Marie Laval's Blog, page 6

What about a swirly dessert from Vienna?

You will have realised by now that I have a sweet tooth and love pudding! Therefore I chose yet another dessert recipe for this week's blog. Apple Strudel must be one of the world's most famous desserts. Originally from Vienna, in Austria, it is the perfect recipe to illustrate Lynn Crain's romantic time travel short story SEALED WITH A KISS, which is set in Vienna in 1874.
LETTERBOX STORIES is a bestselling anthology of romantic short stories and is available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/Letterbox-Lo...

What if a life-changing letter arrived in today's mail? Now imagine it leads to love and adventure! From the northern British Isles, across the mainland of Europe, and on to Turkey, nine international Award-winning and Multi-published Romance Authors share spellbinding love stories told across time. This collection includes contemporary, historical and futuristic time travel romances touched by magic. And each begins with a letter...  Photo courtesy of Pixabay
SEALED WITH A KISS by Lynn Crain
In 2084, time travelling detective, Tandi Reynolds, tipped off by a letter, needs to stop an assassin before he kills a newly elected leader. When she finds him in 1874, Vienna, it’s clear a cold blooded killer is only one of her problems. Time is fleeting, so falling in love with her contact, the charismatic Count Leopold Radetzky von Radetz, is a bad idea, but keeping her feelings in check is not easy when she relies on him for her every need.

Photo courtesy of PixabayApple Strudel
Serves 6
Takes about 30 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to bake
  Photo courtesy of Pixabay
Ingredients
3 cups of Granny Smith apples or any other baking apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

1 sheet of frozen Puff Pastry1/4 cup of seedless raisons (which you soak overnight in rum or water)
1 tbsp flour
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 egg lightly beaten
1 tbsp water

Instructions
1. Thaw the puff pastry sheet at room temperature for 30 minutes;

2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees;
3. Drain the raisins;
4. In a large bowl, mix the flour, the sugar and the cinnamon. Add the apple slices and the drained raisins. Make sure the fruit is well coated;
5. On a lightly floured surface, unfold the pastry sheet and roll it into a 16x12 inch rectangle (40x30cms);
6. Place the pastry so that the shorter end (12 inch / 30 cms end) is closer to you. Spoon the apples and raisins on the bottom half of the pastry, leaving a one inch border (3cms);
7. Roll the pastry like a jam roll;
8. Place the strudel with the seam side down on a baking sheet. Seal the ends;
9. Beat an egg, mix with the water, and brush over the strudel;
10. Cut slits on top of the strudel so that steam can get out whilst baking;
11. Bake for about 35 minutes until golden;
12. When the strudel has cooled, sprinkle icing sugar;
13. Serve with cream (whipping cream like on the photo) or vanilla ice-cream.
I hope you will enjoy this dessert as much as me... And now, one last photo of beautiful Vienna! Photo courtesy of Pixabay

A very Turkish Delight with Rose Anderson

Today I am 'delighted' to welcome bestselling romance author Rose Anderson (who also writes as Madeline Archer) for my weekly recipe post. Rose is one of the nine authors of LETTERBOX LOVE STORIES, an anthology of romantic short stories. Each story is set in a different European country – from northern England, through France, Spain, Austria, Italy, Sardinia and Turkey – but they all have one thing in common: they all begin with a letter which changes the life of the heroine.

 

Rose's romantic fantasy More than Wishes is mostly set in Turkey. Here is the blurb for Rose's story... Raised on a sailor’s tales of adventure and eager for her own, Stella Cunningham answers an advertisement for a traveling companion to the Orient. There she purchases an ancient bronze lamp with a secret. In the land of flying carpets and genies, Stella is about to have the adventure of a lifetime.


It would never have occurred to me to actually make Turkish Delights. I thought they would be far too tricky for my modest cooking or baking skills. However, thanks to Rose's recipe I am now determined to try...I hope you will too!


Turkish Delight
Known in Turkey as Lokum

Ingredients~
1 ½ cups water
3 cups granulated sugar
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
½ cup orange juice
3 tablespoons orange zest
3 (.25 ounce) envelopes unflavored gelatin  
¾ cup cornstarch
½ cup cold water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
¾ cup chopped pistachio nuts
Confectioners' sugar for dusting

In a large saucepan, combine: water, granulated sugar and light corn syrup

Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stirring frequently, cook until the temperature reaches 240 degrees F (115 degrees C) on a candy thermometer. Set syrup aside, but keep the mixture hot.
Stir together: orange juice, orange zest and unflavored gelatin

Set aside.
In a small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in ½ cup cold water. Stir into the hot syrup. Place over medium-low heat. Stirring gently, simmer until very thick.
Remove thickened syrup from heat, stir in orange juice mixture, vanilla extract, and chopped pistachios.
Generously powder an 8x8-inch pan with confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar). Pour mixture into the pan, and let cool in a cool, dry place until set (3 to 4 hours). Do not refrigerate.
When cool, sprinkle the top with a thick layer of powdered sugar. Cut into 1-inch squares. Dredge each with more powdered sugar to coat. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Thank you for this delicious recipe, Rose.
LETTERBOX LOVE STORIES is available from

Amazon ● Barnes and Noble ● ARe Romance eBooks ● Kobo ● iTunes ● GoogleBooks ● Fantastic Fiction

A tasty dish from Spain with Jenny Twist's Solomillo Mudéjar

Today we are off to Spain with Jenny Twist and her mouth watering Solomillo Mudéjar. Jenny is one of the nine authors (including myself!) of LETTERBOX LOVE STORIES, an anthology of romantic short stories each set in a different European country, and available here LETTERBOX STORIES Amazon for only £0.99! What if a life-changing letter arrived in today's mail? Now imagine it leads to love and adventure! From the northern British Isles, across the mainland of Europe, and on to Turkey, nine international Award-winning and Multi-published Romance Authors share spellbinding love stories told across time. This collection includes contemporary, historical and futuristic time travel romances touched by magic. And each begins with a letter...
Here is the blurb for THE MINSTREL BOY by Jenny Twist
In 1936 a band of students went off to Spain to fight in the Spanish Civil War. Only one came home.
SOOMILLO MUDEJAR
INGREDIENTS:
·1kg Loin of Pork
·Salt and Pepper
·1 teaspoon Sweet Paprika
·225g medium-thick slices of Jamón Serrano (ham)
·450g Onions peeled
·2 tbsp Olive Oil
·7 tbsp dry (fino) Sherry
·240ml Chicken Stock
PREPARATION:
1.  Preheat the oven to 180ºC, Gas Mark 4. Rinse the pork under cold running water and pat dry with kitchen paper.
2.  Mix some salt and pepper with the paprika and rub over the outside of the pork.
3.  Lay half the ham slices side-by-side to form a long rectangle. Place the pork on top and lay the remaining ham over the meat. Wrap the ham around the meat and secure with kitchen string.
4.  In a roasting pan, heat the oil over high heat until very hot then fry the pork joint until browned on all sides.
5.  Place the onions or shallots around the meat and continue to fry over a high heat until they begin to brown.
6.  Add the sherry and stock then transfer to the oven and roast for about 1 hour, basting the meat from time to time with the pan juices.
7.  Remove the meat from the pan, cut into slices, and arrange with the onions on a warmed serving platter. Pour the juices from the pan over the top and serve immediately.
The term mudéjar is used for Muslims— and for their culture— who converted to Christendom during the Reconquista. The first mudéjares date back to the late eleventh century, when the Castilian king, Alfonso VI, expelled the Muslims from Toledo, allowing only converts to stay. Almost half a millennium later, in 1502, just ten years after the conclusion of the reconquest in Granadaby the Catholic Kings, a royal decree ordered that every Muslim in the newly united country must convert or leave.
Thank you very much, Jenny, for this tasty recipe!

Two Desserts Recipes from Greece...Thank You Denysé Bridger!

Today it's not one, but two, recipes I am featuring on the blog thanks to multi-published author Denysé Bridger. Denyse's romantic short story -  ALL OR NOTHING - is published in the recently released anthology LETTERBOX LOVE STORIES, and is set in Greece...so we will be enjoying two traditional sweet recipes from Greece!
ALL OR NOTHING by Denysé Bridger
Casino Coranthos is a playground for wealthy, bored people, but for some, it’s also a place where dreams and promises change lives forever. When a letter becomes part of an unexpected inheritance for Ryann Thomson, her aunt’s past brings her face to face with Ariston Katsaros, a man haunted by loss and driven by anger. As the attraction between them sizzles and grows, can Ryann convince him she isn’t looking to rob him or his father, or will she become a casualty of Ari’s vengeance? In this dangerous game of all or nothing, her heart and future happiness are at stake.
LETTERBOX LOVE STORIES is available from Amazon here Hello Denysé, and welcome. What can you tell us about your Greek recipes today?

  Loukoumades (Greek Donuts with Honey and Walnuts)
– A traditional Greek delicacy
Loukoumades are little bite-sized fluffy sweet honey puffs (the Greek version of donuts), which are deep fried to golden and crispy perfection. Greek donuts (loukoumades) are traditionally served soaked in hot honey syrup, sprinkled with cinnamon and garnished with chopped walnuts or toasted sesame seeds. Simply irresistible! For the chocolate lovers (like me!) go over the top and drizzle these delicious Greek donuts (loukoumades) with some rich chocolate sauce!
For the loukoumades:
1 cup of lukewarm water (40C)
1 cup of lukewarm milk
15g active dry yeast (0.5 oz.)
3 and 1/4 of a cup flour
2 tbsps sugar
1 tsp salt
4 tbsps olive oil
oil for frying
For the garnish
1 1/2 cup honey
cinnamon powder
chopped walnuts
loukoumades-2


For the chocolate sauce:
200g dark chocolate, chopped (7 ounces)
110ml water (4 fluid ounces)
75g caster sugar (3 ounces)


Instructions
To prepare this traditional loukoumades recipe, start by making the dough. In the mixers bowl add the water and yeast. Stir with a fork and wait for 5 minutes, until the yeast dissolves completely. Into the same bowl, add the rest of the ingredients for the dough and whisk at high speed (for about 2 minutes) until the mixture becomes a smooth batter. Cover the bowl with some plastic wrap and let the dough rest in a warm place for at least 1 hour to rise.
Into a medium sized frying pan pour enough vegetable oil to deep fry the loukoumades. Heat the oil to high heat until it begins to bubble. Test if the oil is hot enough by dipping in some of the dough for the loukoumades. If it sizzles the oil is ready.
Dip a tablespoon in some water and spoon out some of the dough into the hot oil. Repeat this procedure until the surface off the pan is comfortably filled. You should dip the spoon in the water every time, so that the batter doesn’t stick on it.
While the loukoumades are fried, use a slotted spoon to push them into the oil and turn them on all sides, until golden brown. Place the loukoumades on some kitchen paper to drain. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
When done, place the loukoumades on a large platter, drizzle with the heated honey and sprinkle with cinnamon and chopped walnuts.
If you are in a mood for some chocolate, replace the honey with chocolate sauce. To prepare the chocolate sauce for the loukoumades, add in a saucepan the sugar and water and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously, until the sugar has dissolved. Add the chocolate (chopped) and whisk, until the chocolote has melted and the mixture is smooth.
Pour the warm chocolate over the loukoumades, sprinkle with some roughly chopped walnuts or almonds and enjoy!
Tips:
The perfect traditional loukoumades (Greek donuts) are crispy and golden on the outside and fluffy and airy in the inside. To achieve the perfect texture for your loukoumades give the dough time to rise and it will reward you with its distinctive air-y fluffiness. When preparing this loukoumades recipe, the key is to use the right temperature. Always dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water and let the dough to rise in warm environment. If the room temperature is low, a little trick is to preheat the oven to 40-50 C, turn it off and place the dough in the warm oven. Deep fry the loukoumades in hot oil. Make sure to fry them in batches, so that the surface off the pan is comfortably filled, otherwise the loukoumades will probably stick together and the temperature of the oil will decrease. You don’t want your loukoumades to become mushy and less crunchy on the outside.
Give this traditional Greek loukoumades recipe a try and enjoy with a full spoon of vanilla ice cream on top!


And now for recipe number 2!
Kariokes (Walnut-filled Chocolate Crescents)
Delicious chocolate and walnut filled crescents dipped in more chocolate! Soft and with an unexpected crunchy bite, these delicious treats are very popular among the chocolate lovers during Christmas time. Best part? They’re dead simple to make, with the preparation lasting less than half an hour and no baking required, you have to try them!
Ingredients
250g sugar (9 ounces)
250g water (9 ounces)
125g dark chocolate, cut in small pieces (4.5 ounces)
85g butter (3 ounces)
300g walnuts, chopped (10.5 ounces)
zest of 1 orange
juice of 1/2 lemon (2 tbsps)
450g Pettit beurre biscuits, powdered (16 ounces)
1kg dark chocolate for the coating (35 ounces)
Instructions
To prepare the filling for the kariokes, pour in a pot the water and sugar and bring to the boil; let it boil for a few minutes, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pot from the stove and add the butter, the chocolate (cut in small pieces), the orange zest and the lemon juice; blend until the chocolate has melted and the ingredients combine.
Pour the mixture in a bowl and mix in the powdered biscuits and chopped walnuts; blend, until the ingredients combine.
On a working surface, line some plastic wrap and pour in 1/3 of the mixture. Form the mix into a roll, wrap it up and put it in the fridge overnight. Repeat the same with rest of the mixture, forming 3 rolls, about 17cm long and 3-4 cm thick. Leave in the fridge overnight.
A little bit  before you take the rolls out of the fridge, start making the coating. To melt the chocolate it is best to use a bain-marie (or double boiler), a piece of equipment used to heat the chocolate gently and gradually to fixed temperatures so that it doesn’t burn. If you don’t have a Bain-marie, break the chocolate into small pieces and drop into a heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over a small saucepan about a quarter full with hot water and place the bowl on top so that it rests on the rim of the pan (the bowl should not to touch the water). Place the pan, with the bowl on top, over low heat until the chocolate has melted, whilst stirring occasionally.
Take the rolls out of the fridge, unwrap the plastic wrap and slice them in equal slices, about 1cm thick. Dip each piece in the chocolate, using a fork and then place on a baking tray, lined with parchment paper; repeat with all the pieces. When done, let the kariokes to cool down, at room temperature (not in the fridge), until the chocolate thickens.
Thank you so much for these delicious recipes all the way from Greece!

OCCUPYING LOVE by Marilyn Chapman

Today I am delighted to welcome author Marilyn Chapman to talk about her latest release, OCCUPYING LOVE.

  Hello Marilyn. It's always a pleasure to meet you, even if it's only in the virtual world today, instead of the Hebden Bridgepub where we enjoy a lovely lunch and a chat every few months.
I would like to congratulate you on the release of your novel. You must be delighted...and what a stunning cover! Can you tell us a little about you?
I got my first break writing in a football magazine when I was 15 and have been writing ever since. An NCTJ qualified journalist, I spent my early years on the Blackpool Evening Gazette and Lytham St Annes Express in Lancashire.  I then helped to set up a family PR and publishing company on the Fylde Coast and freelanced for national newspapers and magazines. I now live in Lancashirewith my husband. We have two children and two granddaughters who make us feel about 21!
That's wonderful. What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to write? 
I knew from a very young age that I wanted to write.  I was always scribbling poems and short stories in a secret book I kept in my bedroom. When I told my school careers officer that I wanted to be a journalist she was horrified!
Guernsey - Photo courtesy of Pixabay I wonder why. It must be a fascinating job. Can you tell us about your latest novel?
Occupying Love is set in the Occupation of Guernsey in World War Two and it’s the book I’ve always wanted to write.  It’ a fictional account of love, loss, bravery and heartbreak but ultimately of hope and happiness.
What is the one thing you absolutely need to write? (quiet, music, an empty house, coffee or chocolate?)

A pencil!  I have never been able to create characters on a keyboard – for some reason it has to be on paper.
We all have our own favourite way of working. I need to write things down too, and I have a collection of Clairefontaine notebooks I do all my scribbling in. What are you working on at the moment?
The sequel to my debut novel Baggy Pants and Bootees. This follows reporter Sophie as she moves into the seventies, with a new job in radio and a love life a lot more complicated than she ever thought possible!
That sounds intriguing...What was your best ever moment as a writer?
Having my debut novel, Baggy Pants and Bootees traditionally published in 2014 after being shortlisted for the Festival of Romance new talent award. Seeing the paperback on the shelf in my favourite bookshop, Plackitt & Booth in Lytham, next to Victoria Hislop’s book of short stories The Last Dance rounded it off perfectly!
I can understand why that was a great and proud moment for you, Marilyn. It's wonderful to see your book in print. Why is Occupying Love so important to you?
I’ve waited a long time to publish a novel about the Occupation of the Channel Islandsafter starting the initial draft more than 20 years ago. I wanted to do justice to the islanders who lost their lives during the Occupation. The book is dedicated to my uncle, David Richard Brown, who died at the age of 13 whilst evacuated to Oldham, Lancs. I think of him as the Guernsey boy who never came home.
That is very sad indeed.

And now for the word association test...PLEASE CHOOSE 5 WORDS BELOW AND WRITE THE FIRST 3 WORDS THAT COME TO YOUR MIND!
1. sun                           stars, sky, night
2. summer                 Guernsey, beach, splash
3. romance                 novel, love, writing
4. chocolate               yes, please, now
5. reading                   Escape, inform, entertain
Excerpt from OCCUPYING LOVE
‘Don’t smile at them, they’re the enemy.’
‘I wasn’t smiling.’ Maggie pulled a face. ‘I just nodded, that’s all. I’m trying to be civil. Besides – what am I supposed to do?’
The two friends were walking down The Grange on their way to town, passing German soldiers on bikes or on foot at almost every turn. With her shapely figure and glossy brown hair, Lydia stood out against her friend’s chubby build and plain features.
‘Ignore them, Maggie, that’s what. They’ll be stealing our homes and our jobs next.’
‘I’m sorry, but. I can’t help feeling happy, despite the stupid Occupation. It’s so good to have you back again.’
The two girls had been friends since before they could walk. At the age of nine they’d scratched their arms with a penknife till they drew blood, vowing solemnly that nothing and no-one would ever pull them apart.
‘It’s good to see you too,’ Lydia said, linking arms, ‘We’re prisoners here now, don’t forget. We need to be careful.’
‘Do you mind very much not being able to go back to England?’
‘Of course not,’ Lydia lied. Just days after the Germans had landed in Guernsey she already felt trapped. ‘There are far worse places I could be. Like the prisoner of war camps in France. Half the people there have done nothing wrong. Anyway, the war won’t last forever. I’m sure Professor Williams will take me back when it’s all over.’
‘Pa says the Jerries will be gone by Christmas.’ Maggie had always been an optimist.
‘I hope your Papa’s right, but I’m not so sure.’
‘Oh, Lydia, you’re far too serious for your own good. Just look at the soldiers – they’re tall and muscular – not a bit like our lads. Which reminds me, Charlie Vaudin asked me out again last week. I don’t like him, but I’m running out of excuses now. What can I say to put him off?’
‘Oh, Maggie! How could you be so heartless?’
Author Biography
I got my first break writing in a football magazine when I was 15 and have been writing ever since. An NCTJ qualified journalist, I spent my early years on the Blackpool Evening Gazette and Lytham St Annes Express in Lancashire.  I then helped to set up a family PR and publishing company on the Fylde Coast and freelanced for national newspapers and magazines, including Woman.
My debut novel Baggy Pants and Bootees was released as an e-book in February 2014 by a small publishing house based in Britain and Germany. A time-slip novel set between World War Two and the 1960s, it was published as a paperback in August 2014.
Born in Guernsey, I have been always wanted to write a novel set in the Occupation of the Channel islands, after hearing so many scary stories about life under German rule from my grandparents when I was a child. Occupying Love is the result.
 I now live in Lancashirewith my husband and we have two children and two granddaughters who make me feel about 21!
 A member of the Society of Authors and the Romantic Novelists’ Association I am currently working on a sequel to Baggy Pants and Bootees.
  Thank you so much Marilyn for being my guest today. I wish you lots of success with OCCUPYING LOVE.

OCCUPYING LOVE is available here from Amazon

You can find Marilyn at
guernseygirlie.blogspot.com
Amazon.com

A sweet recipe from the Middle Ages...all the way into your plate

My Thursday recipe is a little bit special today...not only because it is, for a change, a sweet one, but also because it is from a long, long time ago - the Middle Ages. It comes courtesy from Lindsey Townsend, one of the nine authors of LETTERBOX LOVE STORIES, an anthology of romantic short stories which is now available for pre-order here. Lindsay's story, PLAIN HARRY, is set in the Middle Ages...

Hello Lindsay and welcome. Thank you so much for this delicious recipe for Pears in Syrup . Tell me, why did you choose this recipe for today's blog? Every now and again I have a go at a recipe from the ancient or medieval worlds, officially for research purposes but mostly through a mixture of curiosity and greed. Since I now own a copy of Constance Hieatt's delectable book of authentic medieval recipes,  Pleyn Delit , this time it was one of those deceptively simple but spicy, wine-warm sweets which the fourteenth and fifteenth century loved.

The recipe calls for 1 kilo/2 lb of pears, 500ml red wine, 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar, 125 gm sugar, 1tsp. cinnamon and 1/4tsp. ground ginger, plus an optional 6-8 whole cloves and a pinch of saffron. There are several methods of cooking this fifteenth-century delicacy in Prof. Hieatt's book (recipe 113: Wardonys in Syryp), and medieval cooks would have used pots over an open fire, but I like to keep it simple, so used a casserole and a fan oven.

Parboil the pears in water for a few minutes, then peel and quarter them and lay them in the casserole. Add the cinnamon and sugar to the wine in a saucepan and heat it through until the sugar has dissolved, then strain (if necessary) and pour the mixture over the pears. Cover the casserole and leave it in the oven for about an hour at around 250C (180C in a fan oven worked fine). Remove the casserole and add the wine vinegar, cloves and saffron. If necessary, remove some of the liquid and boil it for a few minutes to reduce it, which will slightly thicken and sweeten the syrup. Put the casserole back in the oven and give it another 15 minutes or so. 'Look that it be sharp and sweet (poinaunt an dowcet)', the recipe says. Cool, serve and eat.

For more detail, more cooking methods and a mass of other recipes, see Pleyn Delit. The medieval English cook may well have used Warden pears, grown at the Cistercian abbey of Old Warden in Bedfordshire, and the abbey's coat of arms (top left, from the abbey's page at  Bedfordshire County Council Archives ) shows three of them. A similar dish, 'peres en confyt', includes mulberries for darkness and appears in the fourteenth-century cookbook, Forme of Cury.
This is fascinating, Lindsay! Thank you so much... Lindsay's story in LETTERBOX LOVE STORIES is called PLAIN HARRY.
  The blurb for 'Plain Harry' by Lindsay Townsend
 Recovering from a brutal marriage, Esther is living quietly as a widow when a letter from her brother Sir Stephen destroys her contented life. Stephen orders her to marry Sir Henry—but who is this “Plain Harry” and how will he treat her?
Set in medieval Englandin a time when women had few rights, this story shows how love can flourish in the unlikeliest of places and between the unlikeliest of people.
My links:
Twitter account -
https://twitter.com/lindsayromantic   
Blogger – My blog - http://www.lindsaytownsend.co.uk/
My author page on Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1023449.Lindsay_Townsend


Lindsay Townsend, historical romance.    http://www.lindsaytownsend.com/  
or follow me at Twitter: @lindsayromantic

Who could resist ANOTHER GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE?

I am delighted to welcome Jenny Kane today to talk about her latest release from Accent Press, ANOTHER GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE.   Hello Jenny,  welcome back to the blog and congratulations on your release! It's lovely to talk to you again. Can you tell us where you get your ideas from for your stories?

My ideas come from all around me. Overheard conversations, musical lyrics, the oddly placed hairbrush, the half discarded glass of wine. My imagination never turns off, and anything and everything could be a story trigger.

I know exactly what you mean. What can you tell us about ANOTHER GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE?
Another Glass of Champagne is the final part of my Another Cup of...series. The series began with Another Cup of Coffee, and the seasonal Christmas novella’s Another Cup of Christmas, Christmas in the Cotswolds, and Christmas at the Castle, This last instalment of the adventures of the Pickwicks Coffee House crew- Amy, Kit, Jack, Peggy, Megan and friends- see’s the main characters facing up to the reality that being in your forties doesn’t mean life’s answers get any clearer!


They all have new challenges ahead. If things work out OK, then champagne corks will be flying...but the obstacles that need overcoming first are far from straightforward....

That sound intriguing...In three words, what kind of man is Jack Brown, your hero?

Generous, Ambitious, Gay


What about Amy Krane, one of the four heroines of your novel?
Pregnant, Introverted, Kind

I need a quiet house to write. What about you? What is the one thing you absolutely need to write?
  Black coffee

I do love my black coffee too! Are you working on another novel at the moment?
I’m in the closing stages of writing a mini-novel for this Christmas. This will be a medieval murder mystery called The Outlaw’s Ransom.
The story of fourteenth century girl, Mathilda of Twyford (Leicestershire), The Outlaws’ Ransom is an expansion of the medieval part of my part modern/part medieval novel Romancing Robin Hood.

I think I already know the answer to my next question....What is your all time favourite hero from a film or a novel?
My all time favourite hero has to Robin Hood. I’ve been a fan of the legend from an early age. This love of the story was increased tenfold when I was 14 years old and watched an episode of Robin of Sherwood on the television. From that moment on I was enchanted- I needed to know everything about the legend, and read every book and watched every film I could get my hands on. I went on to take a PhD in the ballad history and crime records of the fourteenth century as a result of my RH obsession!! My love of the legend is still strong, and always will be.

Robin Hood is indeed a great hero. How do you pick the location for a story?
I can only write about places I’ve actually visited. All the locations within my books, right down to the level of office cupboards or bathrooms, are places I’ve visited. That way I can accurately record how the atmosphere of the place feels like and smells like, as well as how it looks.

And now for the word association test! What 3 words come to your mind when you read the following?
sun: yellow, happiness, gardens
winter:   frost, icy, marshmallows
writing : freedom, imagination, joy
chocolate: delicious, indulgence, smooth
reading: escapism, adventure, mystery


Blurb for ANOTHER GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE
A warm-hearted, contemporary tale about a group of friends living in a small corner of busy London, by bestselling author Jenny Kane.
Fortysomething Amy is shocked and delighted to discover she s expecting a baby not to mention terrified! Amy wants best friend Jack to be godfather, but he hasn’t been heard from in months. When Jack finally reappears, he s full of good intentions but his new business plan could spell disaster for the beloved Pickwicks Coffee Shop, and ruin a number of old friendships...
Meanwhile his love life is as complicated as ever and yet when he swears off men for good, Jack meets someone who makes him rethink his priorities...but is it too late for a fresh start?
 Author Kit has problems of her own: just when her career has started to take off, she finds herself unable to write and there s a deadline looming, plus two headstrong kids to see through their difficult teenage years...will she be able to cope?

BUY LINKS
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Another+Glass+of+Champagne+Jenny+Kane


http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/188-7813436-7626710?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Another+Glass+of+Champagne+Jenny+Kane
EXCERPT
Sticking her head out of the bedroom window, Amy took a huge lungful of fresh air. Even though her morning sickness had passed with merciful speed, the aroma of the paint she and Paul were decorating their spare room with was making her decidedly queasy.
‘I thought this was supposed to be odourless paint?’
 ‘It is.’ Paul smiled at his wife as he put down the yellow paint-covered roller. ‘Why don’t you take a break? There’s not much left to do now.’
Amy leaned against the windowsill. ‘I’m fine – and anyway, it’s my own fault. I should never have got on my hands and knees to paint the skirting board. Thank you for not saying “I told you so,” by the way.’
Sinking onto the chair Paul had placed in the middle of the decorating chaos, Amy rubbed a palm over her bump in wonder. It seemed to be getting bigger by the hour, never mind by the day.
‘Have Phil and Rob managed to make any contact with Jack yet?’
‘Not a word.’ Paul scraped the remains of the paint from the roller tray onto his brush and dabbed at a patchy place on the wall. ‘Rob hasn’t had any replies to his texts and emails. He reckons Jack is probably somewhere really remote with no WiFi.’
‘Hmmm. Well, I hope he resurfaces soon, or I’ll have had this baby before he even knows I’m expecting one.’
Paul stretched his arms above his head to loosen the muscles cramped from painting. ‘He’ll turn up sooner or later. Jack always does.’...


Author bio
Jenny spends a large part of her time in the cafe’s of Mid Devon, where she creates her stories, including the novels Another Glass of Champagne, (Accent Press, 2016), Abi’s House (Accent Press, June 2015), Romancing Robin Hood (Accent Press, 2014), the best selling contemporary romance Another Cup of Coffee (Accent Press, 2013), and the novella length sequels Another Cup of Christmas (Accent Press, 2013), Christmas in the Cotswolds, (Accent Press, 2014), and Christmas at the Castle, (Accent Press, 2015).
Her next full length novel, Abi’s Neighbour, will be published by Accent Press in Summer 2017. She is also working on a short historical novel, which will be published in November 2016.
Jenny Kane is also the author of quirky children’s picture books There’s a Cow in the Flat (Hushpuppy, 2014) and Ben’s Biscuit Tin (Hushpuppy, 2015).
Keep your eye on Jenny’s blog at www.jennykane.co.uk for more details.
Twitter- @JennyKaneAuthor
Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/JennyKaneRom...  


Thank you very much for being my guest today, Jenny. I wish you lots of success with ANOTHER GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE.

Come and Eat a Croque-Monsieur with Helena Fairfax

What could be better than sitting at a terrace in Paris, watching people go by whilst taking in the city's beautiful architecture, and enjoying a Croque-monsieur and a 'diabolo citron' (lemonade and lemon cordial) or 'Vichy Fraise' (strawberry cordial and mineral water) - my two favourite café drinks.

We may not be in Paris but we can still enjoy this delicious snack, thanks to Helena Fairfax, another of the nine authors of the anthology LETTERBOX LOVE STORIES I have been featuring in my recipe blogs every week! Helena's story is set in Paris, and her hero is a gorgeous chef...

As if that wasn't tempting enough, to celebrate the forthcoming release of our anthology, we are giving away this lovely pair of earrings which are perfect for summer. All you have to do is leave a comment before midnight on Sunday 26th June to be entered in the draw.


Croque-Monsieur
Makes 2
50g (1 1/2 oz) butter
4 slices of white bread, crusts cut off
1 tbsp plain flour
100ml (1/2 cup) milk
80g (3oz) Gruyère cheese, grated (or Emmental, or Mozarella, if preferred)
Nutmeg, to grate
2 tbsp French mustard
2 slices best ham
Salt and pepper
1. Heat your grill to medium-high. Line the grill pan with silver foil.
2. Put the butter in a pan over a medium-low heat to melt it.
3. Brush one side of each slice of bread liberally with melted butter and put under the grill butter-side uppermost. Grill until golden and crisp, then set aside.
4. Stir the flour into the remaining butter to make a paste. Cook for a minute, then gradually whisk in the milk, a little at a time, until smooth. Simmer for a few minutes, until thickened, then take off the heat and stir in half the cheese until melted. Grate in a little nutmeg, stir and season lightly with salt and pepper.
3. Spread the untoasted sides of the bread with mustard. Put the ham on top, followed by the cheese, and put back under the grill for a couple of minutes until the cheese has melted.
4. Remove from the grill. Put the other slice of bread on top, toasted side uppermost, and push down, then put the sandwiches on to the grill tray and top with the cheese sauce. Grill for about 5 minutes, until golden and bubbling, and serve immediately.
Thank you for this delicious recipe, Helena. What can you tell us about your story?
Come Date Me in Paris is the story of a young Englishwoman called Alice who moves to France to work for a famous fashion magazine. In the country that gave the world haute cuisine, Alice is one of the few people who can't cook. When Alice ends up on a TV blind date show that involves cooking a special meal for your date, she is forced to ask her chef neighbour, Edmond, to give her some cooking lessons.
My story was great fun to write, especially adding the flavour of Paris - with the recipes, with Alice's flair for Parisian style, and with the fabulous scenery. Everyone knows the EiffelTower, the Louvre, and Notre Dame,  and the lovely green park at the Bois de Boulogne is also familiar to many - but not many foreign visitors to Paris have heard of its second biggest greenspace, the beautiful Bois de Vincennes. I wrote a scene for Alice and Edmondin which they escape the heat of the city and take a picnic by the lake in the Bois de Vincennes. Perhaps it's because I'm a country girl at heart that I enjoyed taking my hero and heroine to this oasis of green and water in the bustling city. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Paris, the Bois de Vincennes is a amazing place to go. It has a zoo, a lake, a floral park, mini-golf, plenty of wildlife, a bird reserve - and, since this is France, it even has its own medieval chateau! I'd defy anyone not to start falling in love in such a wonderful setting. Come Date Me in Parishas several recipes as part of the story. For Marie's blog I've chosen a recipe for a typical French snack called croque-monsieur. It's one of the favourite items on the café menu for we British visitors to Paris :) It's a simple recipe and just perfect for Sunday lunch. At home in EnglandI'd make a pot of tea to have with it, but in France a cup of coffee or maybe an Orangina would be lovely.
I hope you enjoy my weekend recipe. I'm very much looking forward to release of our Letterbox Love Stories anthology. Thanks so much for having me today, Marie. I've been enjoying your recipe posts very much!
You are welcome, Helena! Bon appétit! And don't forget to hop on to Helena's blog where I gave her my recipe for a quick and easy Cherry Clafoutis. Don't forget to leave a comment to have the chance to win a pair of earrings.

A taste of Italy with Cara Marsi

It is Thursday - time for a new recipe from one of my fellow romance authors of THE LETTERBOX LOVE STORIES, an anthology of romantic short stories to be released later in June.

We were in Sardinialast week, so we don't have to travel very far for our next recipe. Today we are on the beautiful Amalfi Coast in Italy, where award-winning author Cara Marsi set her short story 'Curating Love'. Hello Cara and welcome. Can you tell us why you chose to set Curating Love on the Amalfi Coast?
I have visited the Amalfi Coast twice, and it's one of my favourite places in the world. The beauty of the place is outstanding. Driving along the twisty, narrow roads can be thrilling or frightening. On my most recent to Italy, my husband and I spent a day in Ravello. I loved it. It's an old, medieval city with so much charm. I didn't want to leave. Another place I love along the AmalfiCoast is Capri, and I have a story sent there also, Capri Nights.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay I have never been but the sceneries are indeed breathtaking. Why did you chose a pasta recipe today?
Because it's Italian! I've made this dish and it's wonderful. I include a recipe in my monthly newsletter, and I included this one a few months back.
Baked Rigatoni with Onions and Parmesan
Serves 8. Per serving: 360 calories; 52g carbs; 16g protein; 10g fat.
Image courtesy of Pixabay·        2 Tbsp. olive oil·        2 medium yellow onions, sliced thin
·        4 cloves garlic, minced
·        2 tsp. dried dill weed (or ½ cup fresh dill, chopped)
·        ½ cup bread crumbs
·        2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
·        Ground black pepper and salt to taste
·        1 lb. rigatoni pasta
·        5 oz. grated Parmesan

1.      Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large pot, boil water for pasta.
2.     Heat the olive oil in a large, deep iron or oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions, garlic, and dill for a few minutes until onions become glassy. Add half the bread crumbs and stir to toast evenly.
3.     When the mixture is golden brown, add the broth and simmer on low heat. Add pepper and salt and stir. Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook. Drain.
4.     Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the onion mixture. Fold in half of the grated cheese. Sprinkle the remaining bread crumbs and cheese on top.
5.     Bake in the skillet, uncovered, until a golden brown crust forms, about 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot.
I thought it sounded too bland with just dill and garlic so I added basil, oregano, and a mixture of Italian herbs. It was delicious.
I love pasta! In fact I would have pasta every single day if my family let me. Thank you Cara for this delicious recipe.
Blurb for Curating Love:
A letter inviting Chloe Decker to curate the art collection of the wealthy DiMarco family of Ravello, Italy, lets Chloe begin to picture a new life for herself after the death of her fiancé. But she’d never included her employer’s sexy grandson in that portrait. Matteo DiMarco, the playboy scion of the DiMarco family, will never again let a woman betray him. But sweet, earthy Chloe reawakens old dreams. Wary of losing her heart again, Chloe’s not ready for a relationship, even with a fine Italian masterpiece of a man like Matteo. Besides, her future is in Philadelphia, not Italy. Can Matteo convince her to stay and take a chance on him? Can she open her heart and paint a new picture that includes them both?
Links:www.caramarsi.com
www.facebook.com/authorcaramarsi
www.twitter.com/caramarsi
www.pinterest.com/caramarsi
http://www.amazon.com/Cara-Marsi/e/B002BMIB8S
Cara Marsi, Award-Winning Author
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Isabella of Angoulême by Erica Laine

Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: October 2015
Publisher:  SilverWood BooksSet in the thirteenth century, the kingdoms of England and France are struggling over territory as the powerful Angevins threaten the French king. In regions far from Parislocal fiefdoms disregard all authority.
The Tangled Queen is the story of the little known and very young Isabella of Angoulême who was abducted by King John in 1200. She became his second wife and queen consort, aged 12. He was the most reviled king in English history and his lust for her led to the loss of Normandy and the destruction of the Plantagenet Empire, which then brought about the Magna Carta.
Isabella came of age in England, but was denied her place in court. Her story is full of thwarted ambition, passion, pride and cruelty. She longed for power of her own and returned to France after the death of John to live a life of treachery and intrigue…

EXCERPT from Isabella of Angoulême : The Tangled Queen Part 1 Isabella smiled and yawned – it was time these chattering girls left. She dismissed them, haughty and impatient. Away they sped, some calling back to Isabella, jokes and remarks full of innuendo for her future. She frowned; this was not the way to treat a future queen.           ‘Agnes, help prepare me for bed.’           Agnes closed the chamber door, unlacing the back of Isabella’s dress, folding the glorious red and gold silk into the large chest. Tomorrow Isabella would wear the blue gown, the splendid blue and silver fabric showing wealth and also loyalty. If red and gold had shown the power and wealth of the Taillefers, then the blue would mark their obedience and fealty.           Early the next morning Agnes was busy preparing a scented bath. Precious rose oil, drop by drop, turned the hot water cloudy. And then she was busy mixing the rosemary wash for Isabella’s hair. She would wear her hair loose today, and her small gold guirland.           Isabella woke up and saw Agnes looking at her, long and thoughtful, ready to make her stir, but she was already throwing back the covers and standing and stretching. Agnes nodded and together they moved to the bath, and Isabella slipped into the milky, perfumed water and rubbed the rosemary wash into her hair. She felt the water running down her back and shivered. Then she was being briskly dried by Agnes, who was determined to treat Isabella to the most thorough of preparations.           Her mother Alice entered the room and the three of them unfolded the wedding gown and dressed Isabella. Her chemise was soft and light, the dress heavy and cumbersome. Arranged within it, held within it as if caged, her face pale but proud, she moved to the window and looked down onto a courtyard full of people, horses, carts and wagons. A procession was moving through the crowd, with a stately canon and an even more stately bishop in the centre. The clergy were intent on their walk to the cathedral. Isabella clutched Agnes in a sudden fear. Then she rested her head on the window and took a deep breath. It was her wedding day. AMAZON UKAMAZON US ABOUT ERICA LAINE I was  born in 1943 in Southampton and originally studied for the theatre.  I moved with my family to Hong Kong in 1977 and worked and lived there for 20 years, writing English language textbooks for Chinese primary schools and managing large educational projects for the British Council.Since living in S W France I have been very involved with a local history society and have researched many topics, the history of gardens and fashion being favourites.

Isabella of Angoulême began in 2011 at a writing workshop run by Philippa Pride, the Book Doctor.  The story of this young queen was fascinating and although she appears as a character in some other historical novels I wanted to concentrate on her entire life and her importance to the English and the French and the role she played in the politics of power. Part Two is being written now and my head is more or less permanently in the thirteenth century.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erica.laine.31 https://www.facebook.com/Isabella-of-Angouleme-the-story-716324821830441/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaineEleslaine
GIVEAWAY 2 ECOPIES OF THE BOOK
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