Lisa Renee Jones's Blog, page 113
December 8, 2013
MERINGUE COOKIES & Keepsake Christmas Ornament Giveaway
This week’s recipe from Rae is MERINGUE COOKIES! Keep stopping by on Monday’s when we’ll have a new recipe and giveaway posted!
These cookies are a great treat. I love to use sprinkles to go with the holiday I am using them for. You can also use food coloring to make them different colors. Red, Green or even Blue would look great for the holiday season.
Happy Holidays!!!
MERINGUE COOKIES
Ingredients
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon mint extract or vanilla
3 to 5 drops green food color (optional)
Sprinkles (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 200°F. Grease 2 large cookie sheets with cooking spray. In small bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and salt with electric mixer on medium speed until foamy. On high speed, add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until sugar is dissolved, meringue is glossy and very stiff peaks form. Beat in extract. Now add color and beat to combine until well blended and desired color.
Use disposable decorating bag or gallon-size food storage plastic bag with 1/2-inch hole cut in one bottom corner of bag (if desired, fit large star tip in decorating bag or in hole of plastic bag). Spoon meringue into bag; twist top of bag to seal. Squeeze bag to pipe meringue into 1-inch puffs onto cookie sheets. Sprinkle each with candy sprinkles
Bake on middle oven rack 2 hours. Immediately remove cookies from cookie sheets; place on wire racks. Cool completely, about 5 minutes
TIP- if you want to be sure sugar dissolved, turn mixer off take the mix and place it on your finger, with your thumb and pointer finger feel the mix, if it is grainy mix again until you feel it is smooth.
Enjoy!!
Rae
Enter to win a Towle 2013 34th Edition Silver-Plated Pierced Bell Ornament for yourself or to give as a gift! Good Luck and Thanks for entering!!
December 1, 2013
COCONUT MACAROONS & Martha Stewart Holiday Christmas Tree Plate GIVEAWAY
This week’s recipe from Rae is COCONUT MACAROONS! Keep stopping by on Monday’s when we’ll have a new recipe and giveaway posted!
We are in the final month of recipes, and we are going out with desserts. Here is a great easy recipe for your cookie swap parties or to bake as gifts for family and friends. Always a hit at my house. If you love coconut you will love these cookies.
COCONUT MACAROONS
Ingredients:
1 (14 oz.) package sweetened flaked coconut
2/3 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons flour
4 egg whites
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 cup milk chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven 350 degrees, line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper
In a large bowl stir coconut, sugar, flour. Add egg whites and extracts, beat to blend
Form cookies, using 1 ½ tablespoon of dough for each, arrange on cookie sheet 2 inches apart
Bake 15-20 minutes or until edges are golden and cookies are set
Do not over bake, remove to a wire rack to cool
Melt chocolate chips in microwave 30 seconds, stir, repeat until chips are melted. Drizzle over cookies, refrigerate 1 hour before serving.
Enjoy!!!
Rae
Enter to win a Martha Stewart Holiday Garden Ceramic Christmas Tree Plate for yourself or to give as a gift! Good Luck and Thanks for entering!!
November 30, 2013
IF I WERE YOU on sale for $1.99
Book 1 of the series being developed for cable TV is on sale for $1.99. It has NEVER been on sale below $3.99!
Get it now when you can HERE
November 25, 2013
Official press release, as announced in Publishers Weekly — more Inside Out books!
I’m thrilled to share the news with everyone I’ve already been hinting about…but it’s official now!
RELEASE
Gallery Books and Pocket Star, the digital first imprint of Simon and Schuster, have entered into a major deal with New York Timesbestselling author Lisa Renee Jones to continue her phenomenally successful INSIDE OUT series. In the new acquisition, announced by Gallery Books’ Publisher Jen Bergstrom, Gallery will publish 2 books and Pocket Star will publish 3 e-novellas, all in 2014.
The INSIDE OUT series began with the books If I Were You, Being Me, and Revealing Us, which most recently hit both the New York Timesand USA Today bestseller lists. In 2013, Jones supplemented her print oeuvre, and reader demand, with 5 series-related e-shorts. To date, translation rights have been sold in 12 countries. The INSIDE OUT series is being developed into a television series by award-winning producer Suzanne Todd (Alice in Wonderland) who is inviting fans to join a specially-created newsletter for insider information on the series as it develops.They can join by sending an email to Rebecca@Team-Todd.com.
Said Jen Bergstrom, “We are so excited about this series and all of its potential. Lisa’s voice and concept are thoroughly unique and we look forward to seeing where each new book will take us.”
Senior Editor Micki Nuding will edit the books and the deal, for world rights, was handled by Louise Fury of The Bent Agency. TV Rights were handled by Shari Smiley at Resolution.
November 24, 2013
LOADED BAKED POTATO SALAD & Stainless Steel Colander GIVEAWAY
This week’s recipe from Rae is a Loaded Baked Potato Salad! Keep stopping by on Monday’s when we’ll have a new recipe and giveaway posted!
If you like loaded baked potatoes, you will love this recipe. This is fairly easy to make. My only suggestion, keep an eye on the boiling potatoes. As soon as they are fork tender remove them from the stovetop and rinse them in cold water, also don’t put the water on high pressure or it could make your potatoes fall apart. If you follow the directions and tips you should have a tasty dish.
LOADED BAKED POTATO SALAD
INGREDIENTS:
5 pounds, peeled potatoes, cut in bite size pieces, like the size for regular potato salad
3 green onions, cut in small pieces
6 sliced cooked bacon, cut in ½ inch pieces or crumbles
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
¼ cup mayonnaise
16 ounces sour cream
Salt & pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Boil diced potatoes until fork tender, mine took 25 minutes, drain & run under cold water to stop cooking, run water slow, or potatoes will break
While the potatoes are cooking, mix onion, bacon, cheese, mayo and sour cream.
When potatoes are done, put in a large bowl. Add mayo mix to the top, add salt and pepper. Fold in. check for seasoning & add more if needed. Keep cool, but I think it tastes best right after you make it. Cover & refrigerate left overs.
ENJOY!!!
Rae
Enter to win a Norpro Stainless Steel 1.5 Quart Berry Colander for yourself or to give as a gift!
Good Luck and Thanks for entering!!
November 17, 2013
Lazy Pierogi & Fiesta Serving Bowl GIVEAWAY
This week’s recipe from Rae is a Lazy Pierogi! Keep stopping by on Monday’s when we’ll have a new recipe and giveaway posted!
This dish has been on my Thanksgiving table for years. It is easy to make and tastes great. If you are looking for something new for your family meals, I hope you give this recipe a try.
LAZY PIEROGI
INGREDIENTS
1 (11 OUNCE) bag of egg noodles, or you can use any other kind, I used bow tie (cooked per directions)
2 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
¾ pound sliced bacon
1 large can sauerkraut, or 2 regular size cans
DIRECTIONS
Sauté onions with butter until translucent.
Add rinsed and drained sauerkraut mix, cook about 1-2 minutes on low to combine.
Pour mix over cooked noodles.
Add undiluted mushroom soup and combine.
Fry bacon in clean fry pan, remove from pan crumble, add to mix.
Put the entire mix in casserole dish.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Serve warm.
Enjoy!!!
Rae
Enter to win a Fiesta 40-Ounce Hostess Serving Bowl for yourself or to give as a gift!
Good Luck and Thanks for entering!!
November 11, 2013
Now Available – Infinite Possibilities
Secrets and lies. They are everywhere: haunting her, tormenting her. In the midst of it all, he’d been her escape, her passion. The only person she’d trusted in six years. And then he’d made her doubt that trust, cutting her deeply. But as she’d once told him, she was damaged, not broken. She is ready to fight and not just for survival. She is fighting for the truth and she won’t stop until she has it, not even for…him.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0985...
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Infinite-Possibilities-Contemporary-Secret-Bensen-ebook/dp/B00GLVLQGE
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00GLVLQGE
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/Infinite-Possibilities-Contemporary-Secret-Bensen-ebook/dp/B00GLVLQGE
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/infinite-possiblities-lisa-jones/1117366905
Nook: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/books/infinite-possibilities-2/9SzHfdph00e8juhbSsu7qw
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/376490
The following links will be updated as they go live.
iTunes:
November 10, 2013
Homemade Buttercream Frosting & Cake Decorating Set Giveaway
This week’s recipe from Rae is a Homemade Buttercream Frosting! Keep stopping by on Monday’s when we’ll have a new recipe and giveaway posted!
I wanted to make a fall type cake, so I bought a spice cake mix and looked for a great frosting.
That is when I remembered this recipe. It goes great with the flavor of a spice cake. The best part is
You use a box mix with the homemade frosting and everyone thinks it was all homemade. Only the cook knows!!
You can of course use any cake but spice is my favorite with this recipe. A cute idea, I took the last of my cake batter and
Made a 25th cupcake, when it was finished baking I crumbled it up and used it as a garnish for the cupcake, (see photo).
People will think you spent hours baking.
BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3-4 cups confectioner sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Up to 4 tablespoons milk
DIRECTIONS:
Beat the softened butter for 2 minutes with the whisk attachment of a stand mixer.
Turn the mixer on lowest speed and add 3 cups of confectioner sugar
When the mix is blended, turn to medium speed, add vanilla, salt and 2 tablespoons milk, beat for 3 minutes
Add the remaining sugar or milk as needed. I did add all the sugar and milk to my mix.
Tips- do not microwave your butter, soften to room temperature.
You may want to beat the mix for a few minutes until it incorporates. I mixed it for about 3-4 extra minutes just to get the perfect taste and texture
Enjoy!!!
Rae
Enter to win a Wilton 53 Piece Decorating Set for yourself or to give as a gift! Good Luck and Thanks for entering!!
November 5, 2013
The first INSIDE OUT party box went out!
Want to hold a party at your house? Go HERE for details!
Read the post on my front page!
Hope to party with you soon! 
November 3, 2013
Mexican Quiche & Win a Covered Muffin Pan
This week’s recipe from Rae is a Mexican Quiche! Keep stopping by on Monday’s when we’ll have a new recipe and giveaway posted!
MEXICAN QUICHE
2 cans refrigerator buttermilk biscuits, (I use Pillsbury)
1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese, (can use cheddar if you prefer)
9 eggs slightly beaten
1/3 cup milk
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped green or red pepper
¼ teaspoon hot sauce
10 green olives halved
Directions:
Preheat oven 375 degrees
Stretch biscuit a bit, and press into a muffin tin
Sprinkle cheese on bottom of biscuit
Mix rest of ingredients, except green olives, pour over biscuit, fill about half way
Bake 25 minutes
Sprinkle more cheese, and add ½ olive on top.
Cook for 2 more minutes in oven
Enjoy!!!
Rae
This Mexican Quiche recipe is quick and easy. If you are looking for something different to add to your holiday table this is a great recipe. This is something easy for a work party also. Bake as directed, purchase large cupcake liners and once you take the quiche out of the pan place in a liner. That way your co-workers or friends get an individual quiche. I would also suggest serving on a cake stand to make a great presentation. This would also be a great recipe for your INSIDE OUT BOOK PARTY. Stop by http://partywithlrj.wordpress.com/ for more information on how to get free books and goodies for you and 10 friends.
Enter to win a Wilton Covered Muffin Pan for yourself or to give as a gift! Good Luck and Thanks for entering!!
