arrangments in your home?
March 1, 2018
Signs of an Early Pennsylvania Spring
by Karen Rose Smith
Both of my mystery series—Caprice De Luca Home Stager and Daisy’s Tea Garden—are set in Pennsylvania. A few years ago, I began to keep a journal with the state of the landscape, months the trees bud, evergreens that turn yellow for winter, trees and bushes that change color. I also keep track of when our bulbs like daffodils, tulips and hyacinths begin to pop up.
During the last two years there have been differences in the schedule. This year at the end of February we have daffodils budding and tulips breaking through the ground! That doesn’t usually happen until the end of April. We’ve had several springlike 60 degree days. We even experienced an 80 degree day. It’s lovely. I like the warmer winter. But...if the temperature dips back to freezing, we’ll lose the buds and any flowers beginning to open unless we cover them at night.
Each year I start seeds in our basement with a heat pad and grow light. This January I planted three varieties of petunias—purple and red pirouettes and a double yellow flower. I also planted a variety of snapdragons called Appleblossom Twinnies which is a bushier double bloom. They are beautiful border flowers. Since we have stray cats in our yard daily, I grow these flowers so they are pesticide free.
I love the signs of spring. However, when spring starts, I like it to last. But the times are changing and so are the dates in my flower, bushes and tree journal.
Both of my mystery series—Caprice De Luca Home Stager and Daisy’s Tea Garden—are set in Pennsylvania. A few years ago, I began to keep a journal with the state of the landscape, months the trees bud, evergreens that turn yellow for winter, trees and bushes that change color. I also keep track of when our bulbs like daffodils, tulips and hyacinths begin to pop up.
During the last two years there have been differences in the schedule. This year at the end of February we have daffodils budding and tulips breaking through the ground! That doesn’t usually happen until the end of April. We’ve had several springlike 60 degree days. We even experienced an 80 degree day. It’s lovely. I like the warmer winter. But...if the temperature dips back to freezing, we’ll lose the buds and any flowers beginning to open unless we cover them at night. 
Each year I start seeds in our basement with a heat pad and grow light. This January I planted three varieties of petunias—purple and red pirouettes and a double yellow flower. I also planted a variety of snapdragons called Appleblossom Twinnies which is a bushier double bloom. They are beautiful border flowers. Since we have stray cats in our yard daily, I grow these flowers so they are pesticide free. I love the signs of spring. However, when spring starts, I like it to last. But the times are changing and so are the dates in my flower, bushes and tree journal.
February 28, 2018
Holy cow.... Company’s coming!!
And coming this Friday. So much to do and not nearly enough time to do it. As soon as I hear company’s coming I look around the house and see all the flaws. I get sort of immune or is it just lazy when it’s just me and the cats. If the carpet looks a little shabby or that lamp that was my mother’s is a little outdated who cares right?
I sure don’t until I hear those magic words...I’m coming in for the weekend.
What! Not that I don’t want the company but the things I learn to live with the house that look like something out of one of those make-over shows. My house is the before shot! In five days I need turn this place over into the after shot!That means hours cleaning and touching up woodwork and getting new carpets and lamps and putting crap away. And it is like going down the rabbit hole...once you get redecorating there’s no stopping. Everything looks dated and worn.
In a way the company coming thing is great...I needed to do all this stuff and company is like a kick in the butt to get it done!
I got a new lamp, recalked the ugly space between the molding and the ceiling that’s shrunk, steam cleaned the carpets, a new wreath on the front door, new lighting for the outside and gotten rid of stuff that should have been given away long ago.
So what about you? Do you go nuts when you hear the magic words of company’s coming. Tackle all those things that needed to be done and you never got around to it? Do you go a little crazy when you hear company’s coming and work like a crazy person to put a spiff on the house and get it in shape?
February 26, 2018
A Tasty Winter Treat
by Maggie SeftonI thought this last Tuesday in February 2018 would be a good time to share one of my recipes from our Cozy Chicks Cookbook. My SOUTHERN SPOON BREAD is a great treat for these sometimes freezing cold, other times just plain chilly End-of-Winter Days. Enjoy!
Southern Spoon Bread is not widely known outside of the Southern United States. Once visitors to the region taste it, however, many of them decide they want to try it in their own homes. The rich flavors and soft texture make this cornmeal-based quick bread a perfect accompaniment to many meals. If you like cornbread, you should really enjoy Southern Spoon Bread. Give it a try! J
SOUTHERN SPOON BREAD
3 cups milk (whole or 2%)¾ cups cornmeal, yellow1 teaspoon salt2 tablespoons butter2 eggs, separated1 teaspoon baking powder
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Put 2 cups milk in top of double boiler & heat to scalding. Meanwhile, mix the remaining milk with the cornmeal, then add to the scalded milk and cook, stirring often, for 30 minutes. Cool slightly. Whip the egg whites until stiff and set aside.
Add the butter, salt, and beaten egg yolks to the cornmeal mixture and mix well. Add the baking powder and mix. Fold in the egg whites. Carefully pour the mixture into a greased casserole and bake about 30 minutes.
February 25, 2018
WHY I LOVE WRITING COZY MYSTERIES
By Mary Kennedy
This started out being one of those "let-me-count-the-ways" blogs and then I realized it would probably take me a dozen blogs to explain why I love writing cozies. (I feel the same way about reading them, in case you're wondering. I'm an avid cozy reader, keep up with my favorite series and am always on the lookout for new ones) I also subscribe to several book review sites and the reviewers do a wonderful job, alerting me to new releases. Here are just a couple of reasons I love writing cozies. I can set the books any place my heart desires.
The Talk Radio Mysteries are set in Florida, one of my favorite spots on earth! This is book one, DEAD AIR. I wanted to give my main character, Dr. Maggie, a really different environment from Manhattan, where she practiced as a clinical psychologist. (which happens to be my day job). Dr. Maggie closes up her practice in Manhattan to be a radio talk show host (like Frasier.)
And south Florida seemed ideal because Dr. Maggie's mom, Lola, is a fifty-something actress, always looking for "her big break." South Florida is known as "Hollywood East" because of their thriving film business, so I figured that would give me some plot opportunities for Lola Walsh. In fact, book two in the series, REEL MURDER, revolves around a murder on a movie set and book four, A DEADLY FUNDRAISER, takes place in a south Florida mansion. A scavenger hunt turns deadly when Maggie and her crew discover a body in the mansion's speakeasy.
What else is appealing about writing cozies? Well, I can create fun, vibrant characters who do things I'd like to do. I always thought it would be fun to start a Dream Club, for example, so I created the Dream Club Mysteries. In the first book, Nightmares Can Be Murder, Ali and Taylor Blake host a dream club in Savannah that meets once a week. A dream club is like a book club, except instead of discussing books, you talk about and analyze your dreams. The group quickly discovers clues in their dreams that unmask killers! Real or just a coincidence? I leave it to the reader to decide.
The Kindle version of Nightmares Can Be Murder is on sale right now for only $2.99. The perfect time to give this series a try! Just click on the link and start analyzing dreams (and solving murders) with the Dream Club members.
As the series continues, the sisters become well known--not only for Oldies But Goodies,their vintage candy store, but for their work with the Savannah police.
In DREAM a LITTLE SCREAM, a famous chef comes to town and is murdered at a booksigning. The group continues to solve crimes and in A Premonition of Murder, the investigate the death of a wealthy heiress. The cover represents the vintage candy store, Oldies But Goodies, that Ali and Taylor run in Savannah.
I hope you've enjoyed this little peek into why I love writing cozies, feel free to chime in!
Mary Kennedy
This started out being one of those "let-me-count-the-ways" blogs and then I realized it would probably take me a dozen blogs to explain why I love writing cozies. (I feel the same way about reading them, in case you're wondering. I'm an avid cozy reader, keep up with my favorite series and am always on the lookout for new ones) I also subscribe to several book review sites and the reviewers do a wonderful job, alerting me to new releases. Here are just a couple of reasons I love writing cozies. I can set the books any place my heart desires.
The Talk Radio Mysteries are set in Florida, one of my favorite spots on earth! This is book one, DEAD AIR. I wanted to give my main character, Dr. Maggie, a really different environment from Manhattan, where she practiced as a clinical psychologist. (which happens to be my day job). Dr. Maggie closes up her practice in Manhattan to be a radio talk show host (like Frasier.)
And south Florida seemed ideal because Dr. Maggie's mom, Lola, is a fifty-something actress, always looking for "her big break." South Florida is known as "Hollywood East" because of their thriving film business, so I figured that would give me some plot opportunities for Lola Walsh. In fact, book two in the series, REEL MURDER, revolves around a murder on a movie set and book four, A DEADLY FUNDRAISER, takes place in a south Florida mansion. A scavenger hunt turns deadly when Maggie and her crew discover a body in the mansion's speakeasy.
What else is appealing about writing cozies? Well, I can create fun, vibrant characters who do things I'd like to do. I always thought it would be fun to start a Dream Club, for example, so I created the Dream Club Mysteries. In the first book, Nightmares Can Be Murder, Ali and Taylor Blake host a dream club in Savannah that meets once a week. A dream club is like a book club, except instead of discussing books, you talk about and analyze your dreams. The group quickly discovers clues in their dreams that unmask killers! Real or just a coincidence? I leave it to the reader to decide.
The Kindle version of Nightmares Can Be Murder is on sale right now for only $2.99. The perfect time to give this series a try! Just click on the link and start analyzing dreams (and solving murders) with the Dream Club members.
As the series continues, the sisters become well known--not only for Oldies But Goodies,their vintage candy store, but for their work with the Savannah police.
In DREAM a LITTLE SCREAM, a famous chef comes to town and is murdered at a booksigning. The group continues to solve crimes and in A Premonition of Murder, the investigate the death of a wealthy heiress. The cover represents the vintage candy store, Oldies But Goodies, that Ali and Taylor run in Savannah.
I hope you've enjoyed this little peek into why I love writing cozies, feel free to chime in!
Mary Kennedy
