Make Ahead Meals for Busy MOMs

As you can probably tell from my lack of participation over here lately

I definitely needed the help...

Probably most of us do...

I tried several recipies in this book and I found them to meet all of my criteria

1. FAST

2. EASY

3. Pass my very picky eaters standards

The ingredients are all things you can find at your neighborhood grocery store. I love that because I hate recipies with ingredients I have to go to five different stores to find. Plus many of the recipies can be used to make more than one meal.

The Author Jane Doiron was nice enough to share a Guest Blog with us today.

A Delicious Make-Ahead Dessert

Let’s face it…what’s the holiday without dessert? Cut down on your holiday stress by making a few simple desserts in advance. My #1 make-ahead tip for dessert is to freeze your favorite cookie dough ahead of time. Prepare your cookie batter and place the dough on a cookie sheet using a handy scooper (so all the cookies are the same size).
Cover and freeze the dough for 2 - 3 hours until solid.
Place the frozen cookie dough in a labeled freezer bag (including the baking directions) and freeze up to 2 months.

When you need cookies for school, work, or for a holiday party, all you need to do is defrost the cookie dough on a cookie sheet for 30 – 45 minutes and bake as directed!

Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe

This delicious cookie creates a wonderful French toast aroma in your kitchen when they’re cooking!

2¾ cups flour
1¼ teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup butter
½ cup shortening
1½ cups cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare a large sheet pan with parchment paper; set aside. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt; set aside. In a medium mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening, and 1½ cups sugar. Blend in the eggs on low speed. Add the flour mixture and mix until combined. In a very small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Roll 1 tablespoon of cookie dough into a ball and roll in the cinnamon mixture. Place the cookie dough on the sheet pan 2 inches apart. Bake at 350°F for 8 - 9 minutes. Do not over bake. The centers will be soft but will set upon cooling. Cool on a wire rack. Makes 4½ dozen
cookies.

~Freezing Directions for Uncooked Dough~
Place the sugar coated cookie dough on a large sheet pan in a single layer. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 2 - 3 hours. Place the dough in a labeled freezer bag. Write the cooking directions on the bag. Freeze up to 2 months.

~Thawing Out the Dough on Baking Day~
Cover a large sheet pan with parchment paper and place the frozen dough 2 inches apart. Thaw the dough for 30 - 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 8 - 10 minutes.

Thanks Jane!!

and

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Review and ARC Giveaway!

All right Chicks!

I promised you 3 more reviews and here they are.

Don't forget you have until tomorrow night to leave me a comment here AND the post below to win All FIVE of my ARC's of these books.

Remember, they're gently read, just by me.

FROM AMAZON:

When hunky rancher "Lucky Beau" Luckadeau accuses spitfire Milli Torres of stealing his prize bull, she promptly shoots at him, triggering a feud that only gets resolved when they discover they share a steamy hot memory from a night long ago…
It was a night of passion that has always haunted Lucky. The mysterious beauty he seduced at a cousin's wedding disappeared. He's always been lucky at cards, luckywith cattle, and lucky with land, but he's never been lucky in love.
Now Milli Torres has come to southern Oklahoma to help out on her grandfather's ranch. A cut fence and a big, mean Angus bull in the pasture are bad enough, but then she looks up and sees Beau Luckadeau. Great God Almighty, how did he get from Louisiana to Ardmore, Oklahoma, and what in the hell is she going to do if he recognizes her?

What I thought: It's a familiar formula, but one that works. If you an early Debbie Macomber or Fern Michaels fan I think you'll like this one also. A fun light read with fun characters.This is the beginning of a series of what I think right now will be 3 books.

From Amazon: Amidst the upheaval of Cromwell's Britain, Jamie Sinclair's wit and military prowess have served him well. Leading a troop in Scotland, he impetuously marries a captured maiden, saving her from a grim fate.
A Highlands heiress to title and fortune, Catherine Drummond is not the woman Jamie believes her to be. When her people effect her rescue, and he cannot annul the marriage, Jamie goes to recapture his hellcat of a new wife...
In a world where family and creed cannot be trusted, where faith fuels intolerance and war, Catherine and Jamie test the bounds of loyalty, friendship, and trust

What I thought: If you're in the market for some decent historical romance, this is what you're looking for. Again, you know I love strong heroines, and Catherine is a great one.
From Amazon: When American librarian Samantha Lewis and Irish rogue Keirnan Fitzgerald set off to find priceless jewels, they become embroiled in a 500-year-old love story that eerily prefigures their own...
In 15th century Venice, beautiful and wealthy Serafina falls in love with Nino, a young Florentine sculptor. They decide to flee to Padua, and to fund the trip, Nino copies a set of jewels that then disappear.
In modern-day Venice, Keirnan needs Samantha's help to locate the jewels so he can pay his sister's ransom. Samantha must decide whether the man she's so drawn to is her soul mate from a previous life...or are they merely pawns in a relentless quest for a priceless treasure?

What I thought: This story is different, and I liked that about it. It seems to be telling two love stories at once, hopping back and forth between the past and the present which kept me turning pages and kept me interested.

That's it for today!

Thanks for stopping by and

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It's been a serious hiatus...I know

It's a little overwhelming sometimes,

when all the balls I try to juggle come crashing down on my head all at once.

I had to take a little hiatus...

everything is fine

Just trying to keep up with my neverending to do list..

you have one of those, right?

So..anyway

Here we go...

I've got 5 chick books to review over the next several days, I did not get giveaways on these but will GIVEAWAY all FIVE of my very gently read ARC's to one lucky winner .

TO WIN ..

you have to enter on EACH DAY

just leave me a comment with your email

simple as that

All the reviews will be up between now and Saturday and I'll pick a random winner on Sunday Night and post it here Monday morning.

Thanks so much for bearing with me and for sticking around!

HERE WE GO!!

Tessa Anderson has always been as fascinated by wolves as they seem to be with her. Her brother seems to share this trait with her and they've turned it into their livelihood. Until her brother is framed for murder and ends up in prison.

Now Tessa is being stalked, by a danger she couldn't ever have imagined.

When Hunter Greymore is attacked by another pack while trying to protect his sister he is near death. Tessa finds him on the beach and nurses him back to health and he swears to protect her and help her brother.

But, there's much more to Tessa than what meets the eye, and in protecting her Hunter finds himself fighting an attraction to her he's not even sure he wants to fight anymore.

This was a nice esacape from reality. Steamy sex scenes and a really fun love story, with enough suspense and excitement to keep the pages turning.

When her fiance betrays her, Abby Stanford goes on vacation alone to escape her heartbreak trying to escape her past.

What she finds is Luke, scarred by a horrible accident and unable to face his future.

Abby can help him get better, and sets out to with Luke fighting her every step of the way.

This is a really sweet story, Abby is a strong heroine, not what I expected in the description. She's witty and spunky and holds her own against Luke and his constant antagonizing.

OKAY

you know the drill! Leave a comment with your email the next few days to win my ARC's!!

that's it for today and

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Two Years, No Rain...

From Barnes and Noble.com:

In San Diego County, it hasn’t rained in 580 days. But for weatherman Andy Dunne, everything else is changing fast…Only a few weeks ago, he was a newly divorced, slightly overweight meteorologist for an obscure satellite radio station, hiding his secret love for a colleague, the beautiful—and very much married—Hillary Hsing. But nearly overnight, Andy has landed a new gig, flying a magic carpet in a bizarre live-action children’s TV show. So what is affable, basically decent Andy Dunne going to do now that he can do practically anything he wants? With a parade of hot moms begging for his autograph and a family that needs his help more than ever, Andy has a lot of choices. First, though, there’s this thing with Hillary, their heated text messages, a long-awaited forecast for rain – and a few other surprises he never saw coming…

What I Thought:

This was a really fun book. Andy is a totally likable character, one you want to root for and hope that everything goes well for in the end. You just can't help but want to stick around and see what happens. A great "when the going gets tough" story!

Visit the Authors Website

HERE

That's it for today!

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I'm having BOOK-GASMS!!!

Find out more about Hush, Hush!

That cover is enough to keep me going for the rest of my life, I think...

I was lucky enough to recieve an ARC of hush, hush from Simon and Schuster...

My actual review will come later, closer to the pub date possibly with a visit from the incredibly talented author

Becca Fitzpatrick

Release Date is

Oct 13th

BUT

I will say this...

1. It's completely different from everything else out there right now

2. If you are female, I have no doubt that you are about to fall in love with a very bad Angel

3. This is going to be the "next big thing"....think Twilight HUGE...

..EPIC..

ONLY

this book is much better

promise

so..

Go to where ever you go to procure your reading pleasures

and make sure to order it,

I know if you're here reading this that you are going to love it!!

Read the first two chapters

HERE

Get the above widget for your blog

HERE

at Becca's blog

Becca's Website

HERE

and by the way..

Book 2 is almost finished

CRESCENDO

I am such a tease...

that's it for today

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Summer House

FROM AMAZON:After years of wandering from whim to whim, thirty-year-old Charlotte Wheelwright seems to have at last found her niche. The free spirit enjoys running an organic gardening business on the island of Nantucket, thanks in large part to her spry grandmother Nona, who donated a portion of land on the family’s seaside compound to get Charlotte started. Though Charlotte’s skill with plants is bringing her success, cultivating something deeper with people—particularly her handsome neighbor Coop—might be more of a challenge.
Nona’s generosity to Charlotte, secretly her favorite grandchild, doesn’t sit well with the rest of the Wheelwright clan, however, as they worry that Charlotte may be positioning herself to inherit the entire estate. With summer upon them, everyone is making their annual pilgrimage to the homestead—some with hopes of thwarting Charlotte’s dreams, others in anticipation of Nona’s latest pronouncements at the annual family meeting, and still others with surprising news of their own. Charlotte’s mother, Helen, a Wheelwright by marriage, brings a heavy heart. She once set aside her own ambitions to fit in with the Wheelwrights, but now she must confront a betrayal that threatens both her sense of place and her sense of self.
As summer progresses, these three women—Charlotte, Nona, and Helen—come to terms with the decisions they have made. Revisiting the lives and loves that have crossed their paths and the possibilities of the roads not taken, they may just discover that what they’ve always sought was right in front of them all along.

WHAT I THOUGHT: This is the quintessential summer read. Take it with you to the beach or the pool and sink into this wonderful story of the Wheelwright's. A wonderful famliy drama, It's not too heavy and I think you'll really like Charlotte, Nona, and Helen. I also liked the way Nona's memories are woven throughout the story which give you more insight into each of the leading women. Plus the cover is just absolutely adorable!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nancy Thayer is the New York Times-bestselling author of The Hot Flash Club, The Hot Flash Club Strikes Again, Hot Flash Holidays, The Hot Flash Club Chills Out, and Moon Shell Beach. She is also the author of a new June release, Summer House. Nancy lives on Nantucket. You can visit her website at www.nancythayer.com.

EXCERPT: Charlotte had already picked the lettuces and set them, along with the bunches of asparagus tied with twine and the mason jars of fresh-faced pansies, out on the table in a shaded spot at the end of the drive. In July, she would have to pay someone to man the farm stand, but in June not so many customers were around, and those who did come by found a table holding a wicker basket with a small whiteboard propped next to the basket. In colored chalk, the prices for the day’s offerings were listed, and a note: Everything picked fresh today. Please leave the money in the basket. Thanks and blessings from Beach Grass Garden. She hadn’t been cheated yet. She knew the customers thought this way of doing business was quaint, harkening back to a simpler time, and they appreciated it.Perhaps it helped them believe the world was still a safe and honest place.

The day was overcast but hoeing was hot work and she had been up since four-thirty. Charlotte collapsed against the trunk of an apple tree, uncapped her water bottle, and took a long delicious drink. Nantucket had the best water on the planet: sweet, pure, and clear. It was shady in this overgrown spot, so she lifted off the floppy straw hat she wore, in addition to a heavy slathering of sunblock, and sighed in appreciation as a light breeze stirred her hair.She couldn’t linger, she had too much to do. She took another long drink of water, listened to her stomach rumble, and considered returning to the house for an early lunch.

When she heard the voices, she almost jumped.People were talking on Bill Cooper’s side of the fence, just behind the green tangle of wild grapevines. Hunky Bill Cooper and his gorgeous girlfriend. From the tense rumble of Coop’s voice and Miranda’s shrill whine, they weren’t happy.“Come on, Mir, don’t be that way.” Bill’s tone was placating but rimmed with an edge of exasperation.“What way would that be?” A sob caught in Miranda’s throat. “Truthful?”The moment had definitely passed, Charlotte decided, when she could clear her throat, jump up, and call out a cheerful hello. Vague snuffling sounds informed her that Bill’s dogs, Rex and Regina, were nearby, nosing through the undergrowth. She thought about the layout of Bill’s land: along the other side of the fence grew his everlasting raspberry bushes. The berries wouldn’t be ripe yet, so Bill and Miranda must be taking the dogs for a walk as they often did.She was glad the berry bushes grew next to the fence, their prickly canes forming a barrier between Bill’s land and Nona’s. A tangle of grasses massed around barberry bushes was wedged against the fence, and then there were the tree trunks. They would pass by any moment now. She would keep very quiet. Otherwise it would be too embarrassing, even though she had a right and a reason to be here.“I never lied to you, Miranda. I told you I wasn’t ready for a long-term commitment, especially not when you’re in New York all winter.”“You could come visit me.”“I don’t like cities,” Bill argued mildly.“Well, that’s pathetic. And sleeping with that—that slut—is pathetic.”

Miranda was striding ahead of Bill. She cried out, “Rex, you stupid, stupid dog! You almost tripped me.”“Mir, simmer down.” Bill sounded irritable, at the end of his patience.Miranda didn’t reply but hurried into the orchard of ancient apple trees. Bill followed, crashing through the brush. Charlotte could hear a few more words—I’m not kidding! It’s over, Bill!—then she heard the hum of their voices but no words, and then they were gone.“Gosh,” Charlotte whispered to herself.

Charlotte had had a crush on Bill Cooper for years. Coop was a hunk, but so easygoing and funny that when you talked with him you could almost forget how handsome he was. She seldom saw him, even though he lived right next door. Of course, “right next door” was a general term.Nona’s property consisted of ten acres with fifty feet of waterfront on Polpis Harbor, and the Coopers’ land was about the same size. With all the plantings, you couldn’t see one house from the other, even in winter when all the leaves had fallen.Like the Wheelwrights, the Coopers mostly summered on the island, the Wheelwrights coming from Boston, the Coopers from New York. Eons ago, when they were all little kids, Coop had played a lot with Charlotte’s brother Oliver, even though Oliver was younger, because Coop was an only child, and the two families got together several times over the summer for cocktails or barbecues.

Then came the years when they rarely saw each other, everyone off in college and backpacking in summer instead of coming to the island.Coop lived in California for a while, but three years ago his parents moved to Florida and Coop moved into the island house, telling everyone he wanted to live here permanently. He ran a computer software business from his nineteen-sixties wandering ranch house, mixed his plasma TV and Bose CD player in with his family’s summery bamboo and teak furniture, and was content. Mostly he allowed his land to grow wild, except for a small crop of butter-andsugar corn famous for its sweetness. At the end of the summer, he held a party outdoors, a clambake with fresh corn, cold beer, and icy champagne.

Charlotte had seen Coop and Miranda about town now and then, when she went in to catch a movie or pick up a prescription at the pharmacy. It was obvious why any man would fall in love with Miranda Fellows. She was a dark-eyed beauty hired to run Luxe et Volupté, an upscale clothing shop on Centre Street. She was British, and her accent thrilled the young, beautiful, rich, social-climbing set, men as well as women. She was such a snob, and Coop was such a genuine good guy, they seemed like an odd pair, but Charlotte hadn’t allowed herself romantic thoughts about Coop.She hadn’t allowed herself romantic thoughts about any man for quite a long while.

Her own move to Nantucket had not been a lighthearted, impulsive act. She’d thought about it a lot. She’d searched her soul. She came to Nantucket to get away from men—at least from one particular man—and to somehow balance with good acts the wrong she’d done. Her organic garden was her own self-imposed penance and repentance, and she’d been diligent and hardworking and nunlike for three years. She didn’t know when her penance would be over . . . but she knew she would find out when the time came.

Until then, she forced herself to work hard, every day.

I have one copy to giveaway!

To enter please leave a comment with your email!

Thanks so much, that's it for today

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It's a TwoFER!!

Hey Chicks!!

I've got a couple for you today so hang in okay?!

FROM AMAZON: Sophie Heller's family immigrated from Germany to Victory, a small town in Illinois, before WWII began. Now that the war has affected the town, the townspeople discriminate against Sophie and her family. When a train derails, it is an accident but the Heller family is blamed. Coming to Sophie's rescue is a teacher from the high school, and despite their cultural differences, a romance starts to bloom.

WHAT I THOUGHT: I don't think I've ever read a book or seen a story that actually sympathized with the German immigration to America during and post WWII. Yet it's very hard not to do exactly that while reading this very poignantly written story of Sophie and her family. This is such a sweet love story set against an engaging backdrop that I think you might have a hard time not getting swept away.This is a great one to curl up with on a rainy summer afternoon.

I have 5 copies to give away courtesy of Anna at Hatchette!!

To enter please leave a comment with your email and "Moon" in your comment!!

Evolution of A Sad Woman

FROM AMAZON:Five very different men - all strangers - are drawn together to solve a murder by an uncommon thread - the love of the same beautiful woman, Kizzy. When she is murdered, they pull their past into their present, their present explodes, and their future is filled with surprise and changed forever! When police detective Evan Picard, attorney William Newton, cabdriver Jimmy Smithson, former pro-football player turned used car salesman Tom Hastings and Father C.D. Casmiersky are forced together - personalities explode, tensions build and relationships develop. The ending to this chapter of their lives and to Kizzy's murder will have a surprise none of them will ever expect.

Gale was kind enough to stop by and give us a Guest Post:

Her enticing, mystical, jeweled, green eyes will prey upon them forever . . . .
Five very diverse men---all strangers---are brought together to solve a savage murder by an uncommon thread---the love of Kizzy, the most beautiful woman they have ever known. When she is murdered, they are forced to wrench their past into their present, their present erupts and their future is filled with astonishment and altered forever!
They are taken down a long, winding investigation into a world of dangerous people and deceit.
When police detective Evan Picard, attorney William Newton, cabdriver Jimmy Smithson, former pro-football player turned used car salesman Tom Hastings and Father C.D. Casmiersky are forced together---personalities explode, tensions build and relationships develop. The ending to this chapter of their lives and to Kizzy's murder will have a surprise none of the will ever expect! ------------

Thanks Gale!

She's also offering a copy of her Book to one lucky commenter!!

Please leave a comment with your email and the word "evolution"

if you would like to win Gale's book.

Thanks so much!

That's it for today!!

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