Lisa Carter's Blog, page 26
September 5, 2014
Chili-Chocolate Birthday Cake Southwest Style #Recipe
Beyond easy Chili-Chocolate Birthday Cake—Southwest Style—for Aaron’s birthday in Under a Turquoise Sky.
Super Easy—because remember this is Kailyn baking this!!!!
Ingredients:
1 box Triple Chocolate Decadent Cake Mix
2 tsp. ground cinnamon, separated
¼ tsp. plus ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper
1 container cream cheese, vanilla, or chocolate frosting of choice
Pastry bag (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare cake mix as directed. You will have your cake batter in 1 bowl and filling in a second bowl.
Add 1 tsp. of cinnamon and ¼ tsp. of cayenne pepper to cake batter and mix well.
Spoon cake batter into greased and floured pans.
Bake cake as directed and cool completely.
Prepare frosting by adding 1 tsp. of cinnamon and ⅛ tsp. of cayenne pepper to each container of frosting that you use. Mix completely and frost cake. For a more decorative look, utilize a frosting bag.
Enjoy!
For more recipes and behind-the-scene photos, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/under-a-turquoise-sky/.
September 4, 2014
Taco Unleased—The Ugliest Dog in America?
The many faces of Under a Turquoise Sky‘s favorite pooch—
Sporting some Taco ‘tude
The ruby collar
Off the grid with camo
The infamous turquoise tote
The multi-functional super dog cape
A bad hair day?
Taco to the rescue
The ugliest dog in America? You be the judge.
What’s your favorite pooch breed?
For more behind-the-scene photos from Under a Turquoise Sky, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/under-a-turquoise-sky/.
September 3, 2014
Why I Wrote Under a Turquoise Sky
Writing each novel is as varied as each relationship in your life. Some are heart-wrenching; others are sheer joy. Under a Turquoise Sky was a little of both.
Oftentimes, the words poured out of my imagination so fast I could barely type fast enough. From the opening line of “As soon as the elevator doors closed behind her, Kailyn knew she’d made a mistake . . .”—the characters just took my initial premise and charted their own destiny.
Every day was a joyous discovery as I, the supposed author, waited to see where Aaron & Kailyn’s romance-a-thon from Charlotte to Shiprock would take me and readers next. They were such fun to watch and write. (I realize that statement might make me appear psychotic. For the record, characters do not talk to me. They talk to each other and I just take notes. Which makes me only slightly psychotic.)
From outright hostility to take-your-breath-away love, the outrageous things they would say to each made me LOL. Or, sometimes cry.
I had no idea at the beginning the emotionally wrenching issues that lay in both characters’ past. But as Kailyn early on describes Aaron to her best friend, CeCe, it was like peeling back layer after layer of an onion. And in the end, discovering a pearl of great value. (And yes, I realize I just mixed metaphors here.)
Truthfully, Aaron’s story haunted me. Because unfortunately his story is all too real. During the intense 3 month period of writing and editing this book, I often awoke in the middle of the night crying and praying for children caught in abusive situations. As one police officer told me, “One of the two largest issues facing America right now is human trafficking.” And sadly, domestic violence and sexual trafficking is endemic on Native American reservations. I am appalled—and gutted—by the statistic that one in three Native American women will be sexually victimized at some point in their lives. And usually, it begins in childhood. Honestly, I was a bit traumatized by this story God gave me. It took me months to pull out of it emotionally. I wondered for a time if I ever would.
Yet despite the harsh realities, this is a story of mercy and grace. How out of the tangled skeins of our life, Jesus can weave mercy and grace. How in spite of our weakness, Jesus is stronger. How deeply Jesus loves the least of us. My gratitude for Jesus calling me His—and never letting me go.
Looking back, I wrote Under a Turquoise Sky for the broken, wounded, and scarred—You who’ve struggled to just survive. It became my prayer that despite the lies you’ve been told and maybe still believe—that like the fictional characters of this book, you would discover no one is too broken that God cannot mend.
And when I came across the Navajo legend of the turquoise—everything in Aaron’s past came full circle to this moment in the fictional present. It was one of those divinely inspired encounters that happens at least once during the writing of each novel. The great Aha moment God is so gracious to provide. One of those moments that still gives me holy goosebumps when I recall it.
Always remember—You were worth the price He paid. Whatever your past, whatever you’ve done or has been done to you, I pray you will find in Jesus the bridge from brokenness to wholeness and go forward in God’s strength.
May you walk in beautiful obedience to the Shepherd of your soul. I pray you will discover the name by which He calls you—beloved—and fully embrace its significance.
And, I hope you have as much fun reading this as I had writing it.
For behind-the-scene photos of Under a Turquoise Sky, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/under-a-turquoise-sky/.
August 29, 2014
#Recipe—Tortilla Burger—Under a Turquoise Sky
Real popular with the Santa Fe crowd. You’ll need:
1 lb. ground beef
10” diameter flour tortillas
Green chiles
Pinto beans
Shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
1. Cook beef patties on stove top or grill.
2. Place two tablespoons of pinto beans in the center of each tortilla and spread. Layer a tablespoon of chopped green chiles on top of the beans and sprinkle another layer of two tablespoons of grated cheddar cheese.
3. Top with the cooked burger and fold the tortilla around the burger. Carefully turn the wrapped burger over onto fold and place onto a cooking sheet. Spread a quarter cup of green chile over the tortilla burger and sprinkle with two tablespoons of grated cheese. Place the cooking sheet in the oven and cook until the cheese melts (about two minutes).
And all you’ll need to ask your drooling family is—Would you like fries with this order?
For more recipes and behind-the-scene photos of Under a Turquoise Sky, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/under-a-turquoise-sky/.
August 26, 2014
2 Minute Sneak Peek—Under a Turquoise Sky Book Trailer #Video
Let the Charlotte to Shiprock romance-a-thon begin . . .
For more behind-the-scene photos from Under a Turquoise Sky, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/under-a-turquoise-sky/.
August 5, 2014
Goodreads Giveaway Ends Wednesday
Beneath a Navajo Moon
I love this cover and I’m giving away an autographed ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Beneath a Navajo Moon. This Goodreads giveaway ends Wednesday. Tell your friends. Enter for a chance to win.
July 22, 2014
Meet the Mystery Authors
Ever wonder how mystery authors devise those intricate whodunits? Join me and 5 other NC authors as we delve into the mindset of a mystery author.
Saturday, July 26—2:30 pm
North Regional Library
7009 Harps Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 870-4000
Hope to see you there.
May 30, 2014
Southern Potato Salad #Recipe
Ingredients:
6 potatoes
1.5 cups mayo/Duke’s
1 Tbsp mustard
1 Tbsp vinegar
2 celery stalks, minced (1 cup)
1 chopped onion
4 hard-boiled chopped eggs
Salt & Pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Boil potatoes and cut into cubes after cooling.
2. Mix remaining ingredients. I may use more or less mayo. I eyeball it for the creamy consistency I prefer.
3. Add potatoes. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours.
4. Where I come from in NC, we prefer our potato salad to have a yellow color and so add mustard more or less to listed amount per personal preferences.
Enjoy!
For more recipes and behind-the-scene photos from Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.
May 23, 2014
Sweet Tea—A Southerner’s Perspective
Forget the powdered stuff. Unless you enjoy watching Southerners of every race and creed gag.
About to share a regional secret with ya’ll. Pay attention. My Mama and I brew ours through a Mr. Coffee. My Aunt Grace boils her water on the stovetop and lets the tea bags steep. But the key?
The key is putting the sugar in while the liquid is still hot.
Tracing the Southern Tea Tradition
The first tea plantations in the United States originated in 1795, just a decade after the American Revolution and were located in South Carolina. A few are still available for tour. Bigelow’s is outside Charleston.
The first published sweet tea recipe is found in Housekeeping in Old Virginia by Marion Cabell Tyree in 1879. Green tea was the beverage of choice for iced tea until World War II cut off imports from Asia and Americans made the switch to black tea imported from India—still a British colony at the time.
Southerners take sweet tea very seriously. In 2003 as an April Fool’s joke—or not—the Georgia legislature introduced a bill that would have made it a misdemeanor for restaurants not to offer sweet tea.
And any guesses why Southerners drink iced tea versus the hot tea the rest of Americans enjoy? This is not a trick question.
In the movie, Steel Magnolias, any one remember which character declared sweet tea to be the “house wine of the South”?
Not all tea is created equal.
We have our family favorites. Some choose Luzianne because it’s made specifically for iced tea. Others prefer Tetley or Lipton. But remember, buy quality tea. Sweet tea whether you be a southern belle, hillbilly or swamp rat is serious business. In terms of bag size and quantities, it’s really a matter of personal preference.
As for loose tea? I’ve heard tell some may have tried it. Some people try a lot of things, like diet soda and chocolate-covered grasshoppers. But can’t say that I’d recommend it.
Do not—I repeat—do not boil the tea bags unless you’re filtering them through a coffeemaker. Boil the water. Turn off the stove and allow the bags to steep. Boiling tea bags results in singed, bitter tea and a big mess if the tea bags burst. Steep no longer than 15 minutes—you may have to experiment with this to get the right strength according to your personal preference. The longer they sit, the more bitter your brew will be.
The Nectar—Southern Ambrosia
Pour 1-2 cups of sugar in the bottom of your gallon pitcher. Again, this is according to preference. I’ve seen spoons standing fully upright in the stuff.
The Final Mix
Stir the tea until the sugar dissolves. Then add enough tap water to make a full gallon. Serve cold with ice.
Kick back on the porch, sip, and enjoy the firefly show.
Sweet Tea Recipe
Makes one gallon.
3 family-size tea bags – Luzianne or Lipton, preferably “Iced Tea Blend”, can go decaf
2 cups cold water
1 cup sugar
Bring the water to a boil, and add to a gallon pitcher containing the tea bags. Let the teabags steep about 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags (squeeze the remaining tea out of them into the pitcher), stir in sugar while tea is still hot and top off the pitcher with cold water. Stir again and refrigerate. Serve with lemon or mint.
Anyone know what Southerners call a half-tea/half lemonade beverage?
Answer: an Arnold Palmer or Swamp Water
What’s your favorite twist on sweet tea?
For behind-the-scene photos from Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.
May 16, 2014
Southern Pimento Cheese #Recipe
This is a quick, Southern go-to lunch item. A lot of Southern cooks keep a batch of pimento cheese ready in the refrigerator—just in case somebody drops by around lunchtime.
Ingredients:
New York Sharp Cheddar block
4 oz jar of pimento
Mayo
Directions:
1. Finely shred half of cheddar block into a large bowl. Do not use pre-shredded cheese which contains too much moisture. I slice the block into sections and use a handheld rotary shredder. I got mine at Target. My aunt is still using the shredder she bought in France sixty years ago.
2. Dump the pimento with juice onto a plate and mash (don’t you love the fancy cooking terms?) the pimentos “to release the flavors.”
3. Combine shredded cheese, pimentos, and mayo (1/3 to 1/2 cup??? experiment till “looks right”)
4. Refrigerate. Spread onto bread for sandwiches (the traditional Southern way) or use crackers.
A flavorful Southwest version might include adding some cayenne and jalapenos.
Enjoy.
For more recipes and behind the scene photos of Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.
