Old Family Recipe Cookbook And Thanksgiving Wishes

In honor of Thanksgiving this year, I have a special gift from me and several other Love Inspired Historical authors. It's a digital cookbook of favorite family recipes, with a heartwarming true-life story to accompany each recipe.

In the book you'll find everything from my very own banana pancake recipe to cabbage rolls to hunter's stew.

If you're interested in getting a copy of this book, please leave a comment below with your email address, and I'll be happy to send you a copy. I hope to eventually get this cookbook up on my website, where anyone interested can download it.

And now for what I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving: YOU. All of you wonderful blog readers who bless me with your presence and comments and positive spirits. Thank you for taking time to visit Making Home Work, and please take advantage of the cookbook.

Breakfast Casserole Recipe from Author Amber Stockton

We're back again today with author Amber Stockton, who has a delicious Breakfast Casserole Recipe to share. If you haven't stopped by our interview yet this week, Amber is giving away a copy of one of her novels. The contest ends Saturday, November 10 at midnight.



Breakfast casserole (can freeze and throw in the oven for 1 hour at any time)

1 package of hash brown potatoes or cubed/diced potatoes (frozen)
1 lb. of bacon or sausage chopped/diced (can substitute ham as well)
1 each of yellow, green, and red bell peppers, gutted and sliced into thin strips (optional)
1 lb. of shredded sharp cheddar
5 eggs broken and mixed
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375. Coat a 16x9 in. pan in nonstick spray. Dump in potatoes to cover the bottom and spread evenly. Sprinkle in the meat, bell peppers (optional), and shredded cheddar. Pour the eggs over top and add salt and pepper to taste. Bake in an oven at 375 for 45 minutes if ingredients are fresh, or 1 hour if casserole is frozen. Cool and serve.

*****

Colonial Courtships: My Novella (Trading Hearts): Jonathan Ingersoll is a successful merchant trader along the Great (Connecticut) River. When flooding forces him to take sanctuary in an unfamiliar inn along his route, he meets the innkeeper’s daughter, Clara Marie Preston. Immediately attracted to her shy, yet caring spirit and quiet faith, Jonathan makes a point to return. But animosity from her brother gives him pause. Learning the source of the resentment only spurs Jonathan to try that much harder to prove his worth. Doubts are cast upon his character, and his trade sales begin to decrease. When he tracks down the pirates who attacked Clara’s brother and sees justice served, things take a turn for the better. Finally, he can accept the full blessing for a union of marriage and make plans once more for the future.

"Hurried Mom's" Dinner Recipe from Carla Gade

We're back today with a quick, easy dinner recipe from Author Carla Olson Gade. Actually, she gave us two recipes. And I must admit, as easy as the second recipe is, the first just my style:

Stouffer’s Chicken Alfredo. Stick it in the microwave for 10 minutes and ta da! LOL!
 
Hurried Mom’s Dinner:
1 porkshop, 
2 peeled whole carrots (trim ends off, cut in half, slice down the middle), 
1 medium potato (cut in half). 

Wrap ingredients in aluminum foil and bake until done, about 30 minutes. Serve in foil, no plates needed.

Thanks for sharing those quick, easy ideas with us, Carla. I think every mom on the planet need a few of those back up meals in her arsenal (along with coupons for the local pizza place).

Don't forget we featured an interview with Carla Olson Gade on Monday, and we're giving away a copy of Colonial Courtships to one lucky commenter. If you haven't entered the giveaway yet, be sure to stop by and leave a comment. The contest ends on Saturday, October 27, at midnight.

Unexpected adventure has the four Ingersoll brothers rethinking their futures. But will it thwart their plans for good or bring about four colonial courtships? 

Carving a Future - Connecticut, 1753:  Ship figurehead carver Nathaniel Ingersoll has apprenticed for many years under his Uncle Phineas and hopes to become a master ship carver in his own right. Constance Starling was spirited away from England to the Connecticut coast as an indentured servant, arriving too ill for anyone to accept her. When Nathaniel takes pity on her, he purchases her contract. Has he jeopardized the future he has worked so hard to achieve for the welfare of a weakly servant?

Banana Pancake Recipe

Within the past year, I've discovered the wonderful world of banana pancakes. I grew up eating blueberry pancakes, but never tried banana pancakes until I was making pancakes one morning and I glanced at my overripe bananas sitting on the counter. So I thought, "Why not throw them in and see how things turn out?"

The result was super yummy! They taste like banana bread, but all wrapped up in a pancake instead of a bread. Over the past few months, I've been experimenting with my recipe. Some recipes call for lots of banana and less flour, but I've found this gives the pancakes a rather mushy, banana taste. I like using a traditional pancake recipe and then tossing in some bananas for extra flavor. The end result is more like banana-bread.

Ingredients: 
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon ground flax seed (just to make things extra healthy)
1-2 overripe mashed bananas (depending on how much flavor you want)

Directions:

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center.

In a separate bowl mix together the milk, egg, oil and banana; mix until smooth. (Here's a hint for mashing bananas: put them in a Ziploc bag, then give them to your kids to mash. Super fun for little ones!)

Combine the liquid mixture with the dry ingredients and stir until thoroughly mixed. Be aware that the bananas will leave little lumps.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

*****

And there you have it! A yummy banana pancake recipe. I recommend using maple syrup to top them off. 

So now my question for you: What's the weirdest pancake you've ever eaten?

Homemade Canned Salsa Recipe

Every year about this time, we start getting tomatoes from our garden. So many tomatoes, that we really don't know what to do with them. Bacon Lettuce and Tomato sandwiches become a staple. (Goodness, is there a difference between a BLT with a hothouse tomato and a BLT when the tomato and lettuce come from your own garden!) Plus we put up a few plain tomatoes for use in spaghetti sauce and chili and the like.  But the main thing we do with our tomatoes? MAKE SALSA!

If you've never canned homemade salsa before, I encourage you to try it just once. Salsa can be so expensive to buy from the store, and nothing tastes quite as good as the flavor of your own garden-fresh peppers and tomatoes in your salsa.

After trying different salsa recipes for the past few years, I've settled on one that I like. It contains lime juice, where most salsa recipes call for only vinegar, and more sweet peppers than most salsa recipes recommend, but my family really loves this recipe.

8 cups of tomatoes, blanched, peeled, chopped, and partially drained
2 cups sweet peppers
3 mild peppers
Hot peppers to taste
6 gloves minced garlic
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 large onion
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup lime juice
1 TBS Salt

Combine ingredients and heat in large pot until boiling, then reduce heat and simmer for ten minutes before canning. Pour salsa into hot jars and seal. Process jars for 15 minutes in hot water bath.

(Notes: Homemade salsa tends to be rather runny, so I drain about half the juice from my tomatoes and then can it. This makes for less soupy salsa, but you still get to use the juice, so it's not like you're wasting anything. Sweet peppers can be green, red, or orange bell peppers, but I recommend you add some more eccentric peppers to enhance the flavor. We grew wax peppers in our garden this year, so that's what the majority of sweet peppers are. And we usually do two versions of salsa, one with just mild peppers for me, and one with lots of hot peppers for my husband.)

And there you have it! The most delicious salsa recipe I've found. The key to this salsa is the sweet peppers, garlic, cilantro and other things you add to the salsa to give it extra flavor. Once you've got a good flavor base, add the hot and mild peppers all you like.

Tips for cooking Stir Fry

Earlier this week, I introduced you to author Ruth Axtell and her newest book, Her Good Name. Ruth is back with us again today, sharing some tips for cooking Stir Fry:

Stir-frying helps me eat a wide range of vegetables. We’ve hosted a few Asian students in the past few years, and I’ve found they generally don’t eat raw vegetables (as in salad—something I eat a lot of). Instead, they eat barely cooked vegetables which are stir-fried. I don’t have any set recipe and use whatever vegetables I have on hand, or are in season. I’ll use cut-up chicken, pork or beef, or just tofu to make it meatless. The secret, I’ve found, is to use a lot of fresh garlic and ginger at the beginning. Sauté this in the oil, remove it before it burns, then stir-fry your meat, if using any; take it out before it becomes too dry; throw in your cut-up vegetables and stir-fry a few minutes. Then put the garlic, ginger and meat back in, sprinkle on soy sauce, salt & pepper to taste, and any red pepper flakes in you want it hot. AND, take it off the burner BEFORE it becomes overcooked. The secret also is to leave the vegetables crisp because they continue cooking a while even when you turn off the stove.

Yummy! I've never thought of using ginger in my stir fry before, but that sounds really good with the fresh garlic. Thanks for the tips, Ruth.

If you haven't dropped by my interview with Ruth Axtell, be sure to do so and enter the giveaway of Her Good Name, which ends Saturday, September 1, at midnight. Now here's a little more about our wonderful guest for the week:

Ruth Axtell knew she wanted to be a writer ever since she wrote her first story—a spy thriller—at the age of twelve. She studied comparative literature at Smith College, spending her junior year at the Sorbonne in Paris. After college, she taught English in the Canary Islands then worked in international development in Miami, Florida, before moving to the Netherlands, where for the next several years, she juggled both writing and raising her three children. In 1994, her second manuscript was a finalist in Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart competition. In 2002, her sixth manuscript took second place in the Laurie Contest of RWA’s Smoky Mountain chapter. The final judge requested her full manuscript and this became her first published book, Winter Is Past. Since then, Ruth has gone on to publish thirteen historical romances and one novella. Her books have been translated into Dutch, Italian, Polish and Afrikaans . Her second historical, Wild Rose, was chosen by Booklist as a “Top Ten Christian Fiction” selection in 2005. Ruth lives on the coast of Maine where she enjoys gardening, walking, reading romances and gazing at the ocean while plotting her next romance.

The Runaway Bride Smoothie Recipe from Author Noelle Marchand

On Monday we visited with Noelle Marchand, author of the newly released novel, The Runaway Bride. Noelle is giving away a copy of her novel to one lucky winner from Monday's post. So if you haven't stopped by to enter the giveaway yet, be sure to do so. In the meantime, here's a recipe to share:

The Runaway Bride Smoothie  



Ingredients:
1 ½  cups frozen strawberries
1 banana
6 ounce cup of raspberry yogurt
½ cup of cranberry-raspberry juice
 2 ounces of pineapple or orange juice

Directions:
1.    Place ingredients in blender.
2.    Blend until smooth.
3.    Serve and enjoy. Makes about 20 ounces.



Goodness, does this sound like the perfect summer treat. Thanks for sharing, Noelle!

The only husband Lorelei Wilkins ever wanted was Sean O'Brien, but she's wasted too much time waiting for him to love her back. When another man proposes, she accepts—until she stands at the altar…and realizes she can't marry without love. Bolting out of town toward a fresh start, she never suspected her parents would send Sheriff O'Brien to bring her home!

After an innocent mistake leaves Lorelei and her reluctant rescuer with compromised reputations, marriage is their only option. But first they must triumph over suspicious locals, shady characters, an inconvenient groom and the bride's own stubborn heart. Will it take putting their lives on the line for Sean and Lorelei to realize that only love can conquer all?

Iced Coffee Recipe

With our summer stretching on as hot as can be and no real end in sight, I've often found myself too hot for a midday cup of coffee. Yes, I sniffle as I say this, because I've truly come to relish the cup of coffee I have after lunch every day. However, after about a month or so of experimenting, I think I've come up with an excellent iced coffee recipe that cost only a fraction of the price as the fancy iced coffees for sale in coffee shops.



Ingredients:
1 packet of instant coffee (You can use flavored coffee, in fact, my favorite is Starbucks's instant mocha)
1 cup of milk
 6 ice cubes
1/8-1/4 cup of sweetened coffee creamer ( I use the white chocolate mocha creamer, which complements the instant mocha coffee).

** Note: How much sweetener you add depends on how sweet you like your iced coffee. If you're going for a Starbucks or McDonald kind of sweetness, then you'd want to use about a quarter cup of creamer. If you just want your coffee a little sweet, use less.

Directions:
Throw it all into a blender and pulse it on the setting that crushes ice (usually the highest setting). You might test the taste and consistency before pouring the mixture into a cup, as both can vary from day to day. Add more milk if the coffee taste is too strong or the smoothie is to thick, and add more sweetener if it's too bitter.

Have fun:
To change the flavor of your iced coffee, try different flavors of instant coffee and creamers combinations. For example, I mentioned mocha flavored ingredients above, but you could try French vanilla coffee with French Vanilla creamer for vanilla flavored coffee. Feel free to experiment with other flavors like hazelnut and caramel as well.

And you can always garnish your coffee with chocolate or caramel syrup on the top for an extra sweet touch!

Pizza Fest--What's the Weirdest Pizza You've Ever Eaten?

Have any of you tried an unusual pizza lately? Maybe it's just me, but when I think of pizza, it usually involves a thick crust, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni. I mean, can a pizza be a pizza without tomato sauce and pepperoni?

Evidently, it can.

Our local playgroup took a trip to see a children's play earlier this week, and we also scheduled a tour of Papa Murphy's Pizzeria. Did you know Papa Murphy's has a Herb Chicken Mediterranean Pizza? This pizza is really more like a flat bread than a pizza. It has olive oil and salt instead of sauce, then mozzarella cheese, grilled chicken, baby spinach leaves, and sun-dried tomatoes.

It's delicious! More than delicious, really. I couldn't believe how good it tasted. Plus I was feeding my kids spinach and tomatoes. What mom doesn't love that? We'll definitely be ordering more of those the next time we find ourselves near a Papa Murphy's. (Sadly, the closest Papa Murphy's is over an hour away). But in the meantime, I'm going to try out a homemade version. I even have it in my mind to try and make our own sun-dried tomatoes from our garden this year.

So now I'm curious about you. Share either the best pizza you've ever eaten, or the weirdest. I'm anxious to see what kind of answers everyone comes up with.

Quick Dinner Recipe from Author Jessica Nelson

Since Author Jessica Nelson is visiting Making Home Work this week, I asked her to share a favorite recipe. She came back with a rather interesting response. Enjoy!

*****

"My favorite recipe involves a tablespoon of peanut butter, a cup of chocolate chips, a spoon, a bowl, and a microwave. *wink*

But…for dinner, fresh broccoli with ranch dressing and cheese quesadillas works well. Put some cheese, any kind, in a soft flour tortilla. Fold it over and melt it in the microwave. Tada, a quesadilla!"

*****

Well, that's what I call a simple dinner recipe. And look at that, Jessica even included dessert! If you haven't stopped by the interview with Jessica Nelson, be sure to do so. She's giving away a copy of her novel, Love on the Range, to one lucky commenter. You have until midnight on Saturday to enter. In the meantime, here's a little more about author Jessica Nelson:

Jessica Nelson, in keeping with her romantic inclinations, married two days after she graduated high school. She believes romance happens every day, and thinks the greatest, most intense romance comes from a God who woos people to himself with passionate tenderness. When Jessica is not chasing her three beautiful, wild little boys around the living room, she can be found staring into space as she plots her next story. Or she might be daydreaming about a raspberry mocha from Starbucks. Or thinking about what kind of chocolate she should have for dinner that night. She could be thinking of any number of things, really. One thing is for certain, she is blessed with a wonderful family and a lovely life.

Easy Peanut Butter Pie Recipe

I told everyone on my Valentine's post that I have an easy delicious Peanut Butter Pie recipe. It takes about fifteen minutes, doesn't require any baking, and happens to be my husband's favorite pie. Next time you need a quick desert, try this.

1 graham cracker pie crust
1/2 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 box French vanilla instant pudding mix
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 tub Cool Whip

Using a fork (or your hands if you don't mind them messy), combine the peanut butter and powdered sugar in a bowl and mix until it forms little crumbles. Dump the peanut butter mixture into the pie crust, setting a few crumbles aside for garnish. Mix the instant pudding and milk, then pour into the pie crust over the peanut butter. Give the pudding a few minutes to set, then top with a layer of Cool Whip. (I don't like to use the whole container of Cool Whip or the pie seems too sweet.) Sprinkle garnish on top and refrigerate until ready to serve.

This recipe makes a rich peanut butter pie without a lot of hassle. It's why it's one of my favorites to make, and thankfully it's also my husband's favorite pie to eat. If you want to work a little harder at it, you could make a traditional pie crust from scratch, but my family likes the graham crackers with the peanut butter. So go ahead, buy the ingredients and surprise your husband and kids one night next week with your 15 minute recipe!

Quick Question: What's your favorite pie recipe? Leave a comment below to answer.

Easy Vegetable Snack Recipe with Author Dina Sleiman

Hello Everyone,

Naomi here, and we're back again with author Dina Sleiman, who's sharing one of her favorite veggie recipes with us. She claims it has her kids fighting over who gets to eat the most.

Easy Veggie Snack Recipe

1. Slather finger-food size cuts of veggies in olive oil. (Try carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, asparagus, or any other finger vegetable you can imagine.)

2. Add salt and pepper to taste.

3. Roast on cookie sheet at 435 degrees for approximately 30 minutes, until the olive oil caramelizes.

I'm hoping to try this with some celery and carrots later today, and Dina claims this recipe is unbelievably yummy. Plus it sounds easy enough that your little ones could help make it. (My five year old is obsessed with helping in the kitchen right now.)

Thanks for the recipe, Dina! And remember that our giveaway for an ebook copy of Dina's book lasts through midnight on Friday, January 20. If you haven't entered yourself in the give away, stop by our interview with Dina and leave a comment with your name and email.

And without further ado, here's more about Dina's debut novel, Dance of the Dandelion:

Dandelion Dering was born a peasant in the English village of Arun, but her soul yearned for another life, another world. One filled with color and music, with adventure and passion . . . with more. Haunted by childhood memories, Dandelion determines to find a better existence than the life every peasant in the village contents themselves with. Even if her sweetheart William’s predictions prove true, and her journey leads straight to heartache. From her sleepy hamlet to the intrigue of castle life, from the heart of London to the adventurous seas, Dandelion flees from the mistakes of her past, always seeking that something, that someone who will satisfy her longings. Will Dandelion ever find the rhythm to her life's dance . . . or did she leave her chance for true love at home in Arun village?

Sour Cream and Bacon Crockpot Chicken

4 chicken breasts
bacon slices
1 can (10oz) roasted garlic cream of mushroom soup
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. flour
(optional, chopped onion, more garlic, parmesan cheese (at the end as a topping)
egg noodles

Wrap raw bacon around each raw breast and place in crockpot.

In bowl, combine soup, sour cream, and flour (onion and garlic if desired). Whisk. Pour this concoction over chicken.

Cook on low 6-8 hours or until meat is 160 degrees. Cook noodles according to package, rewhisk the sauce, and serve over noodles.

Caveat: This doesn't look very appealing but it is extremely yummy.

Pork Glaze Recipe

This is a quick, easy and rather unhealthy sauce that I love to throw together when cooking pork. Now those of you who know my cooking skills are probably thinking, What? Naomi actually cooks her own pork sauce, instead of opening a can of something and dumping it in?

Well, normally I do open a can and dump, but for three ingredients, I figure even cooking-challenged me has the ability to make my own "from scratch" sauce. Are you ready for it?

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup red wine vinegar

Combine over low heat, stirring until butter melts and sugar dissolves.

When I originally found this sauce, the recipe called for adding slices of thick, fully cooked ham and heating for about five minutes. But, I have since used this recipe as a glaze when I''m cooking ribs in the oven, and you might even try it on pork chops in the oven. It gives a really great tangy-sweet flavor to the pork.

Interview with Jody Hedlund - Home

I'm excited to have Jody Hedlund her with us on Making Home Work.

Jody Hedlund is an award-winning historical romance novelist and author of the best-selling book, The Preacher's Bride. She received a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, both in Social Work. Currently she makes her home in Michigan with her husband and five busy children.

I'm pleased to have you here on Making Home Work, Jody. Tell me a bit about your family.

I’ve been married for twenty years to my college sweetheart. My husband has been one of my biggest cheerleaders over the years, doing his best to understand and support my writing even in the days when publication was only the whisper of a dream.

I also have five children ranging from 14 down to 5, with a set of twin daughters mixed in to make things more lively. I homeschool my crew, and so my days are spent giving math lessons, spelling lists, and grading tests. In teaching my children, not only have they learned a lot, so have I! One of my favorite subjects to teach is world history, which has helped me a great deal in my writing.

I'm excited to start homeschooling mine, one reason I'm looking forward to it is precisely because I want to learn too! But having them home with you must cut into business time. What advice would you give mothers thinking about having their children help with the business?

While my children don’t help me in my writing, they do help around the house quite a bit. As moms, we tend to think we need to do the majority of household upkeep. But because I have two full time jobs, as a teacher and writer, I’ve had to let go of being able to do everything. The demands of my work have essentially forced me to delegate work to other members of my family. As it turns out, that’s been a really good thing for my children. They’re learning responsibility, how to work hard, and preparing for adulthood. From cooking simple meals, to folding and putting away laundry, they’re pitching in which helps free me to do other work.

I cannot agree with you more on children needing to have household responsibilities. I've heard employers want people who grew up on farms because they have the best work ethics. Work Ethics was what drew me to my husband, despite how unromantic that sounds. After all the chores are done, how do you entertain your children while working at home?

After I’m done with a day of teaching, I start my writing work. However, that’s when my children are most active and ready to run around after sitting all day doing school. So, it’s a challenge to find quiet uninterrupted time to write.

One of the most helpful things I done is train my children to play creatively. Over the years, I’ve allowed them the space and the time for developing their imaginations. So once my children have finished their chores and instrument practice, they’re usually very eager to get back to whatever is the creative play idea of the week. Sometimes they play restaurant complete with menus, other times they’re vets with all the stuffed animals in the house. When they play well, I’m able to work well.

When my children were younger, I often gave one of my older children the responsibility to “babysit” their younger siblings during my work time. I would pay them a small amount for the work. They liked to earn the money, and I appreciated having less interruptions.

Everyone says, “Remember that your family is more important than any job,” but when work demands hit, how do you live it? 

I usually have a few times a year when work seems to be a little more demanding, particularly during the times when I’m editing a book for my publisher. During those times, I need to be more focused. I make sure I tell everyone my plans, let them know my deadline, and that the busyness is short term. When we keep the communication open and they know they end is in sight, they’re able to put up with those busier times.

During regular work weeks, however, I make sure to plan family time. For example, my daughters and I have tea time every Sunday afternoon. We read a book together and talk about girly things. Sometimes we’ll use that time to work on a craft and other times we’ll go shopping. No matter how busy life might get, we can count on those weekly family times together.

Can you share your favorite easy recipe?

Baked Macaroni

16 oz. box elbow noodles

12 oz. can of evaporated milk

½ cup margarine (1 stick)

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz. bag)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (8 oz. bag)

1 cup shredded Colby cheese (half of an 8 oz. bag)

Cook noodles. Drain. Add margarine and stir until melted. Add the rest of the ingredients. Stir together. Pour into 9 x 13 pan. Bake uncovered 30-45 minutes at 375° (until top turns golden brown).

Tomorrow, Jody will be back to talk about the business side of staying home and her new book. But for a teaser, I'm going to let you all see the new book's beautiful trailer:

Intrigued? Come back tomorrow and post too, because then you'll be entered into a drawing for The Doctor's Lady please comment on tomorrow's post by midnight October 7th. I'll announce the winner on October 8th. Please comment today to make Jody feel welcome and ask questions, she's intending to drop by both today and tomorrow.

Hearty Kielbasa and Potato

I like this one because it only dirties one pan, cutting board, and strainer, quick, easy, and husband LOVES it.

2 lbs potatoes (about 6 potatoes cut in cubes)
1 lb kielbasa (halved and sliced)
2 cups frozen green beans
1T olive oil
1 tsp Creole Seasoning (make your own)
1/4 tsp salt
onion flakes
3 garlic cloves, minced

Place cubed potatoes in a dutch oven or deep pan and cover them with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium high and cook for 12-15 minutes. Add frozen green beans and cook for 5-6 minutes until tender. Drain and set aside.

In empty pan, cook kielbasa until browned. Add the potatoes, oil, seasoning, salt, onion flakes (your discretion), and garlic, stir. Cook on low for a bit until heated through

Shannon Vannatter Returns!

So yesterday we spoke with award-winning romance author Shannon Vannatter about her newest book, Rodeo Dust, which releases in October - as well as where she gets her ideas, how she met her husband, and her shocking puzzle obsession (gasp!)

Today we're back with a few more questions for Shannon - and we can't wait to find out how she, as a pastor's wife, author, and mom of a nine-year-old does it all!

Jenny: How do you write best?

Shannon: My husband and I have a separate office that we share. If I really need to get some writing done, I'm in the office at my desk. If I'm not pressed for time, sometimes I'll do a change of scenery and take my laptop to the recliner in the living room. The summer before last, I did a lot of writing on the front steps of our house, while my son was in the pool with friends. This summer, I decided they were old enough to be out there alone and set up shop at the dining room table next to the window so I could check on them. I write best with no noise or distractions. No TV, music, or anyone home and awake.

Shannon at the computer, writing my very first "badly written" (her words) book back in 1999.

Jenny: Sounds wonderful. Mine is still two, so I'm a little more hands-on now... Well, how do you balance all your many responsibilities, besides parenting and spending time with your husband, like household chores, exercise, Bible study and so forth?

Shannon: During the school year, I write while my son's at school and my husband's at work. When I pick up my son, the computer goes on the back burner. As far as exercise goes, we live on a dead-end gravel road, so when weather permits, after we get homework done, I walk up the road, which is all uphill and quite long, while my son rides his kid-sized four-wheeler. When weather doesn't permit, I do aerobics or treadmill after I take him to school.In the summer, I write after everyone goes to bed, sometimes til 2:00 if I'm on a roll. My son and I both love to swim, so that's my exercise for the summer. We have a lovely blue Walmart pool in our front yard. It was the only spot level enough. And then there's time spent together as a family when my husband gets home from the dental lab.

Jenny: So your husband's a dentist, too, then. You've mentioned before that he's bivocational. Talk about a Renaissance man - dentist and pastor! I love it!

Shannon: So do I! And after our son goes to bed, my husband and I drink coffee and talk for an hour each night.

Jenny: Wait... you drink coffee at night?!

Shannon: Yes, we drink coffee at night. We're such caffeine freaks, it doesn't keep us up.

Jenny: Wow. It would keep me up! Not my husband, of course, who's Brazilian - and Brazilians practically invented coffee. He could probably take it intravenously all day long and still fall asleep. Me? I'd be up all night on the back of the sofa playing the fiddle to some noisy bluegrass.

Shannon: (laughing) Well, I'm a night person, so it helps me wind down. I study my Bible at night, too. Saturday is family day, and we try to do something fun that we all enjoy. I often have speaking engagements or book signings on Saturday, but I try to arrange it where we still have some time - and I try not to book back-to-back Saturdays with writing-related stuff. A lot of the time when I speak at conferences, my guys come with me, and we make it a mini-vacation. Sunday is our busiest, most stressful day because my husband is a bi-vocational pastor.

Shannon says this book signing picture was snapped at a local store that's been really supportive, The Bible House.

Jenny: Well, as a busy mom, do you have any tips, plans, schedules, or advice that keep your household running smoothly?

Shannon: Not a one. I live, work, and love by the seat my pants. I'm the most unorganized person you'll ever hope to meet.

Jenny: (laughing) That must be why we get along so well! I'm very much the same way. So... tell us about your other previously published books. Which ones have been your favorites?

Shannon: I think White Roses will always be dear to my heart. I wrote it shortly after my husband sprang his calling on me. We'd been married sixteen years, and he told me God was calling him to preach. So I wrote a book with a girl feeling unworthy of dating the preacher. That's what the story ended up being after about twenty-five versions, but that's what it started out as. And it was my first traditionally published book and my first major award winner.

Jenny: What other projects do you have in the works?

Shannon: This French guy has been bugging me for about three years. But I didn't have time for him, and I didn't have a setting for him. I finally figured out where his story takes place, so I'm working on the first three chapters and a proposal.

Jenny: Wow! Can't wait to read that one! What else?

Shannon: I have another with an Arkansas setting. It was originally one of my early suspense works. I started from scratch and am rewriting it without the suspense part. But the French guy is bugging me more so that's what I'm currently working on. They're both longer works, more in the 80,000 word realm.

Jenny: What advice would you give to writers hoping to be published one day?

Shannon: Join ACFW. I learned genre generic craft at local conferences. But I learned what it takes to get published, specific to my genre through ACFW.

Jenny: And that's where we met, too, over lovely desserts... in fact, I have a picture of fellow Barbour authors Julie Jarnigan and Roger Bruner with their beautiful chocolate cake right here. (Surprise!) Remember this?

Jenny: Of course I was probably the only weirdo there snapping pictures of other people's plates... Speaking of food, how about that recipe from Rodeo Dust?

Shannon: Here it is!

Taco Soup

1 lb. ground beef
2 cans pinto beans
1 8 oz can stewed tomatoes
1 can sweet corn
1 can Ro-Tel ( I use original)
1 pkg. ranch dressing mix
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 chopped onion
2 to 3 cans water (depending on how much broth you like)

Brown ground beef and onion. Drain and add remaining ingredients. Simmer 30 minutes. Also great in Crock Pot all day. Serve with Frito corn chips and shredded cheese.

Jenny: Thanks, Shannon! Let's have a few more questions about you before we sign off. What's your favorite thing about your house and the place where you live?

Shannon: I love that we live in the middle of a hayfield. It's very peaceful. You can hear the frogs and crickets at night. And occasionally a pack of coyotes. They sound kind of creepy, but it's home. My parents are across the hayfield, so my son thinks he lives there.

Jenny: I love coyotes! Sigh... Okay, name a place you'd love to go - and a place you'd never want to go.

Shannon: I'd love to go to Georgia. I still have an aunt and cousins there. We've only been there twice since we moved when I was twelve. And... I don't want to go anywhere outside this country. Why bother when we live in the U. S., the best country ever. (I can't believe I said that to someone who lives in Brazil!)

Jenny: I'm totally with you on what a great country we have. But... a certain 6'5" Brazilian and our little curly-haired son made me change my mind about my permanent residency for a while! So how would you spend the perfect day? Watching a soccer game in Maracanã stadium in Rio? (Just kidding...)

Shannon: No way! With my family. Playing putt golf or tracking through the woods in the fall.

Jenny: The woods in the fall sounds great, especially when I live in eternal summer! Well, to wrap up, Shannon, what's one thing most people probably don't know about you (and
might be surprised if they did)?

Shannon: I'm very girly. People know that. I love ruffles, lace, sparkles, high heel shoes, makeup, and primping. But I also love hiking in the woods, riding four-wheelers, and bowling. But nothing as yucky as fishing. My son is into fishing right now. Ugh.

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Well, that's it for today with Shannon Vannatter! And I'm so thankful she could stop by and spend some time giving us these insights about herself and her life. Best wishes on your newest book, Shannon, and in your writing career!

Jenny Rogers Spinola lives in Brasilia, Brazil with her Brazilian husband, Athos, and nearly three-year-old son, Ethan. She didn't want to ever leave the U.S., either, but is really glad she did! Jenny teaches ESL private classes and is the author of Barbour Publishing's "Southern Fried Sushi" series (first book released OCTOBER FIRST!) and an upcoming romance novella collection based on Yellowstone National Park (also with Barbour Books).

Recipe: Happy Family

I'm not talking about Chinese either...

Recipe for a Happy Family

Combine a family of loving hearts;
Melt together.
Add more love, you can never have too much!
Mix well with respect and trust.
Add joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Pour in much understanding.
Add a bushel of hugs and a heap of kisses.
Bake for a lifetime.

Yield: one happy family

If you're anything like me, and my family, you go through rough spells. Once in a while it's good to be reminded that this is normal. Seek out a good friend and spend some time with the Almighty to remedy the situation.

Breakfast Casserole

As I’ve pointed out before, I’m a fan of the easy meals. And this breakfast casserole fits the bill!

Ingredients:

1 can of crescent rolls

1 package of sausage (roll)

2 cups of shredded cheese

4 eggs

Instructions:

Brown sausage and drain. Unroll the crescent rolls and make a layer on the bottom of a lightly greased casserole pan. Distribute sausage on top of layer of bread. Beat the four eggs lightly until yolks and whites are blended. Pour egg mixture into the casserole on top of sausage and bread. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese directly on top of eggs.

Bake in the oven at 350 for 45 minutes.

After removing from the oven, take the remaining 1 cup of cheese and sprinkle on top of casserole.

Let stand 5-10 minutes. Then enjoy!

Vegetable and Fish Soup

by Melissa Jagears

I like this soup because it is fast and can easily be adapted to use leftovers.

4 fillets of fish (I generally use tilapia)
black pepper
1 T olive oil
2 cups of fresh vegetables thinly sliced (if I don't have some kind of garden leftovers, I use frozen peas and carrots)
14 oz can (OR 2 cups) vegetable or chicken broth
2 1/4 cup water (OR 2 cups if you use 2 cups broth)
leftover mashed potatoes  (I'm sure potato flakes, salt and butter would work too)
salt, saltines or parmesan

Put oil and fish in deep sided skillet or dutch oven.
Pepper to taste.
(If you have fresh veggies, chop and add to fish in skillet.)
Over medium heat, cook for 3 minutes, break fish apart into bit size pieces with spatula.
Add broth and water. (If you have frozen veggies, add now)
Bring to a boil,
Reduce heat, simmer, covered, for 3 minutes or until fish flakes when tested with fork.
Throw in mashed potatoes (the more potatoes, the creamier the broth) or throw in the amount of flakes, and butter to make about 2 servings of potatoes and stir until dissolved.
Now, I either salt to taste, or
I like to throw in parmesan to taste but hubby hates parmesan, so he crumbles in saltines if he wants more than just the salt.

About 20 minutes 4 servings.