Lisa Carter's Blog, page 4

Why I Wrote Hometown Reunion

[image error]This was such a fun story to write. It is about love’s second chance for Darcy and Jax. And Jax’s son, almost “thwee”-year-old Brody is the most adorable child character I’ve ever written. Yet there were deeper issues that each character had to grapple with.

Like Jax, have you ever struggled with guilt? Which have you found harder—to forgive someone else or to forgive yourself? Neither are easy. Or like Darcy, have you ever felt second best or second choice? Have you ever felt second best or second choice?

Whenever you’re feeling second choice, read Isaiah 43 to see how much God loves you. He has redeemed you and called you by name. You have a place all your own in God’s heart. You have been chosen —you are His.

And what about dealing with guilt? True guilt drives us to repentance and helps us find our way back to what is right. False guilt, however, brings only condemnation with no way out. True guilt leading to repentance brings freedom and healing. False guilt paralyses and enslaves.

This is a heavy burden we were never created to shoulder. Jesus took the heavy load of sin on the cross so that you don’t have to. He is the only one who can be our burden-bearer. It is in the laying down of our burdens that we find rest and peace in Him. I hope you will accept His invitation to come so that you, too, might experience true freedom, healing and restoration.

May we all find the strength to finally accept what is past, to fully embrace the present and to look to the future with hope-filled eyes.

I hope you have enjoy taking this journey with me, Brody, Darcy and Jax.

Hometown Reunion will be the final book of the seven in the Kiptohanock series. Thank you for allowing me to share with you a very special place and people dear to my heart on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Thank you for being such faithful readers. I hope you will continue the journey with me in my next series of Love Inspired books, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Happy reading,

Lisa

Though each of the Kiptohanck books are stand-alone, for the complete list look for the Love Inspired caption,  and visit Lisa Carter Author Books.

For more info about Hometown Reunion, visit Pinterest.

Southern Deviled Egg #Recipe—Just in Time for #Easter

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Ingredients:

6 eggs

Mayo

Mustard

Salt & Pepper

Directions:

1. Boil eggs in with with a dash of salt 15-20 minutes.

2. Let eggs cool. Crack and peel eggs.

3. Slice eggs in half lengthwise.

4. Scoop out yolk onto plate and mash with a fork till lumps are out and yolks are blended.

5. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add mayo (1/3 cup???) I add till it “looks right”.

6. Add mustard ( 1 Tbsp????) You know what I’m going to say here, right? This is how I was taught to cook by the best Southern cooks I know.

Until reaching desired color and texture.

7. Spoon into egg whites.

Yield: 12 eggs

Enjoy.

Southerners eat this at all social gatherings year-round. It’s about as de rigueur as sweet tea.

For more recipes and behind the scene photos of Beneath a Navajo Moon, visit http://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/beneath-a-navajo-moon/.

Cover Reveal—Hometown Reunion Releases May 1—Pre-order Now

Releasing May 1—Pre-order Now at Hometown Reunion

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A single dad starting over. Is this his second chance at love?

Widowed former Green Beret Jaxon Pruitt comes home to face his toughest battle: reconnecting with his toddler son. He also makes an unwitting enemy of childhood friend Darcy Parks when he takes over the kayak shop Darcy hoped to buy! For little Brody’s sake, she’ll stay until summer’s end. But could a growing connection turn their temporary truce into an unexpected forever?

For more behind the scene photos about Hometown Reunion, visit Pinterest.

Let’s Go Caroling—Silent Night

For more behind-the-scenes inspiration from The Christmas Baby, visit Pinterest.

A Candlelight Christmas Eve

Holy moments of worship

 

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For more behind-the-scenes inspiration from The Christmas Baby, visit Pinterest.

 

Easy Arroz con Pollo #Recipe from The Christmas Baby

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Ingredients:

2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried cumin
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
One 3 1/2-to-4-pound chicken, cut into 8 serving pieces and skin removed
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 small yellow onion, finely diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
2 cloves garlic, finely diced
1 1/2 cups low-salt chicken stock
1/2 cup tomato sauce

Directions:

1. Combine the salt, garlic powder, cumin, black pepper and cayenne in a plastic gallon bag. Shake until combined.

2. Place chicken in the spice bag. Shake, making sure the chicken is well coated.

3. Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Brown chicken about 6 minutes each side. Remove the chicken to a plate.

4. Add the onions, green peppers, red peppers and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the skillet. Stir 7 minutes over medium heat until softened and fragrant. Add the rice and garlic. Cook 1 minute or until the rice begins to turn golden in color.

5. Combine the stock, tomato sauce and remaining teaspoon of salt in a bowl. Add 1 1/4 cups water and the stock mixture to the skillet. Rice should be completely covered in liquid. Fold the chicken into the rice, including plate juices.

6. Bring the rice to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover. Cook about 35 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and most of the liquid is absorbed. Skillet should remain covered for 10 minutes before serving. I like to cut chicken into smaller pieces and once again, reincorporate into the rice.

Enjoy!

For more behind-the-scenes recipes from The Christmas Baby, visit Pinterest.

Favorite Christmas Songs—Heirlooms

For more behind-the-scenes inspiration videos from The Christmas Baby, visit Pinterest.

A Lullaby from The Christmas Baby—3 minute #video

A lullaby for all our beloved Christmas babies—

Sleep my child and peace attend thee,

All through the night

Guardian angels God will send thee,

All through the night

Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,

Hill and dale in slumber sleeping

I my loved ones’ watch am keeping,

All through the night

Angels watching, e’er around thee,

All through the night

Midnight slumber close surround thee,

All through the night

Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,

Hill and dale in slumber sleeping

I my loved ones’ watch am keeping,

All through the night

While the moon her watch is keeping

All through the night

While the weary world is sleeping

All through the night

O’er thy spirit gently stealing

Visions of delight revealing

Breathes a pure and holy feeling

All through the night.

For more behind-the-scenes inspiration videos from The Christmas Baby, visit Pinterest.

Favorite Christmas Songs—Christmas Dreaming

For more behind-the-scenes inspiration videos from The Christmas Baby, visit Pinterest.

Easy Burrito #Recipe from The Christmas Baby

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Ingredients:


1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp ground red pepper
2 cups shredded chicken
1/4 cup chopped onions
3/4 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup salsa
4 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Double recipe for 8 tortillas.

Directions:
1. Bring first 6 ingredients to a boil in skillet. Stir in shredded chicken and onions.

2. Combine beans and salsa. Spoon 1/4 cup bean mixture and 1/2 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese. Roll tortilla.

3. Place rolled tortillas In heated skillet. Toast and cook tortillas for 3 minutes on each side.

4. Garnish with sour cream, guacamole, and tomatoes.

These can be easily made into breakfast tortillas by adding sausage/chorizo or scrambled eggs into the mixture before rolling tortillas. Can also add cilantro and/or corn as desired.

Enjoy!

For more behind-the-scenes recipes from The Christmas Baby, visit Pinterest.